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General Category => The Coffee Shop => Topic started by: Erewhon on March 04, 2016, 07:48:08 am
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G'day All,
This April coming will be three years since I last was here, much has changed in my life since then, not only have I gotten older but I have been diagnosed with PD and was wondering if there is any others here in the same boat as I now find myself in who can share with me problems they face with scroll sawing with PD.
Regards Erewhon.
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Not trying to be nosey, but what is PD?
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A lot of us have some "problems" of one kind or the other. I had a stroke so my right hand doesn't work so good. But we all make do the best we can and any thing you can do in order to be able to do what you want to do. Too many people sit around and say "I can't do it because I have this or that". Then of course the can't.
So good for you for wanting to work it out. Sorry for the rant, keep us posted as to how you are "making it work" for you. HAPPY DAY TO YOU ;D
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Hi erewhon, I have Muscular Dystrophy. I have been scrowling for about eight years now. I am in a wheelchair and my hands are very weak but that doesn't stop me. I have adapted so many thing to keep me scrolling. I have always been pretty inventive. I find a way to do what I do. If you need any help, don't be afraid to ask.
Chris
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Hi Erewhon, I volunteer in an organization called 'The Men's Shed.' It was started in Australia a number of years ago and is slowly gaining popularity around the world.
What is the Men's Shed?
Well, we have people with Diabetes, Parkinson's, Partial Blindness, Cancer, Deafness and many other ailments that God gives us, just to test our metal. I say this because, other than outward signs of the conditions, all of the guys have adapted to their particular condition and have found a way around it. They turn out just as beautiful items as they did before they became ill.
It is not uncommon to hear the guys talking about how working with wood has been their saviour.
I encourage you to work with your condition and find new ways to continue this great hobby of scrolling.
I have included the website to the shed I work at. http://www.communitywebs.org/willosmensshed/ (http://www.communitywebs.org/willosmensshed/)
Good Luck mate.
Dave.
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Thank you all for your comments.
Tvman44, PD is Parkinson?s Disease, I still keep telling myself that they have got it all wrong, so I guess I?ve yet to accept it.
While there are those who have PD a lot worse than I have it, it is something that does effect many in different ways. In my case I have a right leg that at times likes to go off into a dance of its own for periods of time that can be from a few seconds to half an hour or so. My right hand and arm can for hours upon end just give out little twitches and a little shakes, the suddenly without warning warning I can be waving it around as if I'm directing traffic. I have been known without warning to part empty a can of coke over a visitor who came to our home while sitting at our kitchen table. While I try to laugh it off it is something that I can see causing a problem for me with my work working power tools, hence we all know how thin the scroll saw blades are so I see the possibility of one day having shares in such a manufacturing company. So currently as I come to terms with this stupid PD I just want to find others who may have the same problem as myself who may have some tips to pass on to me. Again thanks for your question, sorry I can not be more informative but I'm still trying to understand fully what these Specialist people are trying to tell me.
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Thanks Hawkdave for you comment, As I new to this PD thing I'm yet to work out in my mind if its an illness or a disability, but one thing I currently know is that it sure draws the stares of those around you when things go a little crazy and no matter how often I'm told not to worry about the stares when out shopping with the wife it aint easy. Yes we have a small 'Mens Shed' in the grounds of our local hospital, its a very small shed next to the Doctors office about the size of a car shed, being new to this PD thing I have a good work shop of my own at home and would rather spend my time in it rather than making a fool of myself in our local Men's Shed. Please don't get me wrong but until I can accept this PD thing and sort me head out as to how I gunna deal with things I'll at this time stay outa the local mens shed and see what I can do by myself. I think this forum I jointed years ago before getting this PD thing is a good place to learn from others because they can't see me and I can't see them. Please no offence intended, but you suggest and encourage me to work with my condition, that's what I intend doing hence that's why I here . Again thanks for your input I do appreciate it.
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Hi crusty59 thanks to you also for your input, yes I have heard of MD and I have over the years and months passed had all sorts of tests done for many things and it wouldn't surprise me if I wasn't tested for MD as well. I just got that way that in the end I'd point the finger at the wife and say 'tell her I don't wanna know', At this time crusty I'm not noticing any strength weakness in my body but I sure feel the joint pains mainly in me right arm, right leg and all me little digit joints. While I'm sure you condition is a lot more serious than this crazy PD thing I got hopefully you and I just might have a few things we can share with one another not only about scroll sawing but about accepting what we have, because heaven knows crusty I eventually will need to rearrange in my head much that I'm going to need to come to terms with. So thanks for your input and as time moves on maybe we can share our thoughts and ideas with one another.
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No problems Erewhon, I understand that it does take some time to get your head around situations such as yours. I lost my job just a little over 4 years ago when I came down with Positional Vertigo (PV) I was off for 3 months when I received a call from the boss at work, he said, put in for a separation package because there is no work here when you get better. It took a number of days for me to realise what this meant to my future. At 61 years old at the time, it threw all of my retirement plans into oblivion. Once I had managed to come to terms with this, I applied and was accepted for the package. Sensibly, I used the money to pay the house off and make myself debt free, then I applied for welfare from the government. No worries there, but I had to do so many hours volunteer work each week to get my payment. This is why I am volunteering at the Willo's Men's Shed. I now only have 2 months left to go before I officially retire (65 years old) and I will continue with the shed as it has been a God send to me. I have helped a lot of people such as yourself come to terms with what ails them. This is by working with them to show them alternative work methods and most importantly, listening to them. There are around 70 members in the shed and they all have a tale to tell and demons to master, but the members never judge one another, this in itself is all part of the accepting and healing process.
I wish you all the best as you try to get your head into focus with your PD. You have already started by asking the right questions and getting back with this forum.
The only advice I can give you right now is, use whatever guards and safety precautions are available on your machinery, this will lessen the risk of personal injury by hiding the dangerous parts of your machines.
Dave.
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Hi Judy Hunter, thanks for you comment also and no it wasn't a rant. I agree I can either sit on me backside and do nothin' or I can tackle this thing head on and try and do the best I can. After getting my wood work shop built and now being told I have this PD thing the last thing I wanna do is toss all my dreams away without giving it a go. I think it was way back when I first joined this forum that I got my brand new scroll saw and boy did I have big ideas and plans at what I was gunna make, I did use it once for a little time just cutting odd shapes outa scraps of wood but other than that it hasn't been used since. When I look at these tools I'm so proud of I start to wonder of them all which ones I'll keep and which I'll let go. I have decided that for now I won't let any go until I have given good thought on how to best protect that which we all value dearly 'Our Fingers'. I'm told that my PD will get worse so I'm getting in on the ground floor and seeing what I can do with each power tool before I might have to give it up.
Thanks for you comment and now that I've responded to all and corrected all my mistakes I gunna watch some Footy on TV, Bye Judy Hunter and take care all.
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About 3 weeks i read an article in the Courier Journal newspaper in Ky. they have found that
boxing has helped some people with PD. Using the punching bag seems to help. They said
hitting the bag uses some of the nerves that are affected. it might help to check this out.
good luck
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Hawkdave Yes you are right and I do sit and look at me power tools and try and figure out ways I can protect myself from possible harm. In some cases adding some extra protection ideas I have considered could end up being more dangerous to me. But I've time to work on things. I've been working on a small wooden toy car for a good radio announcer friend of mine for over a year and a bit now, just when everything appears to be drawing to and end bugger me if something don't go wrong and I bugger it all up. He is a very patient friend while my patience at times gets stretched to the limits. Again your advice is appreciated.
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G'day termite.
Yes there are some wonderful ideas out there on how best to deal with different illnesses and mobility functions that effect us all from time to time. I'm not saying that what you have read wouldn't help me but as I approach 65 years of age if I put my dreams on hold to try everything that was suggested that may help me with my problems then I might as well sell all me gear because I'd have no time available yo use it.
I think what I'll do, I'll write up as brief as possible an account of my problems and for those who are interested I can give em a pdf file to read. I'll make a posting here when its done, but firstly I have to find a new key board that has bigger keys on it because my postings do take quite a bit of time to correct when finished.
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Well had a play to day with me scroll saw, attempted to cut out a Polar Bear and ended up with some thing that lookrd a little like road kill. Not at all looking like the bear it should have. Got to read more of these forums to see what you lot use on the scroll saw top to get a good slippery surface. My left hand has no shakes at all but my right side is like an out house door in the wind, all over the place.
While I tend to use me left hand more these days its a bit difficult due to the fact that I've always been right handed and tend to always try and use it. Tried a few ways to control the plywood and discovered that if I slowed the speed of the scroll saw down a lot I had better control over the wood, but I see a lot more practice being had yet. Found away to keep me right hand out harms way when it shook too much, just slid it under me backside and sat on it, seemed to work for a while. lol.
I'm yet to be totally convinced that I do have this darn Parkinson's disease, so the wife and I travelling to Brisbane on the 7th next month cause I want a second opinion. I've always been one that has always been a Doubting Thomas and I guess like times in the past with my mobility disability I'm just grasping at straws to see if someone will tell me that I have some thing else that will pass in time. Any ways if I feel good tomorrow morning I'll be back at that scroll saw and try again to create a Polar Bear and see if it turns out better than road kill. Thanks all for the chat really appreciate it.
Hooroo.
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;D HOT DARN!! Love your sense of humor and you light hearted look at your situation. Extra funny today because i JUST "aquired" a real outhouse for out beside my outside shop. Guess I will have to make sure I fasten the door shut on a windy day. ;D You are hanging in there. That is what counts. Do you intend to become a millionaire with your woodwork? If not, just relax and enjoy doing what you can do.
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Hi Erewhon....I express the same sentiments as Judy. Your sense of humour shines through loud and clear. This is a big step in your healing process.
As far as the Polar Bear goes, I guess you can learn how to cook and see what it tastes like. We have made food from roadkill here in Australia, but not from polar bears, more like kangaroo. ;D
Keep on track with the way you are handling your situation and good luck.
Dave.
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G'day Judy,
Well I tryin' to look on the bright side of things presently, I had to find some way to cope after my work accident back in 1988. Looking a the bright side and having a more un-serious way of handling me problems, sure I have me down days but being a bit stupid does at times put me into a better frame of mind. No I have never looked at making money from my woodworking hobby. For a number of years I watched and listened to how people were supporting our Aussie farmers during bush fires, floods and drought. Many of them have children and while the adult farmers battle these conditions the children are often forgotten about. I decided that I would start building wooden toys that I could give away to the kids in the hope that I just might be able to brighten up their little lives in some way. Sadly after getting all I needed together in the way of equipment my health issues started to bring problems. In short Judy I don't wanna make any money at all from what I desire to do, its just that there are others who suffer more than me and if I can help make their life that little much better then no doubt in time my problems I battle with will be less noticeable to me and that in turn should make me feel that little better. I hope you understand what I've tried to say. Again thanks for your comment and you take care.
Hooroo.
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G'day Dave,
Thanks your comments Dave, I realised many years back that I could keep going down the track of "Woo Is Me' or I could accept my problems and find away to handle them all. Sure I still have those down days and I get cranky but they are now few and far between. Sorry mate gotta go the wife is ready to go shopping catch ya later.
Hooroo.
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I've got the shakes in my hands pretty bad at times which makes part of what I enjoy doing difficult. I cut a lot of mortises with a chisel and lining up the lengths of the mortise is a challenge so what I do to make it a bit easier is to chisel out a starting groove about 1/8th deep so once I get going I can just follow the groove.
Nothing is more fun than hammering into my hand with a heavy iron mallet head with the rubber ends.. The correct terminology escapes me right now, but having the shakes makes things a challenge for sure.
I've been to the doc about this time and time again with no substantial diagnosis.
Personally I think it's from a lifetime of working with chemicals and heavy drinking during the early part of my adult life..I can't undo all that, but what I can do is to press on and not just give up.
I often have to stand there, take several deep breaths and wait for my shakes to subside and press ahead. Just today I managed to drive a chisel into my hand so my days of chopping mortises are definitely going to be limited for a while..
I do have some other projects that don't require pounding and the scroll saw is sitting over in the corner waving at me saying, 'Don't forget about me!'
My grandmother handed down a beautiful jewelry box I gave to my daughter, but it got stolen recently so I might just go ahead and make her a new one made with dad's love.. I already made her a nice towel rack and the scroll saw came in very handy..
It's not a lot of fancy schmancy fretwork,but it came out pretty nice if I do say so myself..
(http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q490/atheola/IMG_20160314_200408.jpg)
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I've got the shakes in my hands pretty bad at times which makes part of what I enjoy doing difficult. I cut a lot of mortises with a chisel and lining up the lengths of the mortise is a challenge so what I do to make it a bit easier is to chisel out a starting groove about 1/8th deep so once I get going I can just follow the groove.
Nothing is more fun than hammering into my hand with a heavy iron mallet head with the rubber ends.. The correct terminology escapes me right now, but having the shakes makes things a challenge for sure.
I've been to the doc about this time and time again with no substantial diagnosis.
Personally I think it's from a lifetime of working with chemicals and heavy drinking during the early part of my adult life..I can't undo all that, but what I can do is to press on and not just give up.
I often have to stand there, take several deep breaths and wait for my shakes to subside and press ahead. Just today I managed to drive a chisel into my hand so my days of chopping mortises are definitely going to be limited for a while..
I do have some other projects that don't require pounding and the scroll saw is sitting over in the corner waving at me saying, 'Don't forget about me!'
My grandmother handed down a beautiful jewelry box I gave to my daughter, but it got stolen recently so I might just go ahead and make her a new one made with dad's love.. I already made her a nice towel rack and the scroll saw came in very handy..
It's not a lot of fancy schmancy fretwork,but it came out pretty nice if I do say so myself..
(http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q490/atheola/IMG_20160314_200408.jpg)
Hi mamell...you are not the only one that thinks it came out pretty nice. It looks a million dollars.
Never give in and always take care as you do your work. Well done mate!!!
Dave.
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G'day Mamell - that's a fantastic cloths rack and I take your point about finding ways to cope with our different problems.
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Thanks folks, but I think I pretty much screwed the pooch with my hand for the time being anyway.. I'm not sure about scrolling yet. Just lifting a cup of coffee hurts now, but this won't last forever. Unfortunately the scroll saw is sitting up under a shelf out of the way while I was working on the bench so there's a good chance it might have to stay there till I heal up a bit.. I'll still try though..
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G'day All,
Well me trip to Brisbane has been and gone and no matter how hard I tried to impress this second Neurologist that I didn't have Parkinson's Disease he agreed with the first diagnosis and I guess I gotta now accept it. He was unable to tell me what the future holds but I'm about to start on a course of medication that may or may not help control my unwanted body movements. I have been warned that there could be some unpleasant side effects as different people respond differently to these drugs hence I've decided that it might be in my best interests and that of the forum if I parked myself up until I know where I'll end up.
Without going into much detail - several years ago I was a member of a well known forum that is all about wooden toy making, I was at the time fighting a bout of depression because I was finding it hard to cope with Graves Disease that I had been diagnosed with. One minute I was going to have my thyroid gland killed off and then without warning my blood tests would swing the other way and then the killing of my thyroid gland would be put on hold. Currently as it stands the darn thing is on the move again and they are sitting back again waiting to see how bad things are going to get. Truly I was at a stage where I didn't know if I was coming or going and being depressed about the whole affair didn't help me at all. I would express my concern about some small hay bales one of the forum members had made to go with a child's toy as I saw them as being a danger to a young child. While my concern was expressed in a polite way it didn't go down too good and the response towards my concern wasn't warmly received. One thing lead to another and before long I found myself being banned from the forum.
Now as I face this new adventure with Parkinson's Disease I don't ever want to find myself in such a position again as above, so I've elected to park myself up until I'm happy that I'm able to cope with that which I'm yet to experience in the coming months with these new drugs. So to you all I'll say cheers for the time being, take care and when I'm happy that I'm able to cope with that which now ails me ............. well you know what I'm trying to say.
Hooroo for now.
Erewhon.
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Hi Erewhon..... I guess deep down you knew what the doctor was going to say, but holding on to a positive thought doesn't hurt at all. I understand that you need time to work out what is happening in your life right now, but I urge you not to be a total stranger. You can still be a member of the forum and check out the posts from time to time. This will also allow you to gain some experience and tips, then when you are ready to make your come back, we will be waiting to greet you.
Take care and think positive.
Dave.
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;D We are all here for you. You do what you gotta do. But don't over think it. We all live "One Day At a Time."
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G'day All,
Well I'm still above ground and to day is one of those days that the Parkinsons Disease (PD Terrorist Organisation) has me house bound away from my woodworking workshop so I thought I?d let you know what I been up to.
It?s been a hard last two months battling this Terrorist Organisation and I?ve found a few ways to help me do what I want to do with my power tools in the workshop.
Being diagnosed as a grade two PD sufferer has been very hard to accept but I?m slowly accepting and dealing with what it tosses up and if this keyboard would just stop making all those spelling mistakes it shouldn?t take too long to tell you what I been up to.
Firstly I've spent a lot of time in my woodworking shed of late sitting and looking at all of my power tools that just might pose dangers to me, I still have five digits on both hands and would like to retain as many of them as I can because I like to use them at times for calculating purposes and picking up things.
Table Saw: Well there is only so much protection one can have here and a sled I made for it some months ago does give me confidence and the use of clamps when cutting smaller pieces helps a lot. Ripping timber is a worry but I'm working on and idea that I have floating around in me head in relation to some jigs.
Drill Press: While not a big problem my drilling of holes has been for sometime been a hit and miss affair, so I've built a couple of jigs that have solved my accuracy problems and I very happy with the results I can now achieve as I shake, rattle and roll. Hasn?t been easy constructing these jigs but all in all I think I done pretty darn good.
Scroll Saw: I have had a good ole play with it of late and is best played with when I don't tremble so much. My biggest problem is keeping close to the lines of what I'm cutting out, while my eyes have been tested and I do wear glasses at times PD causes my eyes to strain and hard to focus so my time at the scroll saw is limited. I?ve read that by printing out your designs in Red rather than Black is a good help as Red is much easier to see, so I?ll put that to the test next time.
To give you an idea as to my problem with the scroll saw is best described this way. My PD has given me tremors on the right hand side of my body, thus my right hand (being my dominate) is in constant tremor mode. My left hand is my most steady but it does at times get a very slight tremor or causes my fingers to want to rub against one another, so at present my left hand is getting a real work out.
Sometimes my tremors are very slight and other times I suddenly get into ?Dystonia? mode. While I?m slightly effect at present with a mild case of ?Dystonia? the best way to describe it is. A movement which causes muscles to contract uncontrollably thus causing me some sudden violent movements, while it can eventually effect the whole body currently I have a mild version and only time will tell what my future Dystonia will be like.
I quite proud of what I have managed to cut out with the scroll saw at present and in time I hope to get better at it, while I have respect for the little cutting blade I haven?t as yet broken one with a sudden hand movement so I?m very pleased.
I?m not a fan of breathing in the fine dust so I tried to use those little white face masks that go over your nose and mouth and have a elastic band that gets tangled in your hair. Well wearing glasses no matter how I tried these little dust masks I just couldn?t stop foggin? up me glasses. Now I?ve resorted to wearing a green rubber type mask that has two filters either side of it, not a pretty look and while its gunna take some getting use to at least me glasses are fog free.
So that?s about it for the present, I?d love to be out in me shed but tomorrow is another day and the terrorist organization just might let me back there tomorrow.
While I?m no poet I have had at times thought much about that which occupies my life now and after returning from our once a fortnight shop down in our nearby city some weeks ago I put down some words that I?d like to yell at those who watch as I stumble along like the local town drunk. So I wrote this;
For years health wise I?ve had many a fight,
I?ve always bounced back feeling alright.
Diagnosed now with Parkinson?s Disease,
someone explain it to me please?
I aint had time to learn about this disease,
So currently I swallow Madopar to help fight this PD.
Now just a minute, let me catch me breath,
the Neurologist said it wasn?t terminal,
Hell I ain?t dead yet.
I drag me feet, walk with a stoop,
me bottom lip quivers and I shake quite a bit.
With a head sometimes fuzzy inside,
I drift off to places where only I can hide.
With hand and arm shakes I must look a sight,
yes I to get embarrassed at my plight.
I apologise if sudden movements cause you fright,
inwardly I?m in one of my life?s biggest fights.
Yes I?m yet to accept the diagnosis given,
So stare if you must your totally forgiven.
I?m trying to deal with this the best I can,
Remember what you see outwardly
Is Not Me - The Real Man.
How I'll go and see how to upload a few images.
Hooroo
Erewhon.
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It's great to hear from you again Erewhon. I see from you update you have made progress in the department of jigs that will make life easier for you. I am a great fan of jigs, particularly when you have multiple items to make. I also like your poem...well done!
To show you are not alone, I have had a break in my Vertigo attacks and have taken this opportunity to fix up the ridge tiles on my roof. That will be one more of those jobs out of the way.
Keep up with the great work mate.
Dave.
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I'm really impressed with your attitude. You appear to not give in to a disease and let it manage you but you are managing it. Well done, don't let it control you.
Bill
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G'day Dave,
Yes the more I think about these different tools and view jigs on the you tube etc I can see ways that some will help me a lot. I've this crazy idea in me head at present that I think will help me with my scroll sawing. ::) I have ideas in regards to cutting out centers for wooden wheels I wanna make for me toys, being small they pose a problem for trembling hands to hold onto so I thinking of making a jig that will hold these small things steady and the size of the jig will give me a little more control over it 'I Hope'. I amaze my self at times with the crazy ideas I come up, nine times outa ten ninety nine percent of them never work :-[ but its fun havin' a go.
Hooroo :)
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G'day Bill,
I thank you for your encouragement, I try hard to have a positive attitude that this darn disease aint gunna beat me but believe me there are days, many days more than I like when I just wanna give up and hide away from the every day problems that I face with it. I'm gunna do me best Bill and I'll keep fighting all that it tosses up.
Hooroo. :)
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Something I just read.....
No One in this world is pure and perfect.
If you avoid people for their mistakes, you will be alone.
So judge less and Love More.
~~~unknown~~~
Something I am trying to live by!
~~~GB~~~