Focus on PD

the studio in winter

Since the new year I have banished myself from the clay studio, though reluctantly, to get myself on a healthy path and to halt this increase in medication. Instead of taking the extra 2 doses Dr. V said I could take of Carbidopa Levadopa, I am exercising, drumming, or dancing. If I have to be on the ball I might take the meds a little early, but I do NOT want more medication, if anything less, better yet - none.

my new bongo drums

I am hopeful and results are promising. I am proceeding at my own pace, trying to intensify the program I have devised so far, and continue to seek methods for recovery.

I have joined Dr. Rogers' Parkinson's Recovery support group which has now met once online and the phone line and have much I could be studying with the radio interviews and lectures he has available. More to be done with that, but I am these days a woman of action, not prone to reading, but always want to "get started already!" Impatient.

My current activities are spinning on the stationary bike, a little hula dancing to loosen the hips, and drumming to get the benefits of the vibrations and regular rhythms to transform my brain's garbled patterns. Where do I get these ideas? I am feeling my way, letting intuition and heart guide me. And if I notice a benefit, then I continue. All three things are helping, I can tell, even if only for short spells.

Here is what I'm doing no, for PD or just for the hell of it:

45 min/day on bike
latin dance class
yoga class
personal trainer exercises
learning violin, two lessons so far
learning to play bongo and timbau drums
playing and learning ukulele and singing with the "Woe Nellies" ukulele band weekly
singing with the Jersey Harmony Chorus once/week
dancing hula-ish movements to Hawaiian music (I learned the Hukilau dance) daily
diet: fresh juice or smoothie a.m., soup or salad lunch, limited wheat, dairy, sugar, snacking, alcohol
        (the last 5 I tried to eliminate, but I haven't been able to totally - some days, yes)

There is sabotage with projects around the house trying to lure me from my way, but the focus must remain. It should, it MUST be my first priority.

The Woe Nellies