Thursday, March 17, 2022

15 Years With PD


Yes, it's anniversary time! Celebrating 15 years since I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. 

I can celebrate because I'm still kicking, literally kicking in Rock Steady Boxing, and I can't complain; I'm feeling happy and fairly hearty. 

Zooms have been incredibly helpful to me. Boxing on Zoom, drumming on Zoom, Shakespeare for PD on Zoom, and the internet and computer to find and save files of lectures like the Qi Summit workshops on qigong. I feel a  part of these communities, some of which were essentially formed because of the pandemic.Today I joined a PD live health and  exercise Zoom called PD Prime. I'll try out the various classes for 30 days before i have to pay.

So I celebrate my body, my brain, my heart that are all functioning, with not perfect utility, but splendidly for such a dire prognosis: "It's progressive, you'll get worse and worse until you die." 

Well, some things are worse - my handwriting, my jumpy legs and feet, the ache in my legs when I walk (not always though), but most symptoms are stable or even better. I have not increased medications,  I sometimes take less. But if I forget to take it - that's a no-no. I can be dragging my feet at the supermarket or trembling as I try to conclude a sale at the art co-op if I go too long without a dose. 

I am thankful and figure I must be doing something right. However, if I did MORE, more of the right things, less of the wrong things, how much better might I be?

Can I Cope?

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