Living

My husband, Rob, suffers greatly from dyskinesia, those involuntary movements caused by being on the carbidopa/levodopa for over 20 years. These movements are different from the Parkinson's disease (PD) tremors...

Every year, my family travels up north to enjoy a week-long vacation on a Michigan lake. Historically, we’ve travelled to the lapping waves of Lake Huron to freeze our toes...

Parkinson’s disease has many faces ... many guises. Do not be naive and underestimate it. Evidently, there are overt symptoms, which are hard to ignore in the cold light of...

Planning for the future is necessary when one has Parkinson's disease (PD). Making plans with my spouse, family, or attorney is recommended. Specifically, this is necessary if I cannot verbalize...

Life-changing circumstances, conflict in our relationships, and financial problems, often accompany a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Adapting to life with PD is challenging enough without adding side effects caused...

I am often asked what I would do differently about Parkinson’s disease (PD) if I could go back in time. Having spent some time thinking about this, here’s my Parkinson’s...

To my husband: I have Parkinson’s. Response: A hug and then "Well, at least we know what it is now. Do you want to talk about it? Or let yourself...

Navigating life’s speedbumps while managing Parkinson’s disease (PD) can be overwhelming at times, especially if you have additional health concerns. But including the regular consumption of orange foods can offer...

My father completed a neuropsychological exam in December 2020. The exam, which is typically 4-6 hours ended up having to be split up into 2 days because he was moving...

It’s 7 AM, I’m getting ready to make my coffee when I see my dad struggling to transport his own cup to the kitchen. He balances his weight between his...

Our self-image is often composed of labels imposed on us by others. Are they the real "you?" When we were young, almost all of us picked up labels that made...

Making the most of every appointment with your neurologist is critical since we only see them several times a year. Also, seeing a neurologist with a movement disorders specialist (MDS)...

Learning to cope with multiple autoimmune and movement disorders is challenging. I was recently doing some research on the National Institutes of Health site and learned that it is fairly...

Editor's Note: Talk to your doctor before starting or stopping any new exercise routines. I have had Parkinson's disease (PD) since 2020. Exercising is one of the most important treatments for...

In case you missed part 1 of this article, you can read it here: A Breathing Corpse Awaketh After 8 years of being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, there is one...

What does it mean to be elderly? Typically, this refers to persons 65 years and older. As a child, I thought anyone over 20 years old was elderly. My thoughts...

When I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD), I thought I would never feel joy, friendship, love, or mastery again. I dwelled on things I could not change and wasted...

Keeping your mind and body active is one of the most effective ways of fighting Parkinson’s. Exercise has been proven to slow the progression of Parkinson’s symptoms. An active mind...

Music and music therapy can help make positive changes for people with Parkinson's disease. With the assistance of a music therapist, I've been experiencing therapy in new and effective ways...

As if there weren’t enough reasons to eat your fruits and vegetables! Not only do they contain vitamins, minerals, and fiber benefits, but new research shows that phytonutrients in plant-based...