All posts by Roy Wallace

Online Support Group, PMA Update

PMA Facebook Group Update

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PMA Facebook Group Update

PMA Facebook Group Update

Since we have now grown to almost 90 members, I thought that it was about time for a PMA Facebook Group Update. This group was founded just over a year ago and I am happy with its growth, even if participation has been a little spotty. Nevertheless, I hope that it has been of help to some of our members. Progressive Muscular Atrophy is a relatively small subset of Motor Neuron Disease in general and ALS in particular.

The group grew from the need for a place where questions and problems specific to PMA sufferers could be discussed. To date, we have kept the meeting private meaning that information found or discussed in the group cannot be seen or searched by non-members. Unless members decide otherwise, we will keep it that way.

New Chatroom Meeting

A few months back, we implemented a Zoom Chatroom meeting and held a few sessions. Back then, we only had about 30+ members and attendance was spotty and usually the same individuals. We were never sure whether the lack of attendance was due to lack of widespread notification, reticence to use Zoom or general lack of interest?!

In any event, now that Facebook has opened its own video/chat sessions within its groups, we have set up a new chatroom which can be accessed group  members only:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ProgressiveMuscularAtrophy/rooms

Our inaugural meeting will take place on Monday July 12th at 3PM EST. Of course, all members are welcome. It has been added to the schedule.

PMA Update

PMA Update – It’s Fall Again

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It’s been a while since my last PMA Update. I wrote the following after a recent fall. Even though I now spend most of my waking hours in either a wheelchair or a recliner, the frequency of my falls has not decreased even if their severity has.

For pALS a Fall Day is any day!

Even though I’m really not tall,
I still have a long way to fall.
And try as I might
to remain upright,
When I’m down, I just want to bawl!

Be careful, they say, and I am,
but oft things then get out of hand.
The mind is still willing, but the flesh is too weak
It’s now been so long since my legs were at peak.
I must sit down rather than stand

Now many pALS will know what I mean
And can imagine this horrible scene
There I am nude, sprawled in the shower.
To get up, I just don’t have the power
My jewels by all to be seen!

My advice: Take it easy but don’t stop!
For your limbs are all that you’ve got
’cause if you just never use them
You’ll then sooner lose them
So we must make the best of a bad lot.

To Fall or Not to Fall: It’s a question of balance!

The pun above is not only obvious but it is also relevant  in 2 ways:

  1. Walking obviously requires muscle activity but, less obviously, so does standing! To maintain balance and remain upright requires many micro-movements since we rarely stand entirely motionless. When major muscle groups in our limbs begin to fail, so do the minor ones responsible for slight adjustments as we move. What came as a real surprise to me though was how much we unconsciously use our legs to remain upright even when sitting. When you lean forward in a chair and no longer have back support, you will need to use your legs to counteract the change in your center of gravity. Core muscles also come into play in this scenario and I have become aware that as these start to weaken, balance, even when sitting, can become precarious.
  2. The real balance that needs to be addressed though, is that between using muscles to keep them active and limber and  doing this safely. The more you move, the more likely a fall. The less you move, the faster the muscles will atrophy. For me, the balance comes between moving and exercising on the one hand and minimising falls on the other. Let me say, in the spirit of full discovery, that I have fallen maybe half a dozen times in the last 3 months alone. Fortunately, in spite of  a few cuts and bruises, none has been serious.

PMA-Update

My major recommendation would be to find a way to exercise safely. For me, that has been in the pool. It is the only place where I can stand erect unassisted and can even move my legs to some degree. We even added a pool heater to extend the season and just closed the pool (Oct. 24th), two days before our first snowfall here in Ottawa.

Travelling with PMA

Promote More Accessibility

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I implore you to help promote more accessibility! In today’s world where there are more and more of us with mobility limitations, a lot is being done to improve matters but we still have a long way to go! Travelling with a disability is already challenging enough even when all the necessary accommodations are in place. Well-intentioned screw-ups just make things even more frustrating.

Can you spot what is wrong with the picture above? A well placed handicap parking space, you might say! It happens to be in our neighbourhood in front of the Dairy Queen.

Okay! I’ll admit it, I may have a more personal motive here but why go to the trouble of putting the parking spot when there is no place to mount the curb. In fact, in this entire strip mall, there is only a single access for walkers, scooters or wheelchairs and it is at the far end of the parking lot furthest from the road. I have to travel the entire length of the mall (and back) to get my Blizzard! 😮

The truth is that so many of these things are planned and implemented by able-bodied people who have no appreciation for what is needed by the mobility impaired. And even more sadly, nothing is likely to change unless we speak up to the powers that be. They believe that they are doing right by us. I heard on the news recently that with a population of 37 million, Canada has almost 6 million with some form of physical limitation. We have to do better. Below are a couple more examples of boneheadedness:

promote more accessibility If we just sit back and say nothing, things will not improve. In my case, I have contacted the local councillor to insist that this be rectified. I highly urge you to do the same every time you come across something that does not function as intended.

Fortunately, there are now organisations that can help you with trip planning and finding accessible venues and trips.

Treatments

Doppler Test for PMA? Sounds Good!

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Doppler Test for PMA

Back in November of 2019, my neurologist ordered a Doppler Test of my legs to try to discover why my legs and feet were consistently cold, even in the middle of summer, when the rest of my body is sweltering in the heat. He opined that this was NOT a normal result of PMA or ALS! A quick perusal of PLM would have soon disavowed him of this conclusion.  However, I decided that I would go ahead with the test anyway. Perhaps there would be some indications of how to overcome the problem as a result.

What is a Doppler Test

A Doppler test uses ultrasonography (ultrasound) to measure blood pressure and flow rates in veins and arteries in various parts of the body to highlight circulation problems. It is invaluable, for instance, in indicating the presence and position of blood clots. It is also used as a diagnostic tool when Raynaud’s Syndrome is suspected. Raynaud’s is a rare affliction where parts of the body (usually the extremities, fingers and toes) become susceptible to even mild amounts of cold and can lead to loss of them in a fashion similar to frostbite.

Why a Doppler Test for PMA?

If we could have a dollar for every time that a supposedly knowledgeable medical professional states categorically: “That is NOT part of ALS/MND/PMA!”, we would have enough for research to conquer this disease! I have heard it too many times. A quick search on PatientsLikeMe revealed that there are almost 300 pALS who have reported it as a symptom. It seems likely that the problem occurs when muscle activity declines to the point where the lack of movement no longer aids in moving the blood back to the heart leading to pooling, edema and discoloration. In many, if not most situations, the problem can be alleviated by raising the affected limb(s) above the level of one’s heart so as to ameliorate the blood flow. Where this is not possible,  compression socks and applying compression and/or heat can improve the situation. I went into this test not expecting much in the way of helpful results!

Hospital Visits Amidst Covid 19

I do not like hospital visits at the best of times, and these are definitely NOT the best of times. The entrance to the Civic Hospital in Ottawa more closely resembled a MASH unit than a regular hospital.  Obtaining ingress was like entering Fort Knox and after answering the requisite Covid questions, I was informed that my carer (my wife) could NOT accompany me inside. I explained, in vain, that I would need her assistance in dressing and undressing, in particular aiding with my compression socks. We called up to the Imaging department and were told that there would be someone there to assist me (they lied!)

The Test Left Me Cold!

With much trepidation, I made my way up to the appropriate department where there were several patients waiting but no sign of a desk clerk or indeed any medical staff. Eventually, someone appeared, took my details and ask me to take a seat (I was in a wheelchair). After another extended wait, a technician called my name and showed me into the examination room. He offered no help to get me undressed and into the hospital gown nor to transfer to the examination gurney! I am lucky that I still have upper body function but even so, struggled to get this done. I won’t describe in detail the first part of the test except to say that he started with jelly on my belly and then moved on to several locations on my legs. This first phase took about 15 minutes.

The young man conducting the test was obviously not used to testing patients with limited function because he kept asking me to reposition my legs. I told him that if he needed them moved, he would have to do it himself.

The technician then explained that he would be doing a test involving placing my feet into freezing water to cool them and then warming them with hot towels to measure the difference in pressure and flow and also recording the ‘recovery time’.  He was clearly apprehensive about how I might manage to get my feet into the basin with the ice. Fortunately, by dangling my useless appendages over the edge of the bed, he was able to lower the bed until my feet descended into the icy liquid. Then followed an awkward couple of minutes where he stared into my face obviously expecting a reaction he did not get. He kept asking me: “Are you doing OK?” I could not figure out why! He seemed frustrated when he finally raised the bed and put sensors on both my big toes. He seemed not to be getting the readings he expected. He then warmed my feet with heated towels and replaced the sensors on my toes.

Looking flummoxed, he said he needed to repeat the test and said that this time I should tell him when I started to feel discomfort. The problem was that I never did. I could have sat there all day with my feet in the ice water. For some reason, I seem to have lost a lot of sensation in my feet and toes. After I explained this, he didn’t allow me to leave my feet in as long the second time. He ended the session by saying: “That was challenging!” He then departed and left me alone to struggle with dressing.

A Sound Conclusion

As previously stated, I don’t really expect anything concrete to come from this test. I shall just have to suck it up and continue with my own remedies.

P.S.  The fastest response time EVER: Just 24 hours after the test, the neurologist’s assistant called to say that everything on the test came back ‘normal’ 🧐

 

Assistive Devices

Power Wheelchairs for PMA

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Power Wheelchairs for PMA

Let me start out by stating that since PMA like its other variants of Motor Neuron Disease can have diverse symptoms, progressions and outcomes, choosing power wheelchairs for PMA sufferers can be quite challenging. It is, however, very important to choose the right one since its owner is likely, at some point, to be spending a great deal of time in one!

Types of Power Wheelchair

There is a dizzying array of types and sizes of power wheelchairs (PWC). There are also many different features and add-ons that can add a great deal of function and utility to your device and make you more mobile, active, and above all, comfortable. Although I will be approaching the subject from my own perspective as a PMA sufferer with mostly lower limb involvement, there will be much information relevant to pALS (person with ALS) in general. In a single post, we cannot hope to cover the entire gamut of power wheelchairs for PMA. We will however try to cover the most salient features and options most likely. Before choosing the optimum power wheelchair for your particular situation, you will need to consider all of the following

Indoor/Outdoor

It is unfortunate but there really is no ‘one size fits all’ solution when looking for the best PWC for your own situation. We will list the most obvious and relevant features and options. The first and perhaps most important factor in your selection should be deciding where you will spend most of your time.:

  • Indoor – If you will be spending a lot of time indoors, size and weight will be important considerations. Also types of flooring,  size of corridors and door frames need to be taken into account. If you have to make a lot of modifications to accommodate your wheelchair, it obviously adds to the cost.  
  • Outdoor – This covers a lot of ground (sic). Think about whether you will mostly stick to sidewalks and pavement and do not expect to have to navigate high curbs and uneven surfaces. If you will be ‘off-roading’ even a moderate amount, many of your choices will not be suited for this. Most power wheelchairs, for example, will not be able to climb obstacles higher than 3 inches and will perform poorly in rain, snow, on grass or gravel or climbing anything more than moderate inclines.

Drive Type – Battery type – Speed

These are three important considerations that are not often discussed with the Occupational Therapists or Mobility device suppliers but they are important factors that you should consider:

  • Drive Type – There are two main options here:
    • Rear-wheel drive where the power is sent to the rear wheels. Usually, the rear wheels are large and the front ones smaller. Since power is on the rear wheels, you can often mount higher curbs by backing up them. Although there may be anti-tip wheels at the rear, only four wheels are in constant contact with the ground.
    • Mid-wheel Drive usually means having small wheels or casters front and rear and larger drive wheels towards the centre. This usually means a much smaller turning circle and a smoother ride. This is offset by the inability to mount high curbs because the drive wheels are easily lifted off the ground by those front and rear.
    • Hybrid/Four-Wheel Drive – Although they are neither cheap nor wide-spread, it is possible to find this type of drive system where either all four wheels can be powered simultaneously or where the front wheels will be supplied power to assist in mounting higher curbs than possible with the other two types.
  • Battery Type Although there may be others, there  are usually two main types of batteries available for power assistive devices:
    • Lead Acid The most common and less expensive option for all but travel chairs. They can be either wet or dry (gel). Most manufacturers only use the latter type since they require no maintenance and cannot spill. Many airlines and common carriers will not transport the wet type.
    • Lithium-Ion These are both lighter and more compact but they do not generally last as long and are much more expensive. They are only typically used in travel chairs. Although generally approved for airline travel, the battery must usually be removed and carried with the passenger and is limited in the allowed capacity. Many power wheelchair suppliers offer an ‘airline-approved’ lithium battery as an option.
  • Speed If you intend to use your wheelchair mostly indoors, the maximum speed will not likely be a major concern. Outdoors is another matter entirely. The typical top speed of most power wheelchairs is 3.5 -4 mph (5 – 6.5 kph). Some, however, are rated for up to 10 mph (15kph) or more. This will only make a difference if you are planning to travel longer distances.  To travel 5 miles at 4 mph would take 1 hour 15 minutes. At 10 mph, it would only take 30 minutes, a significant improvement.

Wheels & Tyres

Do not underestimate the difference that the size and type of wheel can make to the overall wheelchair experience. Wheel size will make a huge difference in the ride comfort and climbing ability of your wheelchair. The bigger, the better!  As a general rule, the size of the front wheel will determine the size of curb or other obstacle that you can climb. The usual range of size for the drive wheels is between 8 and 14 inches. The forward and rear wheels are usually between 6 and 8 inches. As a general rule, you will be able to climb half the diameter of the front wheel.  There are 3 widely available types of tyre: Solid rubber or composite, foam-filled and pneumatic (air-filled). Solid rubber is the hardest and pneumatic the softest with foam-filled somewhere in between.

Size & Weight

Once again, these are qualities often overlooked by Occupational Therapists and equipment suppliers. And yet, they are critical to your use and enjoyment of your device. As mentioned above, the length and turning circle of your chair will determine how well you can navigate your home without colliding with walls, furniture cupboards, etc. If you have ramps for entry into your home or you wish to transport the chair, both the overall size and weight will be important factors.

Functions

There are simply too many to list in this article but the major functions that may be material to your present and future needs are:  Seat recline, seat tilt, leg elevation,  seat elevation, sit-to-stand. Of course, each additional feature adds to the cost but you should be aware that it is usually cheaper to have them included than to add them later. In addition, many insurances, health providers, etc. will not fund additions but may cover the initial cost if added when new. Remember that most will only cover a new chair every 5 years or so, so you must predict your future needs as well as your current ones.

Add-ons

Once again, these may not be covered by your funding source and can often be negotiated for a reduced price or even thrown in free at the time of purchase. They include, amongst others, cup holder, phone holder, cane holder, front, rear or side pockets, or baskets, travel covers, oxygen tank holders and much, much more. The one add-on that I consider indispensable is the swing-away controller which allow the chair much closer to tables and counters.

Price

It will not surprise you to learn that prices are all over the map. The wheelchair specified for me by the O.T. and mobility supplier had a list price of $38,000+ CAD. The one that I subsequently purchased was $4.600 CAD and had most of the features and functions that I believed that I needed. In the case of the former, the provincial health insurance and our private insurance agreed to cover approximately $18,000 leaving us $20,000 out of pocket. It definitely pays to shop around though. I picked up a brand new travel power-wheelchair for just $1,300 when the exact same model normally retails for around $3,000 

Where to Get help

All of this may seem, at first, to be completely overwhelming (not to mention) expensive if this is your first try at finding the right power wheelchairs for PMA. If the cost is a major issue, try the ALS loan closet. In addition, Kijiji and Craigslist have many available.  Just be aware that some can be adjusted to meet your needs and some cannot. It will not help to get it cheaper if it does not do the job. By all means, consult an Occupational Therapist but always be aware that they may not have much experience with or knowledge of ALS or your particular variant of it and may steer you in the wrong direction.

Assistive Devices, Treatments, Uncategorized

Air Compression Leg Massager with Heat

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Air Compression Leg Massager with Heat

I only discovered these air compression leg massager units very recently. Poor blood circulation resulting in swelling and cold feet and legs has been one of the worse symptoms of PMA for me. In the past couple of years, I have tried just about everything from heated socks, heated insoles, hot water bottles, electric blanket, lambswool slippers, etc. Of all the things I have tried, this air compression therapy device has been, without a doubt the most successful.

Quinear Leg Massager with heat

What causes Swelling (edema) and Cold Feet?

Most of us learn about muscles in biology at school. However, most of us never learn how muscle activity helps to move blood around our bodies. Even my own neurologist was apparently unaware of the severity of these problems for many Motor Neuron Disease sufferers. In fact, he ordered a Doppler (Ultrasound) test of my legs to check for abnormalities other than PMA that might account for it. Lately, I have seen numerous posts from pALS and cALS regarding swelling and lack of temperature control.  On further research, I have learned that blood circulation is a major factor in controlling body temperature. Again, most of us are aware that the heart is the major organ that pumps blood. However, in the extremities, there is often not enough blood pressure to recirculate the blood. Normal muscle movement activity then serves to supplement the heart’s efforts. When this fails, blood pools in the feet and lower legs resulting in swelling, discoloration and lack of heat control.

How Does Air Compression Help?

Most of us have had some type of massage at some point in our lives. Indeed, it was prescribed for me by both my GP and my neurologist. However, getting to the RMT office (especially in winter), dressing, undressing, getting on and off the massage table all counterbalanced the positive effects of the treatments themselves. After 4 sessions, I gave up.

Just 20 minutes of sitting with my legs in the air compression leg massager is enough to leave me with benefits for the balance of the day.

air-compression-therapy-device

Where Can I find one?

Although I had never heard of these devices before, it turns out that they are widely available. They are available with differing sizes, functions and can come with or without the heat function. Prices in Canada range from $90 – $300. The ones I purchased were $159 CAD and have three massage cycles, three levels of compression and two levels of optional heat.

Quinear-Leg-MassagerAs you have probably surmised by now. I am a great fan of this product. I only wish that I had found it earlier. Of course, your own mileage may vary but my own problems of swelling or cold feet are now largely a thing of the past. 

Travelling with PMA

Accessibility in Milan

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Accessibility in Milan

Accessibility in Milan did not seem to be a problem when we researched on the Internet ahead of time. Travelling with PMA/ALS can be a challenge at the best of times but as this disease progresses, the challenges become ever greater. We recently took a weekend trip from Lausanne, Switzerland to Milan, Italy and I had no idea what to expect!

Firstly, we booked a self-pronounced ‘accessible’ hotel and even called in advance to ensure that they were set up for my wheelchair. Next, we booked our train tickets, also ensuring that they could accommodate said chair. Finally, we checked on the web for places and things to see and do that would be accessible. There were a couple of websites dedicated to accessibility in Milan. By all indications, we were well-prepared!

Travel by Train

Accessibility in Milan

We set out very early on that Saturday morning (5:30 AM). Our first challenge that although SBB (Swiss Rail) was aware of our situation, once we boarded the train we found that the accessible carriage was attached to the 1st Class section with space for only one other passenger (caregiver). The other 3 members of our group were to be seated 3 carriages away. Fortunately, the train was not full and the conductor allowed us to stay together in unoccupied seats. For many trains in Switzerland, you must give at least an hour’s notice of your intent to travel. The problems with this are threefold as we were to discover.

  1. You must specify the exact train that you wish to use. If anything occurs that you end up on an earlier or later train, you will lose assistance at either embarkation and/or debarkation.
  2. Sometimes a train marked as accessible turns out not to be. There is small print in the app that explains that accessibility is NOT guaranteed since the railway is sometimes forced to change equipment.
  3. The accessibility telephone number is only available during weekday business hours. If you need to travel outside these hours without notice, you will be dependent on the app (see 2 above) whose accuracy is not guaranteed.

Our ‘Accessible’ Hotel

As you can well imagine, finding a reasonably priced hotel in Milan, even outside of the main tourist season is not an easy matter. To find one that is also ‘accessible’ makes it even more difficult. We settled on Hotel Manin, a well-situated, four-star hotel that had offered a reasonable family package. The hotel entrance was accessible, the rooms however not quite so much. Although there were guest elevators, they were not large enough to accommodate my much smaller than average power wheelchair! I had to travel up and down in the service elevator, which still required some fancy maneuvering to fit in.

Accessible BathroomThe room itself was really comfortable and well-appointed. The supposed accessible bathroom, however, was much less so. At least the hotel responded when I  told them that I needed something to sit on for the shower. They somewhere dug up a strange,  plastic cube, which was clearly not designed for this particular task but it did the trick. At that time, I had enough mobility left in my legs to handle the toilet but today, it would be out of the question!

Getting Around Milan

Busses were officially accessible but we did not get to test them. The hotel arranged an ‘accessible taxi’ when we needed one. It had room to fit my wheelchair in without a problem but had no means to help mount into the high seats. Again, only because I have full upper body strength was I able to hoist myself in. I can’t imagine how they might have handled a quadriplegic individual. The metro, again we didn’t try it out, has only a single line that is fully accessible. Public transit ranks a C- at best for accessibility in Milan!

Streets, Stores & Restaurants

First, the good news: Milan has obviously taken great pains (and expense) to make the city core more accessible in recent times. At most street crossings, it is apparent that work has been done, at almost all pedestrian crossing points, to remove, re-engineer or shave down curbs.

Accessible Stores

The bad news is that at almost all other places, accessibility is a joke. I would estimate that only 20% of restaurants and 10% of stores were accessible to anyone in a wheelchair.  The photo above shows a typical store or mall entrance. There is no gap in the curbstone for a wheelchair, scooter or walker. There are three steps to navigate to enter. The sidewalk itself looks better than most. Many are constructed with small cobblestones which makes for a lumpy ride. In many cases, when I went on the sidewalk for a long distance, there would be no way to get down which would mean that the entire family would have to retrace its steps.

Public Washrooms

These were a crapshoot (sic). On the whole, one would be better off by assuming that any public washroom is NOT accessible unless clearly signed as such. Local accessibility by-laws are either not in place or not enforced. In other cases, lip-service is given to accessibility with no real thought given to how it is implemented, a bit like our hotel but on a wider scale. In one establishment, I actually became trapped in a washroom and had to shout until a staff member came to help! 😮

All in all, I was very glad to have made the trip but, on aggregate, I could not say that Milan ranks as very accessible in my book.

You can check out some of our other travel adventures here 

 

Assistive Devices, PMA Update

Swimming with PMA

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Swimming with PMA

Many things, including swimming with PMA, have to be done differently when one has Motor Neuron Disease. I consider myself extremely fortunate that we have the financial wherewithal to afford the equipment that makes otherwise herculean or impossible tasks doable for those of us with physical limitations. Last year, we had a pool lift installed at a cost of around $7,500. Because we had trouble finding workmen to do the actual install, it was not up and running until late in the season and I was still able to use the handrail to enter the pool. As a result, I only used the lift a couple of times and the weather and water were both warm.

The Pool Lift

If you have PMA, PLS, ALS, or any other MND and own a pool, or are thinking about getting one this might give you some ideas of the pros and cons. Quite apart from the expense, you have to consider how well you are able to get in and out of the lift. Since I still have good upper body strength and function, this is less on an issue for me than it might be for others. However, I still have to position my power wheelchair just right to make the transition to the lift chair.

We purchased the Aqua Creek Admiral model 

swimming with pma

It was supplied and installed by a local Mobility Specialist but we needed the concrete pool deck to be prepared by drilling holes, setting anchor bolts and leveling the base plate. This was the difficult part since it was a relatively small job and few local handymen were willing to tackle it. Luckily, the company who was doing some other landscape work (making the back yard more accessible for my wheelchair), agreed to do it. The unit is pretty heavy (160lbs+) and, in our case at least, has to be removed before winterising the pool, since the winter safety cover cannot be installed with it in place.

Taking the Plunge

This year, we were able to get the pool opened up relatively early and eagerly awaited the time when we could take a dip without freezing our (insert your own word here) off. Yesterday was that day. The sun was shining and the water temperature was at 21/70 degrees. I know that to many of you this might seem on the cool side but prior to PMA, I would dive in at 18/65 degrees, so I thought that this would not be a problem!

As you can see, I was in for a somewhat rude awakening!  In the past, I would have considered the temperature just fine, since I would simply dive in and the shock would last only a couple of seconds. This time was different, being slowly lowered with no control and not able to jump off the seat until it was completely submerged was like a version of the Chinese Water Torture. Once in the water and swimming, everything was fine. Even though I have almost no function in my legs, swimming is both cooling, relaxing and a chance to exercise my legs gently. In spite of the video above, I do highly recommend it.

You can find my solution to other daily challenges here!

PMA Update

PMA Update COVID 19

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PMA Update COVID 19 Edition

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional nor an infectious disease specialist and any views expressed here are for your consideration but should not be taken as gospel without due diligence. Besides this PMA Update COVID 19, the ALS Society has published a great deal of information about the Novel Coronavirus and MND


My Personal PMA – COVID 19 Journey


When the world-wide pandemic of Coronavirus first became wide-spread, I was in Switzerland which subsequently became one of the world’s early hotspots, likely due to its being landlocked with its population being condensed into small clusters and being a crossroads of sorts within Europe. I was in Milan in late January which would later become the European epicentre of COVID 19. In the Lausanne area, however, there were still only 2 known cases when I left Switzerland for Canada. Schools had just been closed and many adults were already starting to work from home.

As I arrived at the airport in Geneva on March 16th for my return flight, I was casually informed that my flight was to be the last scheduled flight by Air Canada. The flight was packed solid but there appeared to be no coughing or sniffles near me. When I arrived in Montreal, I discovered that all flights to Ottawa were cancelled. Air Canada magnanimously offered to re-route me through Toronto adding a further 8 hours to my journey. Fortunately, I was able to convince my wife to drive 200KM (each way) to pick me up.

Since being back in Ottawa, after undergoing the mandatory 14-day self-isolation, I have done my utmost to limit any potential exposure. Since I am over 65, have compromised lungs in addition to Progressive Muscular Atrophy, I consider myself high-risk.
In retrospect, I consider it quite likely that I already had a mild case of Coronavirus, since both my grandson and I had a mysterious illness in early February which featured mild fever and cough as well as some other odd symptoms (headache, diarrhea, etc.) Until such time as antibody testing becomes available, I have no way of knowing for sure. Therefore, I must continue under the assumption that I am still susceptible.

Are PMA patients AUTOMATICALLY  ‘High Risk’?

The answer to this is: it depends on your personal risk factors. Once again, PMA sufferers are grouped with ALS patients when discussing this aspect. I have come across opinions on both sides. Since the majority of pALS succumb to respiratory failure and the Novel Coronavirus primarily affects the lungs, it seems prudent to assume that they should be placed in the high-risk category.
On the other hand, many, if not most, PMAers will not likely experience lung issues unless they progress to full ALS. PMA, although generally slower progressing than many other Motor Neuron Diseases, is still considered fatal and thus should be seen as a co-morbidity.
Factors other than PMA itself can place us in the high-risk category:

1. Compromised Immune System
2. Living in a Retirement Residence or Nursing Home?
3. Heart or Lung Problems – hypertension, diabetes, asthma
4. Age – 60+

Do ALL Social Distancing rules apply to PMA?


It is not a coincidence that the bulk of COVID 19 cases and mortalities are in retirement facilities and long-term care. Those of us with Motor Neuron Diseases typically require physical assistance that makes social distancing impractical at best and impossible at worst.
Even those of us NOT in nursing homes or long-term care will likely need physical assistance of one sort or another. You cannot be assisted in bathing, dressing or eating from a distance of 2 metres. Feeding tubes and respirators all necessitate a ‘hands-on’ approach. It is hard to imagine that ALL personal support staff and visitors must continue to wear full personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times. However, masks, hand sanitizer and frequent, thorough hand-washing are a minimum protection and should likely remain in place even after the pandemic subsides.

Is the Novel Coronavirus as deadly as PMA?


PMA, although it typically has a slower progression and therefore a longer life expectancy, is still 100% terminal. Current estimates are that only less than 3% of the general population will eventually succumb to COVID 19. These numbers skyrocket however when we include the elderly and those in Long term care facilities. Currently, in Canada, we are learning that almost 80% of all Coronavirus fatalities are in this group. There can be little reasonable doubt that morbidity rates increase when those of us with any motor neuron disease also contract COVID 19.


Should I do anything differently to protect myself?


Now is not the time to be reticent or polite! This is YOUR life and health at stake. Insist that others make special allowances for you: shopping hours, get stuff delivered. Keep up with range-of-motion and whatever other exercise is both beneficial and appropriate.
You are probably not getting the visits and human interaction that you are used to. Be proactive: phone, Skype, Facetime, Email, Social Media, online games etc. All contact is beneficial. Above all, try to avoid the temptation to become depressed. Lean on others, at a distance of 2 metres 🤔, for support and assistance. One of the positive aspects of these unprecedented times is that many, if not most, are stepping up to help those of us who need it the most.