Phil Gattis

2nd most important treatment is humor.  my current favorite one-liner:  “I’m having short-term memory loss; I’ll talk to you next week.”

most important treatment: exercise

However, C/L initially helped reduce symptoms significantly, so I hesitate to drop Rx treatment, but I rank it in 3rd place.

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Hi, Mary Beth.  I’m in the New York Catskill mountains.

Sauna, then exercise, then C/L, in that order – for both “favorite” and “most relief”

Mike Scott:

As to causes, there are 2 contenders.  PD is presumptive for the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune water pollution scandal, for which I’m perfectly qualified.  Also, since that exposure, I sprayed many types of paint and coatings with bad organic solvents, for which I didn’t use sufficient protection.  Camp Lejeune started PD, and the ot…[Read more]

Mike Scott:

I just had my 70th birthday last Sunday.  15 months diagnosed.  I exercised regularly for years, long before diagnosis.  Since diagnosis, it’s become much more important for me.

Phil Gattis

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Mine is similar to others’, especially David Blacker:

3 times/week mixing up:

• 20 min HIIT cardio
• 15 min resistance: sit-ups, push-ups, therapy band
• 20 min power moves PWR!Moves
• 10 min stretches

Then I try to do a 4th time each week boxing with a heavy and a speed bag.  I’m really not good at the speed bag.

I spent ~60 days consecutive at Camp Geiger, MCB Camp Lejeune NC during the time period of what is arguably our country’s worst water pollution scandal.  PD is “presumptive” for this exposure with as little as 30 nonconsecutive days, meaning that it was relatively easy to obtain VA disability benefit.  In the years following that exposure, I a…[Read more]

My wife cares for me, with loving support from our church.

My wife and I just celebrated the first anniversary of our diagnosis of PD.

Shortly after the diagnosis, we carefully timed a tri-continental conference call that covered 4 of our 5 children.  The 5th got a separate phone call.  They all know that our faith and marriage are strong, and they responded with thoughts of much love and promises of m…[Read more]

Hello, Steve.

I’m a person with PD.  I’m blessed to have my wife as my care partner.  My PD is in early stages yet, and my neurologist and my primary doctor have treated my wife as an important team member from the start.  Sometimes, it’s no more than a squeeze of my hand or an arm around the shoulder.  She hears my watch beeping before I do, and…[Read more]

Hello, Robert.

Thanks for this essay.  The only point I would add – you could call it step 1)a: If you have both capsules and pills, put them in separate piles.

I’ve found that, for the 3 or 4 pills taken together, keeping them roughly the same size helps them to go down easier.  I can take a mouthful of 5 capsules without a problem, but it’s a…[Read more]

Are they hot?

Yes, I’ve been acting out dreams, both pre- and post-diagnosis.

Seeking peace through prayer.  We’re in it together for the long haul.  I have the best caregiver in the world.

This is becoming a scary symptom.  The other night, I struck my wife, who responded, “That hurt!”  & I replied, “It was meant to!”  I have no memory of that exchange.

I think I’ll try the trick of sleeping on my other side.  Unfortunately, that leaves the ear that hears exposed.

I just made a radical change in my routine.  I was doing HIIT, crunches, free-weights, & stretches 4 times/week, always the same routine.  Now, I’m doing HIIT 3 times, punching bag routine once/week; swapping out core with upper body free-weights routine; swapping out PWR!Moves with traditional stretches.  My body is adapting to the changes, an…[Read more]

The link didn’t work for me.  However, it sounds a bit like PWR!Moves https://www.pwr4life.org/moves/, which I’ve incorporated into my exercise routine twice each week.  The idea is to combat the tendency for PD patients to hunch over & shuffle with big and fast movement.  Feels great so far.  Whatever my exercise routine is for that day, I alw…[Read more]

Like Russell, I believe in HIIT. Prior to diagnosis, I did it for years on a stationary bike. Coupled with a Fast 5/2 diet, I dropped over twenty pounds and kept it off. I recently got a GymBoss interval timer, which I feel is a very worthwhile investment of ~$30.

Diagnosed last June, but dreams, loss of smell, slight tremors, constipation, kidney/bladder dysfunction, stooped posture & other symptoms preceded it, some by years.

I’m 69 & on more drugs now than I ever was in my life, & I’m going back for my 2nd neurologist appointment soon.  I imagine we’ll talk about medications.

It’s a ride alright.  T…[Read more]