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Dan Freedman replied to the topic What is PD? How can it be a "disease" if there is no pathogen? in the forum Diagnosis Information and General Questions 2 years, 11 months ago
It is a “disease” because it makes things less easy in life. “Dis” “ease”. Kind of like the word discourage (remove one’s courage), or discover (uncover, or make clear, something). To be a disease, there does not have to be a pathogen or infection.
As to what causes PD, I think that at best, we can say that certain things such as pesticides or…[Read more]
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Dan Freedman replied to the topic Apathy in the forum Parkinson's Disease Symptoms 3 years, 2 months ago
I had some apathy. Starting levodopa/carbidopa therapy (in my case, using Rytary) has helped a lot. As far as I know, dopamine is involved in establishing the feeling of anticipating a future reward, and a lack of dopamine means that this linkage is either reduced of missing. My understanding is that this exhibits itself as apathy, broadly defined…[Read more]
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Dan Freedman replied to the topic What PD symptom impacts your quality of life most? in the forum Parkinson's Disease Symptoms 3 years, 2 months ago
For me, it is the recognition that my carbidopa/levidopa medications have effects on my moods. While it might sound nice to be able to dial oneself up or down in terms of mood, it does beg the question (within me at least) about who I truly am. I try to observe myself and my mental reaction to medication, but there is always a question: Who is…[Read more]
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Dan Freedman replied to the topic What do you think caused the onset of your PD? in the forum Diagnosis Information and General Questions 3 years, 2 months ago
I believe we tell ourselves stories, or make agreements with ourselves, about why things happen in our lives. With enough repetition, they become “truth” for us, even if they have no basis in fact. For something so important to us, we prefer a credible story, rather than no story at all.
Sometimes this might be dangerous, leading us to make…[Read more]
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Dan Freedman replied to the topic Humorous happenstances exacerbated by my PD symptoms. in the forum Using our forums 3 years, 2 months ago
Every few weeks, I seem to have 3 – 4 days that are worse (for symptoms) than the rest of the month. I jokingly call it my “Parky Period”.
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Dan Freedman replied to the topic What is the most recent thing you learned about Parkinson's? in the forum Diagnosis Information and General Questions 3 years, 2 months ago
I learned that tears contain biomarkers that can detect PD. I’m hopeful that this means PD can be detected years before symptoms emerge, which may help people protect their own neurons via exercise, etc., and lengthen the time between this kind of diagnosis and the emergence of symptoms.
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Dan Freedman replied to the topic Realism about the future and MJF in the forum Using our forums 3 years, 2 months ago
Everyone seems to react differently, not just to the disease, but to the medications and their inevitable side effects. I think it is important to recognize that you may well have a neurologist, a family physician, and maybe some others, but … you are your own doctor. Only you can directly assess the nuances of the disease and the meds,…[Read more]
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Dan Freedman became a registered member 3 years, 2 months ago
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Dan Freedman became a registered member 3 years, 2 months ago
Thank you for your thoughts, Dan. I find your insight about treating PD as a roommate really invaluable. Rather than fighting it, you’ve decided to acknowledge it and move on with your life.
And it does seem that we’re discovering alot about PD with current research. I was reading about the relationship between PD and Irritable Bowel Syndrome,…[Read more]