Many people come to the somewhat surprising conclusion that without Parkinson’s, life would be much more boring. It is not only the fact that you meet people you would otherwise never have had the chance to get to know. Pleasant, interesting, different people who are happy to share their experiences. Even if, of course, not all events are entirely positive, they can often serve a purpose by creating contrast.
When I was preschool age, my mother sent me to creative dance. Today we would call it ballet. My interest in dance has stayed with me, even if the Royal Swedish Ballet has had to manage without my contributions. These days, Dance for Parkinson is what matters. It is a dance method developed, among others, by choreographers from BalettAkademien in Stockholm. The method is becoming somewhat known, at least among people with Parkinson’s. And it happens that we Parkinson’s dancers are invited to perform. As we were on Tuesday, 12 June, when Karolinska Institutet arranged the 27th Nordic Congress of Gerontology. And what could have been a more suitable opening ceremony than a choreography created especially for the occasion and performed by dancers from Dance for Parkinson. For the day, we were joined by students from BalettAkademien.
Karolinska Institutet’s Aula Medica was almost full. As many as 900 people had attended. Her Majesty the Queen gave the opening speech after we dancers had opened the congress and set the tone.
In contrast to such a fantastic but demanding event came Thursday. I have what is known as a Lecigon pump, which ensures that the medication, Lecigon gel, reaches the duodenum, where maximum absorption takes place. In the morning, just as I was about to eat breakfast, the pump itself started to sound an alarm. There was a blockage somewhere in the system. I flushed the tubing system, but the blockage did not move at all. I then tried to call my nurse at the Academic Centre for Neurology. Because of the conflict, I was referred to 1177.
From there I was referred to the emergency department at Karolinska in Huddinge. That is where you are supposed to go if you need help with malfunctioning stomas. The problem could not be resolved in the emergency department. I had to spend the night as an involuntary guest of Region Stockholm. I have now been allowed to come home, but I have to return as an outpatient for fluoroscopy and troubleshooting.
Although it is, of course, not something one longs for — complications — they can lead to encounters and experiences that enrich life in completely unplanned ways.
I was a little sad and upset at the hospital. The nurse had promised to help me three times but had not had time. Then there was a young guy, in his twenties I would guess. He was a patient and had undergone surgery for an inflamed appendix a couple of days earlier. He seemed so at home and was walking around sorting through crockery and cutlery. I almost thought he worked there.
He asked if I wanted tea or coffee. He helped and made me some tea.
We talked for about an hour about all sorts of things. He was an electrician and wanted to move to a small village in northern Sweden. I told him selected parts of my life. Afterwards he asked, “Do you feel better now?”
I did.
I said goodnight, went off and then went to bed.
Bromma, 15 June 2024
Eleonor Högström