Columns

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with deep brain stimulation surgery. Not everyone will have the same response to the procedure. Consult your doctor before considering any particular therapy or treatment. Second in a series. Read part one.  In last week’s column, I left off at the…

As a caregiver to a husband with Parkinson’s disease, I often feel like we’re in an unseaworthy boat surrounded by sharks, searching for a lighthouse. So far, nearly 11 years after my husband Eric’s Parkinson’s diagnosis, we’ve been able to ride the waves of the disease’s progression.

Sometimes I think about the odd medical practices that were used hundreds of years ago to treat illnesses and how those strategies compare with today’s practices. In the 19th century, milk transfusions were considered to be an adequate replacement for blood transfusions. (While some patients survived the procedure,…

Growing up, we always had a dog in our family. My mom was particularly fond of schnauzer breeds, so I always had a gray-haired, old-man-looking dog to walk, feed, and keep me company. One dog, Charlie Brown, came into our family a few years before I was born, so we…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with deep brain stimulation surgery. Not everyone will have the same response to the procedure. Consult your doctor before considering any particular therapy or treatment. First in a series. You know how people say “It’s not like it’s brain surgery” about something…

“Parkinson’s is like falling in love — without the love.” I saw this quote on social media a few months ago, and it made me chuckle. I thought it would be good to share with you this Valentine’s Day, as I’ve been thinking about falls quite a bit lately.

I became extremely frustrated with the whole treatment and research system when I was denied access to the Parkinson’s disease clinical trial I wanted to participate in. That prompted many questions: Why does research take so long? Where does all the fundraising money go? Why do I feel so…

One common but frustrating symptom of Parkinson’s disease is what’s known as “off periods.” These happen when medication, such as Sinemet (carbidopa and levodopa), wear off — sometimes suddenly — and other Parkinson’s symptoms that had been under control show up again or get worse. During off periods, you…

One of the more challenging Parkinson’s disease symptoms that my dad navigates is stiffness or rigidity, which makes the mornings hard on him. He does his morning stretches to counteract the problem, but it puts a hamper on his groove. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if the stiffness comes…

Every time I enter the password on my laptop to begin writing a column, I’m hit with a powerful wave of emotions. There’s a sense of fulfillment — a chance to reflect on my late father’s life, to honor his memory. But alongside that fulfillment, there’s an undeniable pang of…