I went to see Dr L, my dermatologist, in April 2012. Since either having Parkinson's Disease or the medicines I take for Parkinson's Disease can increase my risk for melanoma (the scientists aren't sure which), I get a complete skin check every 6 months.
This visit had me worried. I had basal cell and squamous cell cancers cut off my nose back in 2009, so I pay attention to my skin. Several weeks ago, I noticed a red spot on my nose, a black spot on my neck and a mole on my arm seemed to have darkened.
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| red spot on nose |
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| black spot on neck |
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| mole changed color |
Since my regular appointment was soon, I waited. I was led into an exam room, given the obligatory "one size fits none" paper gown and told to undress. (Why is it always so cold in Doctor's offices?) Dr L came in with a huge orthopedic boot on her foot. I asked what happened. She said "I broke 3 toes and am not saying how", then laughed. Dr L has a great sense of humor, she likes to joke around and, why not? We're sitting there naked in flimsy paper gowns, so she has a captive audience!
She asked about my Parkinson's and I told her my story about her (All the skinny on this Parkie) was a fave of my readers and she said " Oh my, WHAT did you say about me?" and laughed again. We made small talk as she scanned every inch of me, paying particular attention to my nose.
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| Exam room items |
I asked, meekly, about the "spots". She said the one on my nose was vascular (probably blowing your nose too much from allergies), she said the one on my arm was just "your skin getting old and sun damage" and she called the one on my neck a keratosis or barnacle.
She said everything was fine, she'd see me in 6 months and disappeared. I got dressed and found myself singing "Barnacle Bill the Sailor Man" the rest of the day! I was a very Happy Parky, even though she said I was old and had barnacles like an old ship! But my nose was spared the scalpel once again. Whew!
PS Mention of melanoma risk is in the fine print of Stalevo, Sinemet, Requip and Mirapex. All of which I have taken during my treatment of Parkinson's.
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Thank you for reading this story, I hope you enjoyed it. This is just one of a hundred stories in my book, Parkinson's Humor - Funny Stories about My Life with Parkinson's Disease. Please consider purchasing a copy from Amazon.com or your favorite online book seller. Thank you and have a Happy Parky Day!
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| Roseacea causes red face |
I am fairly healthy, except for Parkinson's Disease , but I still spend a lot of time in Doctor's offices. The medicines I take for Parkinson's can cause melanoma, so I see a lady Dermatologist twice a year for a complete skin check. I've had 2 cancers cut off my nose already. She treats my Rosacea, as well (that's why my face looks red all the time).
Dr. L comes in, looks me over and scolds me because my arms and legs are darkly tanned. I tell her that I can't help it, I tan really fast. She looks puzzled and says "But you are blonde. Are you a natural blonde? Of course you are, even your eyelashes are blonde. How long does it take for you to see a difference in color?"
Ten minutes, I answer.
"Ten minutes? And you see a difference? That doesn't make sense, you have fair skin, you shouldn't tan at all." I just shrug my shoulders. Dr. L is almost as white as the shorts I am wearing in the photo.
The hair on my body is short, baby fine and blonde and I have so little of it that I don't have to shave my legs! Yippee! This amazes Dr. L, she just can't believe it. She says I am the least hairiest adult she has ever seen and asks if I have always been like that. No, I answer, I used to have thick black hair all over me. She looks puzzled again, and then laughs. I'm not sure she understands my weird sense of humor.
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| Tiny toe nail |
I have always been different, my fingernails are see-through and bend and nail polish will not stick to them. My baby toenail is so tiny that I can barely cut it. My hair and parts of my face are very oily and the rest of my skin is very dry.
What can I say? I am an anomaly, I shouldn't tan, but I do. I shouldn't have Parkinson's either, but I do. I shouldn't be a Happy Parkie, but I am.
Thank you for reading this story, I hope you enjoyed it. This is just one of a hundred stories in my book, Parkinson's Humor - Funny Stories about My Life with Parkinson's Disease. Please consider purchasing a copy from Amazon.com or your favorite online book seller. Thank you and have a Happy Parkie Day!
