Columns

I once attended a neurology appointment with my dad, who has Parkinson’s disease. His doctor asked him what dosage of levodopa he’d been taking, and after he responded, she scolded him for not following her directions. I soon discovered that Dad had been taking less levodopa than he’d…

Parkinson’s disease changes many aspects of life, but it doesn’t control everything. Knowledge is power. If you have Parkinson’s, choose to keep learning. Educating yourself on the latest research, treatment options, and everything else about the disease is essential. However, pursuing other interests is equally important. Surround yourself…

I can’t lie to myself. When I’m having a bad day and feeling miserable, it’s extremely hard to shift toward calmness, and nearly impossible to convince myself I feel OK. Positive thinking has no way to get a foothold on my physical, mental, or emotional weather-beaten doorsteps. When I am…

Mornings may be broken with Parkinson’s disease, but the entire day isn’t shot. There are ugly days that land me in bed, but there are also lucid windows that help me write. The lived Parkinson’s experience changes from day to day, and on any given day, fluctuations can occur…

If you get creative, anything can be a workout — even dealing with bugs. Mixing things up keeps exercise fresh and fun, and different routines work different muscles. This is especially important for those of us with Parkinson’s disease. For instance, neuroplasticity exercises retrain our brain to form…

I recently discovered that there’s an entire retail market for adaptive clothing, which can help those who struggle to dress themselves in traditional clothing. Some brands make polo shirts or pants that appear standard, but upon further examination, actually have features such as Velcro and magnets. Other brands offer slip-on…

When Cat Stevens sang “Morning has broken,” the lyrics were referring to the rejuvenation of the sunrise. That doesn’t happen for me as someone with Parkinson’s disease. It starts with what I call the 4 a.m. four-alarm wake-up call. It’s head-to-toe body pain, sweating, and an erection…

Research studies and clinical trials are crucial for the development of new treatment options for Parkinson’s disease, as well as finding a cure. Enrolling in them is a commitment by both the investigators and the participants. If you are considering applying for a clinical trial or research…

Neo, my friendly brain conversationalist who engages with Mrs. Dr. C, inquiries about the Parkinson’s disease (PD) self-management toolkit. “It seems overwhelming.” Mrs. Dr. C suggests, “Would a review of the ideas, one by one, help?” Neo nods and gets comfortable. “I’ve read all the columns, but I do…

I recently had a FaceTime conversation with Brittany Dunnum, a speech therapist in Lewiston, Idaho, who works with Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and utilizes methods developed by the nonprofit Parkinson Voice Project. I met her in Washington, D.C., at the 2019 Parkinson’s Policy Forum sponsored by The Michael…