Mary Beth Skylis

My dad never seems fully rested. Although he maintains a consistent sleep schedule, he wakes many times during the night, which leaves him exhausted come morning. I’ve heard others talking about the sleep disturbances that they’ve experienced from Parkinson’s disease. Do you struggle with similar disturbances? If so, is there anything you’ve done…[Read more]

My dad sees a natural doctor in conjunction with his other doctors. She seems to think that his system is overloaded with heavy metals. But with time, diligence, and effort it may be possible to detoxify. Dad seems to think that his sense of smell has improved since beginning the detoxification process. Have you tried to detoxify from heavy…[Read more]

There are all kinds of devices, applications, and tools that are tailored for PWP. Spoons and forks can now be purchased to offset tremors. Cellphones can be used for their “talk to speech” features. My dad uses some types of technology to help him with daily tasks. Do you use technology to fight Parkinson’s? If so, which tools have been most helpful?

Classic Parkinson’s symptoms include things like tremors, freezing, fatigue, and more. But the disease seems to materialize in so many other ways. My dad has many classic symptoms, but we think it’s possible that he has some atypical symptoms as well. Do you think there is such thing as a “garden variety” version of Parkinson’s? Do you or your…[Read more]

My dad has noticed that stress seems to worsen his Parkinson’s symptoms. Particularly bad days may contribute to worsened tremors or similar struggles. Many people use meditation and yoga to help to reduce cortisol levels. But how do you handle stress? Is there anything you’ve introduced into your life that helps?

As Parkinson’s progresses, it isn’t uncommon for PWP to struggle with falls. I worry about my dad falling when no one is at home, and we don’t yet have a security system in place to confront this issue. Do you use an alarm system? If so, has it been helpful? If not, why not?

I’ve heard that Parkinson’s can have an unfortunate impact on urinary frequency. Some people may be more likely to see an increase in urination frequency. And I’m curious to hear about your experience. Have you seen changes to your urinary patterns? If so, do you do anything special to manage them?

I’ve always been a big believer that food can change our experience. When it comes to Parkinson’s, I’m not sure if that’s the case or not. Do you find that eating certain foods helps to reduce symptom severity? And, conversely, do certain foods exacerbate your symptoms?

My Dad has been able to keep driving locally. Doing so allows him to stay independent, but he doesn’t have to worry about his medication wearing off while he’s out and about. Do you still drive? If not, did you quit cold turkey or phase it out?

My Dad is skinnier than I’ve ever known him to be. I think that the constant tremors have contributed to weight loss. DBS helped him to gain back some weight, but he’s still thin. Do you struggle to keep weight on? Have you tried anything that has helped you to pack on the pounds?

My Dad has recently been experiencing aggressive moments while he’s asleep. We worry that he might accidentally hit my Mom. Dad’s neurologist recommended taking melatonin to help with these types of disturbances. Do you take melatonin for sleep disturbances? And has it helped with the aggression?

We were in denial when my Dad got his first diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. It was 2013, and he looked like he had always looked. Today, it’s been about 8 years since his diagnosis. We’ve learned so much along the way. How long have you known about your diagnosis? What do you wish you’d known earlier about the disease?

My Dad is fortunate to have medical insurance that pays for many of his appointments for Parkinson’s disease. But I know there are many people without that same privilege. Is having Parkinson’s expensive? And what are some ways you’ve been able to find financial support throughout your journey?

My Dad used to love going to card clubs, social activities with his high school buddies, and football games. But ever since Parkinson’s entered his life, he seems to prefer a quiet lifestyle at home. But I worry that he may be losing interest in things that are good for him. Has your PWP lost interest in things they once liked?

I’ve often felt that Parkinson’s is a thief. It steals my Dad’s ability to stay independent, to walk freely, and many other things. I’ve heard others say similar things. What has Parkinson’s stolen from you? How have you learned to overcome some of the challenges that it creates?