Rock Steady Fighter

Have you ever told a fortunately, unfortunately story?  I used to assign this to young writers to get their creativity flowing.  Fortunately, I am still around today to write about it.  Unfortunately, my storyline has changed.  Lately it goes something like this. Unfortunately you have a chronic illness.  Fortunately, you can change your diet and you will feel better.  Unfortunately, you will have to give up some good stuff...sugar, gluten, dairy.  Fortunately, you can eat all the fruits and veggies you want.  Unfortunately, many of those fruits and veggies are covered with pesticides.  Fortunately, organic fruits and veggies are available, although...unfortunately, very pricey. Unfortunately, you will have to give up meat.  Fortunately, not all the experts say to give up meat. Unfortunately, some experts say you should only eat organ meat (liver, gizzards etc.) Fortunately, the previous experts said you shouldn't eat meat so you don't h...

  I heard it again today.  I hear it every day lately. "My doctor said I have PD.  I left with a prescription for meds that I know little about and go back in three months. I'm shattered and don't know what to do from here."   This happened to me too almost a year and a half ago.  I get it now.  The doctors don't seem to.  I'm praying that the neurologists out there somehow get the message.  What we need is a prescription for hope.  I'm not asking for false hope but even just a glimmer of something that we can do to fight back.  Just because today is miserable doesn't mean every day will be miserable or worse.  Having PD means something has gone wrong in your body.  Not everything, but something.  The day of diagnosis is the day you should be given the resources to optimize your health. My Rx for hope: You are about to go into battle.  It is time to arm yourself.  You need to be strong.  Take care of your bo...

Jan. 1, 2018 As the new year starts, I can't help but look back to where I was a year ago.  I was still reeling from the "you have Parkinson's Disease" conversation with  my doctor.  I was in the midst of figuring out which meds worked for me.  I was still hiding my diagnosis from all but my closest friends.  I was stricken with   anxiety about the battle that lay ahead.  PD is a "progressive, neurodegenerative disease."  To me this said, today is the best I'm ever going to feel.  I will get worse with each passing day...well, SCREW YOU PD!  I don't know exactly when it happened but at some point I decided that it didn't have to be that way.  I decided to fight back. It hasn't been easy; in fact, it often feels like a full time job but my life depends on it.  Compared to a year ago, I am less stiff, my tremors are less, my gait is better, I sleep better, my energy is greater, I am stronger, I feel healthier,  my motivation...