Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Laying Parkinson’s disease bare
A woman living in rural Marlborough describes the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease as ‘‘like being in a pressure cooker, and the next minute being in a vacuum cleaner.’’
But the symptoms of the neurodegenerative condition could be different for everyone, she said.
Caused by decreasing levels of dopamine in the brain, Parkinson’s typically caused stiffness, shaking and soreness of movement.
Wairau Valley woman Kay Hannam has suffered from Parkinson’s disease since 2017, when a combination of symptoms and stress took her to the doctor.
‘‘I remember driving home, and I was shaking at the wheel. I had never felt like that before,’’ she said.
‘‘It just took all these little feelings, the vacuum cleaner feeling and the shaking, the lack of strength and the miscoordination, [which] finally took me to the doctor.
‘‘I finally met with a specialist that confirmed that I did indeed have Parkinson’s.’’
The condition affects approximately 1 in 500 people, with the average age of diagnosis 59.
When it came to Parkinson’s disease, Hannam said ‘‘exercise may not cure it but it will stem the tide’’.
She was involved in weekly fitness classes for people with Parkinson’s, designed ‘‘to keep your body fluid and keep your strength up.’’
As the co-owner of Wai-natur Naturist Park, Hannam decided this year to open up about her condition and use her position in the naturist community to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson’s disease.
A ‘Tulip Cream Tea’, a function organised through Parkinson’s New Zealand, was put on at the Wai-natur Naturist Park last Saturday, with more than 30 enjoying a day of tea, mini golf and swimming.
Along with a Givealittle page, Hannam said the group had raised more than $600 for the Parkinson’s community in Marlborough, which would go to exercise and support groups.
She said she was humbled the naturist community supported her in the way they had.
‘‘While you read in the news that Billy Connolly and various celebrities have Parkinson’s, I thought they were pretty brave talking about it,’’ she said.
‘‘I’m not particularly brave, but I think it’s been a good thing because it draws people together and it gave a lot of people the opportunity to give back.’’