Parkinson’s: A Tissue Issue

Snarky Parky & me

A Journey Into Parkinson's with Nancy Mellon

Blog Coordinated by Corrine Bayraktaroglu

A Little Dab Will Do Ya

Steven is smart. I have always felt able to ask him a question and expect he'd come up with an answer. Steven is also creative. So, sometimes, I know he makes them up. Last night, I was sure he had made up his answer. So I dared him to google it. 

And amazingly it came up! The exact words he had used.

They were... wait for it.... “HANDKERCHIEF MANAGEMENT.”

I was laughing so hard, I hurt. 

Breni got me laughing today too. He got me laughing right before I had to take my pills. My neck was stiff and I was holding it ramrod up and back. It makes it hard to see or grab anything below my chin. (You should see me trying to chop veggies blind, when my medication is off!)

I had just managed to get my carbidopa/levodopa pills and a mouthful of water in my mouth. The stinker got me laughing so hard that the water came shooting back out.) 

Having a wet feeling at my mouth has been kind of common lately. I have been feeling the need to have a Kleenex on hand to dab the corners of my mouth. (I have noticed that a few of my PD compadres are also discretely doing a bit of dabbing.)

“Drool” is an ugly word. (Even when it is an adorable baby, it is somehow unpleasant to be slicked down with drool.) It is also an embarrassing word.

We are Done with that word. It shall not pass my lips again. The rest of this post is about combating the water leak. I have a choice. Should I use a Kleenex or a handkerchief?

And what the heck is Handkerchief Management? The question, that I had asked Steven, was: did he know what one did with a wet handkerchief? Did you have to throw it in the washing machine every time you used it. He said no you folded it. Folded it? He then proceeded to tell me that he had learned about Handkerchief Management from my dear friend, Mr. Leo. They had had long discussions on it. I was not buying it. Mr. Leo and I had never talked about handkerchiefs, I didn't remember ever seeing him using a handkerchief! Steven added that his Uncle also used a handkerchief and discussed Handkerchief Management with him! By this time, I was going into hysterics, it all sounded too ridiculous, I was sure he was pulling my leg. That's when I flung down the challenge- GOOGLE IT.

I was fascinated. Steven sent me the link from the TSHU site:

Why you shouldn’t use paper tissues on a daily basis:

Using paper tissues is not good for our environment. It takes a lot of water to make paper. Making cotton requires water too—but in the case of cotton, water is used once and since you reuse the handkerchief again and again, the impact is lessened. Often after just one use, the paper tissues will end up in the trash.

• They are often bleached with chlorine.

• They can't be recycled.

• They are over packaged.

Why use a cloth handkerchief?

• It’s less trash, less waste. No more will your trash cans be overflowing with used tissues—and no more groans at your speckled laundry from the forgotten pocket tissue. 

• They are much more comfortable for your nose than paper tissues! 

• They are much less irritant if you have allergies. Steven said that allergies were why his uncle used a handkerchief. A Kleenex flings tiny particles of paper dust into the air every time you pull one out or twist off part of it. 

• Once you get into the habit of carrying one around with you, you’ll never run out. And a handkerchief take up less space in your bag or pocket than a pack.

• Using a cloth handkerchief will save you money. How many boxes of tissues do you go through in a week?

• They have style. Paper tissues don't! Try a colored handkerchief or an embroidered one. To tempt your kids to use one, what is their favorite character?

• No slimy sleeves.  I know you have never used your sleeve. But the truth is, that most of us, when we get caught with a dripping nose and nothing to wipe it with,.... occasionally... we will dab our nose,.. only once..., quickly,.. on our sleeve.

The question of the ick factor:

• Have you ever left a used paper tissue in your pocket or crushed in your hand while you tried to find a trash can?  If so, how is that cleaner than a cotton handkerchief? At least your cotton hanky won’t disintegrate, leaving small particles everywhere! If you use the fold method, described below, on your hanky, you won't get your fingers wet.

• Have you ever had to reuse a paper tissue?  If so, was it strong enough to contain a second blow? A 12x12, big, roomy, cotton handkerchief—especially if doubled up,won’t let you down.

• if you’re sick and you don’t wash your hands after blowing your nose—in cotton or in paper, you’ll be spreading your germs.

• Throw your hanky in the clothes hamper at the end of each day. In the morning, grab a new hanky. Wash your hankies weekly in a regular load. It wont contaminate your clothes. You can wash the hankies in cold to lukewarm water if you are using them for dabbing.

Finally the answer to my question: How to use a handkerchief:

You should do things differently if you’re simply dabbing at some extra fluids or if you’re dealing with the flu.

How to use a handkerchief when you’re healthy (at least we do not have the flu!)

Blow, or dab, then fold the handkerchief down over the wet area. Move over to a dry area and repeat. Start in a corner and work your way towards the opposite side. Hankies are big and have a lot of space to blow or dab and fold. If you fold it and place it back in your pocket or into a hanky holder, it will most likely dry. (Since most nasal discharge is composed essentially of water when you’re healthy.) 

If you are well, you should have one handkerchief for every day of the week.

How to use a handkerchief when you’re sick.

1. Stock up on 2 ply handkerchiefs, loads of them.

2. WASH YOUR HANDS after every blow.

3. Dispose of your used hankies wisely—Don’t leave them on the counter, on your desk or lying around anywhere. If you’re at home, simply keep a cloth hankie bag, close by to put your used one in and have a stack of clean hankies to change your hanky after every juicy blow. If you’re not at home— bring along a cloth bag for your dirty hankies and another one for your clean ones.

4. Wash your handkerchiefs in hot water.  For extra protection dry them out in the sun. 

Hankies for different uses?

A handkerchief can also be used for:

• Wiping your sweat off

• Wrapping a sandwich or a snack

• Cleaning your kids' face or hands or a cut

• Polishing your cell phone screen or sunglasses

• Or use it to mop up a spill

I am going to try out the stack of white cloth hankies that Steven has given me to try. They were my father-in-law's handkerchiefs. His name was Vaughn Deal-and I loved him very much. 

And on that note, guess what I am getting for Christmas? Corrine and Ara and Zyn, have all said yes to my request for Hankies! I'm going to be flaunting my wild and crazy handkerchiefs! (Maybe not wild and crazy, I don't know, they will be a wonderful surprise!)

Cheers,

Nancy and the Snark