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Phil Horton

In 2014, after about seven years of being misdiagnosed with “Essential Tremor” and having my abilities to fall off the edge of a carpet be a family joke, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. My current symptoms bounce, depending on what days it is, between Stage II and III with a Major in Balance and Falls and a Minor in Tremor. Read more.

What Does Quality of Life Really Mean?

I looked for the definition of Quality of Life in about ten sources and they all were different and complicated. They were as varied as are you happy with a...

By Phil Horton

3 min read

Becoming Dependent

For most of my adult life I’ve valued being independent. Resiliency is a part of feeling independent. My slogan might have been "Whatever life throws at me, I can handle...

By Phil Horton

3 min read

Establishing Your Medical Team

There are many ways to assemble the medical team recommended for Parkinson’s. The simplest way is to start with your current Parkinson’s medical providers. I’ve heard many complaints especially concerning...

By Phil Horton

4 min read

Parkinson’s and Doing as Much as You Can for Your Self

Yes, I have Parkinson’s. I believe I should do as much as I possibly can for myself. My best friend, wife, and caregiver, also believes I should do as much...

By Phil Horton

2 min read

Parkinson’s. Are You Doing What You Should?

I’m Doing What I Can! Isn’t That Enough? Parkinson’s often is getting worse even if you are correctly taking your medications. Sounds as if anyone with Parkinson’s should just curl...

By Phil Horton

3 min read

Getting off the Couch Is Hard

The Parkinson’s Outcomes Project shows that people with PD who start exercising earlier in their disease course, for a minimum of 2.5 hours per week, experience a slowed decline in...

By Phil Horton

3 min read

I’m Not Fine

People often ask me some version of “how are you doing?” I usually respond, with as much gusto as I can summon, “I’m doing fine!” But, I know that what...

By Phil Horton

3 min read

Dealing with Chronic Illness Is More than Medical Treatment

We all use numbers to some extent from our early youth through old age. We are often bombarded with numbers. They’re used to convey information that we have to decide...

By Phil Horton

5 min read

Coping with Parkinson's Disease Through Laughter image

Coping with Parkinson's Disease Through Laughter

I’ve found laughing a lot every day to be one of my major Parkinson’s coping skills. Laughing or even smiling seems to break up negative thinking and can lighten up even...

By Phil Horton

2 min read

Parkinson’s, Positivity, Ivan Petrovich Pavlov, and Phil

What do Parkinson’s, a long dead Russian named Ivan Petrovich Pavlov, positivity, and Phil possibly have in common? Well, it’s complicated. The connection lies in the way I try to stay...

By Phil Horton

3 min read

Negative Thinking: A Barrier To Managing Parkinson’s image

Negative Thinking: A Barrier To Managing Parkinson’s

In our society, acute or chronic illness is often managed through medication. Many of us have come to rely on the idea "there’s a pill for that." I recently took a...

By Phil Horton

2 min read

On Hitting 80 and That Pesky Parkinson’s Thing image

On Hitting 80 and That Pesky Parkinson’s Thing

Time seems to be just rushing by. For some reason, hitting the Big 80 has taken on more significance than I would’ve imagined. After all, it was just one day in...

By Phil Horton

3 min read

Getting Off The Couch Is Hard image

Getting Off The Couch Is Hard

Why should I get off the couch? It’s comfy. According to the Parkinson’s Outcomes Project, "people with Parkinson's disease who start exercising earlier in their disease course for a minimum...

By Phil Horton

3 min read

Parkinson’s and the Evolution of Phil 2.0 image

Parkinson’s and the Evolution of Phil 2.0

I’ve just turned 80 and I’m not the person I used to be. I suppose that statement is an oxymoron. Not so many years ago, I was quite comfortable, retired with...

By Phil Horton

3 min read

Dreams, Nightmares, and Parkinson’s image

Dreams, Nightmares, and Parkinson’s

What can be done about bad dreams and nightmares? I have had recurring nightmares from 2 events that happened in my mid-20s. My nightmares repeat on a frequent but erratic basis...

By Phil Horton

2 min read

My Parkinson’s Life with Neurological Physical Therapy image

My Parkinson’s Life with Neurological Physical Therapy

At one time or another, most of us have been prescribed physical therapy to aid in the treatment and recovery from a surgery or injury. Some of us have gone to...

By Phil Horton

3 min read

My PhD From The School of Getting Old image

My PhD From The School of Getting Old

As I come ever closer to my 80th birthday, I feel I’ve gotten a PhD from the School of Getting Old. Through just getting older and managing several serious chronic...

By Phil Horton

3 min read

When You Are Doing Well, What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

I’ve been doing well the last 9 months. My balance has been better (lots of physical therapy), my symptoms progression has slowed down, and I’ve been working hard physically and mentally. I’ve...

By Phil Horton

3 min read

Living with Parkinson's a Moment at a Time image

Living with Parkinson's a Moment at a Time

For most of us diagnosed with Parkinson’s, we’ll have Parkinson’s as our constant companion for many years. Throw in that it is a progressive disease, with almost all treatment being...

By Phil Horton

3 min read

Parkinson’s and Mental Health: Adding Therapy To My Regimen

I grew up with parents who disregarded and ridiculed any mention of mental issues that couldn’t be fixed by the Bible and our minister. My parents expected perfection from me...

By Phil Horton

3 min read

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