It has been almost ten years since my Parkinson’s diagnosis. I have worked hard at staying well. I exercise, watch what I eat, stay connected to friends, and spend time helping others do the same. I have watched hundreds of webinars and talked to dozens of groups. ChatGPT told me that it is generally accepted that when someone studies a subject for 10,000 hours, they are an expert. I have had Parkinson’s over 85,000 hours (ChatGPT did the math too). I guess that makes me an expert…at being a Parkinson’s patient at least.
A couple of weeks ago, I made a rookie mistake. I ended up in the ER in the middle of the night. I woke up with severe abdominal pain. Before leaving for the hospital and as I was lying on the bathroom floor, I was yelling at my husband to grab this medication, and that medication, grab supplies for my Vyalev pump, make sure to get my insurance cards.
After arriving in the ER, I made the nurse wait to put pain meds in my IV until I had my husband look up the list of meds that are contraindicated for Parkinson’s patients. I was not prepared for an emergency medical visit and I know better. I have passed out Aware and Care Kits and Hospital Safety Guides from the Parkinson’s Foundation. I have spoken to support groups about being prepared and having a “Go Bag.” Unfortunately, if you have a chronic illness, Parkinson’s or any other, you must be prepared. I should have filled out the guide. I should have prepared a Go Bag. It would have made life that night so much less stressful. I have learned some lessons and am now better prepared. Stay tuned for my recommendations on what to put in your Go Bag and for the lessons I learned that night.
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