Parkinson's on the Playa

teardropper · Post by **teardropper** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:44 am

I have a friend who has Parkinson's and has bought his ticket, got it right away, and fully intends to make it, his virgin year. He'll have an old trailer so he'll be comfortable. I took him down to the playa earlier this month to check equipment and his ability, and he discovered that it was as brutal as rumored. He tried a pick up camper tent then and discovered that wasn't going to work for him, hence the trailer. I know we may have to help him some, but does anyone have any experience with this particular challenge?

bm_cricket · Post by **bm_cricket** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:16 am

teardropper wrote:I have a friend who has Parkinson's and has bought his ticket, got it right away, and fully intends to make it, his virgin year. He'll have an old trailer so he'll be comfortable. I took him down to the playa earlier this month to check equipment and his ability, and he discovered that it was as brutal as rumored. He tried a pick up camper tent then and discovered that wasn't going to work for him, hence the trailer. I know we may have to help him some, but does anyone have any experience with this particular challenge?

Not personally. But the person camping 3 doors down from me in 2008 had it. He was pretty mobile and camping by himself! He was older and he said he had a few pretty bad days during the week. He also said he'd been going to Burning Man for quite a few years and when he started the symptoms hadn't really developed yet. His camping practices changed gradually as his body progressed into fighting what he wanted more and more. He was having fun anyway.

I wish you and your friend the best. The one thing he said that seems extremely important is that he has to accept and work with his body and it's limitations. And really listen to it. And pay close attention to his medications. Really really listen to what his body was telling him he could or couldn't do.

Again, he was having fun anyway! It can be done!!

Token · Post by **Token** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:27 am

As with any medical question, the best advice will come from his doctor.

Since Parkinsons is a progressive dissease it is very hard to say how you friend will do. We don't know where he is at.

It seems he is on top of his game and taking extra steps to eliminate surprises, which is good. This should help everyone in the group.

I like the "can do, will do" attitude. Once that is in place things work out well.

Make sure there is an emergency exit plan should it be necessary.

Good luck. Hope to meet him and you at the MnG.

bm_cricket · Post by **bm_cricket** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:52 am

Token wrote:As with any medical question, the best advice will come from his doctor.

Ah, yes.. I guess I shouldn't be quite so..um.. gung-ho.

teardropper · Post by **teardropper** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:03 am

OK, yeah, he's working with his doc. That's a mixed bag, but he's determined to go. He says his body gets along best when he keeps moving. He'll have ample opportunity there. Having the trailer means he can retreat when he needs to. And, yes, an exit plan. We'll talk more of that.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:43 am

Token covered both of my main points.

dragonpilot · Post by **dragonpilot** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:56 am

My cousin...50s...not only has Parkinson's but was recently diagnosed with MS...and this guy is amazing! He hunts...and I mean serious back country hunting; fly fishes where we go in up to 11,000 feet in the Sierras. It's slowly wearing him down, but he continues to go for as much as his body will allow. No stopping his mind!

We wish the best for your friend! The final decision rests with him. We are all only temporarily able, and the playa can strike down any one of us.

People like this are truly inspiring! I hope I'm fortunate enough to meet him if he goes.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:09 am

It might be helpful to ask questions of the Emergency Services Department, which includes the medics. Email is 911 at burningman dot com. There's going ot be a lot of email traffic, so be patient, polite and focused.

misfit · Post by **misfit** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 12:11 pm

you can find medical at, 3:00 @ C, 9:00 @ C, and REMSA @ centre camp. We're here to help...... We also check these boards frequently, prior to opening day.....

teardropper · Post by **teardropper** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:41 pm

misfit wrote:you can find medical at, 3:00 @ C, 9:00 @ C, and REMSA @ centre camp. We're here to help...... We also check these boards frequently, prior to opening day.....

Glad to hear it. Hope we never see you...

Seriously, thank you.

Parkinson's on the Playa

Parkinson's on the Playa

Re: Parkinson's on the Playa