What are your worries about your Parkinson's disease?
Recently, Emma shared about some of fears she feels about her Parkinson's. We wanted to open a space for you to discuss your fears with one another, so you can hear from people that get it. What are your worries about your Parkinson's disease?
So far (4 years post diagnosis) PD has been a walk in the park. Yes, I've had the tremor and the constipation, and the fatigue and loss in executive function that have caused me to quit working, but these haven't been too troubling. The first symptom to really bother and embarrass me is hyperhydrosis. With the lightest exertion, I begin to sweat profusely until water drips off my body, I'm short of breath, and my face is beat red. It is really unpleasant (I hate sweating) not to mention embarrassing. If I exercise in the pool, I seem to be okay, but the other exercise which I know is important just isn't happening because the hyperhydrosis is is so unpleasant.
Hi Gretchen, that is awesome that you are able to find a booster for your blues with exercise! I find the same boost from exercise! I'm a care partner, along with my mother, for my 86 year old father with PD. I hope I'm an example to my dad to keep up his PT and walking to keep him going everyday! Keep up the awesome daily routine! Best regards, Suzanne Troy, ParkinsonsDisease.net moderator 
Increasing the exercise that you enjoy is beneficial for physical and mood enhancement. Continued success in your journey! Marc M., Moderator, ParkinsonsDisease.Net
I feel that God has blessed me with new friends and a different outlook on life. I’ve accepted the diagnosis with the determination that I will see this as a gift and put myself in His hands.
My symptoms are manageable now and I exercise three times a week.Thank you for your comment. I share your outlook wholeheartedly. By putting yourself in the hands of the greatest doctor, a lot of the angst of dealing with PD is released. I wish you the very best.
My personal greatest fear is getting to the stage where I can't swallow and begin to aspirate (inhale) my food, leading to pneumonia. I've read about this, apparently it's a thing, and for some reason it's the scary potential outcome which scares me the most. Although there are plenty to choose from!
Having shared that, I should say that currently I am in the very early stages of PD and so far it's just a mild inconvenience and slight embarrassment.
I'm generally pleased that I have accepted the diagnosis without much wailing of "oh why me?"
After all, we are all living finite lives, bound to tail off somehow, it's just that the future trajectory of my own is now a bit clearer.I try to live without hope or fear. With so much research going on, perhaps an effective treatment will become available in time to help me. Or who knows, perhaps I'll be knocked off this mortal coil by some totally unrelated cause before the Parkinson's has time to do it's stuff. We just never know!
I was diagnosed with PD in 2004. I have been lucky in that my symptoms have been very mild and progressed very slowly.i am writing to encourage everyone with a diagnosis to be positive. Not everybody has severe symptoms. A positive attitude is important. When diagnosed, I asked my lovely doctor if everybody gets severely impacted. She said “no, about 10% do not”. I said “I’m in the 10%”. For 15 years, I looked after. MY husband who had dementia. He died in 2013. During that time, I saw a therapist who encouraged me to keep my life going. I took her advice. In 2015, I remarried a good friend and we have had 10 happy years together. I will be 86 in June and altho there have been changes, ost like sleeping, have been helped and worked out with my doctor. Keep positive.
Thanks for sharing your inspiring story. I hope you have many more happy years.
My biggest fear is being forced to live when my quality of life is not what I feel is worth living. I want laws to change for death with dignity before that time comes for me. I don't feel having someone wipe my ass for me, bath me, and feed me is a quality of life worth living. I hope the laws get changed to include Parkinson's and other degenerative neurological diseases to be included in death with dignity as well as more states and countries adapting these laws.
Hi
- Thank you for sharing so candidly here. You bring up a lot of valid concerns when it comes to death with dignity, and I certainly understand your position on where you think the laws should change. If there are any additional resources you need, please reach out and we can connect you. Thanks for being part of the community. - Chris, ParkinsonsDisease.net Team this,above, is five yrs old...i hope by now u have found hope and solice. i too believe the laws sd be more liberal! i am at the end of my 'rope' and applying to a nursing home. there is no immediate hope for us new yorkers,
