It’s been a few years since I posted the Parkinson’s Urban Dictionary, so I thought we should add some more words that we’ve learned. Here goes…
It seems like in this day and age, people have created their own language. Yes, I may type in English but don’t act like you don’t know what I mean when I throw an emoji in a post 😉 or if I drop a LOL in a sentence… LOL means, “laughing out loud” for those who have never met a teenager or who are born in the 1920s. Something that I have noticed is that Parkies have their own language when trying to describe their symptoms. So I have started my own urban dictionary, which includes slang terms or phrases that I use frequently when defining Parkinson’s disease. Enjoy!
-The Blah’s: When I lack the motivation to do something that I normally enjoy. I also use this term when describing a mental state of feeling impartial. Meh. I’m not depressed, but I have a gloomy cloud hanging over my head that I can’t shake and I don’t know why.
Use in a sentence: “I woke up this morning with a case of the blahs… I just don’t feel like leaving the house.”
-On: When my Parkinson’s medications are working and I feel like tackling the world.
Use in a sentence: “I’m on right now, let’s go to the zoo and feed a rhino.”
-Raptor Claw: When my foot or hand is painfully cramping. The medical term is Dystonia, but that doesn’t sound as cool as a talon on a bird of prey.
Use in a sentence: “Right in the middle of Disneyland, I got horrible raptor claw in my foot… I could barely walk.
-Diva: The arrogant attitude that my Parkinson’s has when things aren’t going her way and she thinks everything is about her. It’s the self-important, pompous side of PD and she can ruin your day.
Use in a sentence: “My Parkinson’s is being a damn Diva today…. I could barely get down the stairs.”
-Wolfpack: A group of people who you rely on for support. Your Wolfpack has you in the middle surrounded by resources such as your Neurologist, physical therapist, family, friends, and even pets.
Use in a sentence: “I keep my Wolfpack strong so I can live my life to the fullest.”
-Off: When my Parkinson’s disease is at it’s worse and my medications are not improving my symptoms.
Use in a sentence: “I am so off right now, I just want to go home to my dog Crash and crawl into bed.”
-Parkie: A term I use for a person who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. I use the word “Parkie” as an endearing term, which is not slanderous, and is not making light of the serious opposition we endure. In fact, it reminds me that we are a community of amazing people who come together to encourage each other to be our best and we are not alone in our suffering.
Use in a sentence: “I met a Parkie today who has just been approved for Deep Brain Stimulation surgery.”
-Fro Yo: A magical delight that has the power to put me in a better mental state. I believe normal people call it “frozen yogurt” but the cool people, like myself, know it only as “Fro Yo”. Every place that my travels have taken me, I make it a mission to seek out the local hotspots for this delicacy.
Use in a sentence: “The most difficult place to find Fro Yo was in Paris… but I found it.”
-Too Much: This is when my environment gets too chaotic and noisy. An example is when the radio is on, my dog is crawling on my lap, and my phone rings. With Parkinson’s, you lose the ability to multi-task. So when there are too many things happening at once, I feel overwhelmed. I have to turn the radio off, let my phone go to voicemail, and focus on one thing.
Use in a sentence: “The concert I went to last night was not enjoyable… there were so many people and it was so loud, it was too much.”
-Slow as a Sloth: I use this phrase when I am moving slow and feeling rigidity throughout my body. Why do I say, “slow as a sloth?” Because that’s how fast I am moving… not to mention that sloths are just adorable and much cooler to say than “bradykinesia.”
Use in a sentence: “I don’t know what is up with me today, I am moving as slow as a sloth.”
-Microdosing: Using small doses of Sinemet more frequently to control Parkinson’s symptoms.
Use in a sentence: “I’ve been microdosing my dopamine to get more “on” time during the day, its been a lifesaver.
Self-Medicating: Taking your prescribed medications based on how you are feeling, not just when the time is scheduled.
Use in a sentence: “When I have one more hour till my next dose of Sinemet, but I really need it sooner… I self-medicate and adjust the times I take it to better control my symptoms.
I am sure as I carry on my journey with Parkinson’s disease, my language will continue to grow. I am curious… what would you put into the Parkinson’s Urban Dictionary?
Made a typo in my comment…meant to say communicate not commutate…..sometimes my fingers won’t type what I want them to…….
Now that everyone is wearing masks we have to commutate with our eyes and mine are now expressionless…..makes me look angry or just blank …..guess I will have to LOL so they will know I’m happy which I am most of the time, I am a sparky parkie…love your blog…it makes dealing with PD easier to bear…thank you for that…..Shirleen
Shirleen,
You’re so right about the masks! It’s like, I’m smiling under here people! I’m happy to hear you’re enjoying my blog. Thanks for reading!
I love these! Thanks for making me smile. I have used the term “Parkies” on many occasions, and been scolded on more than one occasion by a few non-parky snowflakes for being un-PC. Once they made the mistake of berating me infant of my “Parky Posse” – pretty sure they won’t do that again.😊
Joe,
Some people get offended by it, but I believe it shows that we all share something together and we should be proud to be amongst all the great people with Parkinson’s. Keep your Parky Passe strong! Woot Woot!
Resident Urban and Chief Young Parky Correspondent John Reyes is here to add to the Urban Dictionary.
Netflix & Chill: What Parkies on a dopamine agonist are always trying to do… with anyone… or anything. Tell your dog to stay out of your meds and to quit booty calling me, Smitty! Bad Crash.
Good one John! 🤣
Love reading your blog! As you have mentioned before we Parkies are all snowflakes and yet share the Parkie
bond. I am very blessed to have an amazing wolf pack but only another Parkie can truly understand what off
feels like as well as the other side effects. Thanks for sharing!
A sub heading of DIVA… “don’t go all trump on me.”
(Tis the season)
We refer to my right leg as “Elvis” when my dystonia peaks!
I meant dyskinesia – it’s late at night, my brain has switched off!
We call my left hand tremor “the jiggy hand.” My kids will say, “Mom, your hand’s all jiggy.”
Hi Allison…
I absolutely love your eloquent use of the English language for your Urban Dictionary, I have yet to come up with my own but I will take on the challenge for 2018 to add to your UD.
As always, another brilliantly interesting blog.
How about “Nose Blind”…. as in I can’t smell anything, because I’m 90% nose blind……….
That’s a great one!
Nose blind! 🤣
When my meds are off, I tell my grandkids, ” Watch out! I’m turning into Frankenstein. They don’t always know who Frankenstein is, but it feels like I am doing a good impression of him when I’m feeling that way.
LOL! My children have let me know in no uncertain terms that LOL should never be capitalized, followed by an exclamation mark, or used by anyone over 30. I am breaking all of the rules, and loving it, LOL!!!!!
I really understand all of your lexicon, although I have different words for some of them, and some of my labels have no written version. Those two medical terms, “on” and “off” I know very well. Dystonia – I remember this one because I feel like a stone. Bradykinesia has nothing to do with the Brady Bunch – which is a pop culture reference you may be too young to remember. I have several word pictures for this one:. When I feel it coming on, I tell my family that I am turning into a pumpkin. It feels like being encased in jello, swimming through oatmeal, or having my brain embedded in cement. My brain programmer calls it “wonky”, My sister says that dyskinesia looks like I desperately need to use the bathroom, so it is my Potty Dance, or the Dyskinesia Dance.
It is not good to hear of the suffering of others, but at the same time, it is so good to know that I am not alone in the insanity that is life with Parkinson’s. I invite you to come visit me at mylifewithparkinsons.blogspot.com .
Potty dance… 😂 LMAO! Thanks for your comment. I will definitely be checking out your blog.
My favorites are “The Drop,” when my meds kick in. (e.g.– I just took a pill and am waiting for The Drop.”)
and, “The Wavy-Gravies,” when I have a little too much dopamine in my system & have dyskinesias (e.g.– “My wife drives when I have the Wavy Gravies–it’s just safer for all those pedestrians!!”)
Lol. Love it! Thanks for sharing.
“Mary Speak” is my entry, but the name can be personalized to fit you. It is the language that I use when “words I come say out of order. Mean what I get?”
Oh I bet that’s frustrating having your words misbehave. But I love the humor.
Nice blog so well done on your urban dictionary Parkinsons.
What you call raptor claw I call toe curl or crippy toes.
crippy toes sounds like a new type of curly fries 🍟. Thank you for your comment.
Hi Allison…
What a great topic…
How about :
‘drunken auctioneer’..
My mouth is the meeting place where an avalanche of slurry sounding words are all attempting to exit at breakneck speed..as I try to express a thought.
Great one Shane! 😂
😍🙏🏻 Luv it!
Love this.