Columns

In my last column, “I Have Parkinson’s Disease and This Is How It Affects Me, Part 1,” I shared what having Parkinson’s disease is like, according to those who live with it on a daily basis. This is second in the series.  It’s my body, but I’m…

I am not a writer. A little history In 2010, I retired from a 37-year career in the information technology industry. For many years, I relied on the analytical side of my brain. While in retirement, I decided the time was right to exercise the more visual and perceptual side of…

First in a series. You have Parkinson’s disease (PD). If someone were to observe you, what would they see (external symptoms/issues) that is attributed to having Parkinson’s disease? What wouldn’t they see (internal symptoms/issues) that is attributed to having this disease? This is not just my story. This…

Editor’s Note: This is a guest column by John L. Lehr, CEO of the Parkinson’s Foundation, marking Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Every April, the Parkinson’s Foundation engages the global Parkinson’s community to support this national observance — but this year, these activities are particularly important. Why is this the case? By…

If I were to ask someone “What is DBS?”, they might reply something like: “Deep brain stimulation. Yeah, that’s it. DBS … Deep brain stimulation.” That’s good, but not the definition. And another interviewee: “Well, it’s a surgical procedure that involves cutting into the brain and putting…

Parkinson’s disease can be difficult to live with, and excessive sweating adds to the mix. People with PD have a higher likelihood of emitting unfavorable odors because a person with PD can perspire more than someone who doesn’t have it. “When Parkinson’s affects the autonomic nervous system, it…

I used to be happy. I used to be a lot of fun. Or, so I’ve been told. What happened to me? The me who used to not have to take pills to feel good? The me who used to laugh all the time with others and dance…

We sometimes don’t get all of our facts straight when it comes to pursuing what we want. As Parkinson’s patients, we only want one thing: a cure. Since we know that a cure is being researched but we don’t know when it will come about, we are grateful…

This is written for loved ones who might have a sense that something isn’t quite right with the one they care about. It is a list of early signs you may notice before your spouse, friend, child, or parent does and how you might help them. Most people…

You’ve seen the commercials about diarrhea. It’s not something to be embarrassed about, but we try to make light of it by calling it by some other name like the runs, the squirts, the trots, Montezuma’s revenge, or the really polite word: dysentery. When it comes down to…