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The Silent Killer~

Monday's Meditation~

   Today I will be sharing with you, my viewers, how depression creeped upon me and almost destroyed my life. It started out slowly and I didn't recognize the signs until it was almost to late. I was coping with PD and taking my medicine so I didn't notice or understand the feelings of anxiety, irritability, and mood swings. I didn't want to be bothered with my family and friends. I just wanted to stay in bed all the time. When family members noticed, they suggested I should talk to the doctors about what might be wrong.
    I talked to the doctor and was informed that depression were side effects and symptoms that PD patients often suffer. So here I was acting out of character and having crazy thoughts and there was a name for it called Depression. The doctor's answer to everything is to prescribe more medicine. So what they prescribed was the medicine Prozac®. Now by this time I know that if you are taking medications, the sides effects are too many to name and can enhance the feelings you are already having. So instead of helping the medicine had adverse reaction for me. My only hope now was to tackle another chapter in my life...

Funny quote~

Welcome to my blog. Straight jackets are on your left, meds are on the table and if you hurry, you can still get a seat in group therapy!!!! Have Fun!!

Good Morning~

Defying Darkness by Charlotte Caprino~

"Defying Darkness," is a 76 page book of poems about the author's fight with Parkinson's Disease, starting with her diagnosis to up until she found a way to live a normal life.

Information: Free PD Guidebook~

Treatment Options, Latest Advances. Trustworthy, Current Report.
www.parkinsonsdisease-guidebook.com

"There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results!" ~ unknown

Practice~

Quote for Today~

"The only journey is the journey within."
~Rainer Maria Rilke

Hi Blog Readers~

   This week I posted that I was in Stage 2 PD and shared information for you to read on the different stages of PD and how it affects PD patients. In Stage 1 I was able to conceal and hide the changes that affected me. As I progressed to Stage 2, there was no ignoring the new symptoms. It affected me mentally and I became very depressed. The depression set up new challenges that would I have to face. If anyone has battled depression, it not only affects YOU but it affects family, spouse, friends and any one else in your life circle! 

   Next week I will be posting about the intimate details that I faced with depression and how I cope with this silent killer. I will share medical information and how to help you better understand my life journey living with PD. 

   Lovingly Always A Diva~ 

   

Good Morning~

Parkinson's Quilt~

The Parkinson's Quilt~

The Parkinson's Quilt Project is the first global quilt project to focus the world's attention on the nearly one million people in the US and seven to 10 million people worldwide living with Parkinson's.  The project aims to raise awareness of the impact that the disease has on people living with Parkinson’s – along with their families, caregivers and friends – and on our continued urgency to find a cure.

Over the past year, more than 600 people created quilt panels, each of which measures 2’ by 2’.  Panels include photos, illustrations and items that express each quilter’s experience with PD.  The quilt was displayed for the first time at the World Parkinson Congress in September.

http://www.pdf.org/en/quilt

Hi...

The 5 Stages of PD~

Parkinson's disease strikes people in many different ways, leaving them to experience a broad range of symptoms. Though symptoms may be mild or severe or occur frequently or infrequently, Parkinson's disease appears to take on five different stages. The time spent at each stage of the disease varies, and the skipping of stages, from stage one to stage three, for example, is not uncommon.

Parkinson's disease stages include:

Stage one: During this initial phase of the disease, a patient usually experiences mild symptoms. These symptoms may inconvenience the day-to-day tasks the patient would otherwise complete with ease. Typically these symptoms will include the presence of tremors or experiencing shaking in one of the limbs.

Also during stage one, friends and family can usually detect changes in the Parkinson's patient including poor posture, loss of balance, and abnormal facial expressions.

Stage two: In the second stage of Parkinson's disease, the patients symptoms are bilateral, affecting both limbs and both sides of the body. The patient usually encounters problems walking or maintaining balance, and the inability to complete normal physical tasks becomes more apparent.

Stage three: Stage three symptoms of Parkinson's disease can be rather severe and include the inability to walk straight or to stand. There is a noticeable slowing of physical movements in stage three.

Stage four: This stage of the disease is accompanied by severe symptoms of Parkinson's. Walking may still occur, but it is often limited and rigidity and bradykinesia are often visible. During this stage, most patients are unable to complete day-to-day tasks, and usually cannot live on their own. The tremors or shakiness that take over during the earlier stages however, may lessen or become non-existent for unknown reasons during this time.

Stage five: The last or final stage of Parkinson's disease usually takes over the patients physical movements. The patient is usually unable to take care of himself or herself and may not be able to stand or walk during this stage. A patient at stage five usually requires constant one-on-one nursing care.

 http://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/parkinsons-stages

PD Progression Stages~

Hi Viewers - This link gives you details of the progression and Stages of PD. I am in Stage 2.

http://www.pdf.org/en/progression_parkinsons

Freddie Roach~

Frederick "Freddie" Roach~

Frederick "Freddie" Roach - (born on March 5, 1960) is an American boxing trainer and a former professional boxer - Roach suffers from Parkinson's disease. As chronicled in the HBO series Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, he is able to actively control the disease through medication, injections and his training of boxers. Roach's doctors feel that his active in-ring training routines with his fighters and tremendous hand-eye coordination that he has to exhibit has made it possible to slow the progress of the incurable diseas

Disabled World - Disability News for all the Family: http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/parkinsons-famous.shtml#ixzz1syUT1nx4

Good Morning~

I hope you like the new design of my blog. I feels it reflects more of me~ AlwaysaDiva

Will my children inherit PD?~

http://parkinsons.about.com/od/faqs/f/heredity.htm

Monday's Meditation~

   Last week in the post - "10 Questions To Ask Your Doctor" question one was;  "Can you tell me why I developed Parkinson's Disease? Well that's the first question all patients ask (including Me). My doctor's answer was we don't know! At the time that is not the answer I wanted to hear. I wanted an answer filled with medical terms and other medical jargon (:D). We covered my family medical history and no one was ever diagnosis and we did the necessary medical tests and the results had not really concluded an answer. So the answer the doctors gave me was, I had the non-inherited PD.
   In the post about Muhammad Ali it stated, "he might have been diagnosis early on by the trauma of the constant blows to his head from his boxing career".  This was a question the doctors asked me; if I     experienced a head trauma before? I did not but at an early age (20) I was involved in an accident that caused severe trauma to my entire body! Even though I survived and was able to lead a normal and productive life, this was information the doctors could use in my treatment of PD.
   The good news that my doctor did to encourage me was unlike other diseases such as Cancer, Diabetes, Hypertension and MS just to name a few. PD is a disease that I can see and monitor on a daily basis. I can tell my doctor when some changes have occurred in my body and if the medicine is not working. At that time, in my life, this was the answer I needed to hear!

Good Morning~

See you for Monday's Meditation~

Good Morning~

 "Each night, when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning, when I wake up, I am reborn"
 ~Mahatma Gandhi

Inspire~

"Words have power. Learn to use and receive them wisely"

Muhammad Ali - The Greatest~

Article on Muhammad Ali's early diagnosis~

While many Parkinson's patients first experience symptoms at around age 60, Muhammad Ali's diagnosis came at 42. Family history or undetected viruses are commonly suspected culprits for the disease, but some researchers speculate that Ali's frequent head injuries from boxing matches might have resulted in cell or nerve damage in his brain, triggering the disease. People with Parkinson's have been found to have cell and nerve damage, which is related to the low norepinephrine and dopamine levels believed to either cause or worsen the disease. Ali began experiencing symptoms of the progressive condition while in his late 30s, in 1981. As of 2008, he was not able to speak, at least at public events.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/347792-muhammad-ali-disease/#ixzz1sVK2nUDR

Good Morning~

When you go through tragedy, you can either let that destroy you and you become bitter and never let it go, or you can let it make you stronger and let it make you grow… -Evanescence

10 Questions to Ask Your Doctor About PD~

1. Can you determine why I developed Parkinson's disease?
2. What are my treatment options?
3. What are the pros and cons of each treatment?
4. What short-term and long-term side effects can I anticipate from the treatment?
         Is there anything I can do to minimize them?
5. Can you recommend any support groups for my family and me?
6. Are there any non-drug options that might help?
        What lifestyle modifications can I make to help me  feel better?
7. Are there any foods, supplements, or over-the-counter drugs I should avoid?
8. Where can I find more information about Parkinson's disease?
9. Can you recommend any relaxation and stress management techniques?
10. Are there any clinical trials I can participate in?

*WebMD Medical Reference

Good Morning~

Cartoon of the day~

Anonymous~

"I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday"

PD medications & side effects~

www.webmd.com/.../guide/parkinsons-disease-medications

Good Morning~

Young Onset PD

For information on Young Onset PD visit this site~
http://www.youngparkinsons.org/

Monday's Meditation~

 I begin this week with what happens after the diagnosis...

   At this time, I'm still being treated for seizures and my doctor is trying to get them under control. The Dilantin® medicine is not agreeing with me and now she is starting me on the PD medicine Sinemet®. I'm in stage one and even though the signs of PD is not visible to people who know me, everything is happening so fast I need time to digest all this!

   Young Onset PD is what I have (I'm only 43 at the time) so my doctor suggests I go to a support group for people living with PD. This is a good idea. I can talk to people dealing with and going through PD and get a better perspective of what the future looks like. I find out the place and time and decide to go. I  wasn't prepared at all for this meeting! I had nothing in common with this group but the name of the disease. The group was made up of people who were far advanced than me. I stayed but cried the entire time I was there. Was this what I had to look forward to in my future?  

Good Morning~

Michael J. Fox ~ Most familiar face of PD~

http://www.michaeljfox.org/index.cfm

Monday's Meditation~

Hi! Hope everyone's weekend is ending up on a positive note. Tomorrow I will begin "Monday's Meditation." I will posting about my experience with PD. This is intimate and personal to me and I'm  glad I decided to share my story. So check me out every Monday! ~AlwaysaDiva

I need my friends~

Bradykinesia~

Bradykinesia refers to slowness of movement and is the most characteristic clinical feature of Parkinson's disease.

The slowness of movement is most clear when initiating and executing actions or activities that require several successive steps. These activities can include all kinds of activities of daily life like getting dressed, making a sandwich or getting to a doctor’s appointment and so forth. Tasks requiring fine motor control (buttoning, using utensils, for example) are particularly slow.

When your doctor tests for the presence of bradykinesia, he or she will ask you to perform rapid, repetitive, alternating movements of the hand (moving palms up and down, finger taps, hand grips, etc.) The slowness of movement can manifest in gestures, in speech, and even in eyeblink rates.

Your emotional state may also affect your bradykinesia. For example, even if you are going through a period of extreme immobility and somebody shouts “fire!” you may be able to get up and run fast. This is called ‘kinesia paradoxica.’ PD does not destroy the motor programs in your brain.

http://parkinsons.about.com/od/glossary/g/bradykinesia.htm

Good Morning~

Another Side Of The Diva....

Wanna check-out another side of this Diva? Follow my new tumblr page www.alwaysadivarandomthoughts.tumblr.com. It's a fun lighter side where I explore my inspirations with culture, travel, photography, family, love, fashion, and good food.

Good Morning~ My new daily affirmation...join me!

PD slideshow

http://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/ss/slideshow-parkinsons-overview

Depression medicine aids patients with PD

http://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/news/20120411/antidepressants-aid-depressed-parkinsons-patients?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Resting tremor~

A resting tremor is a slight shakiness in the hand when the hand is at rest. The shakiness or trembling goes away when you move the hand to do something. For example, the shakiness stops when you pick up a book or a cup and so forth. The tremor may extend to the leg or foot on the same side and sometime to the lips and jaw. You might even feel an internal tremor as if the trembling is deep within your body.

Bishop Noel Jones~

"Don't judge my problems when you don't know my purpose. I'm only struggling now so I can pull you through later."

Good Morning~

APRIL IS PARKINSON’S DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH

APRIL IS PARKINSON’S DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH

Cartoon of the day~

Is your cross too short?

Seen on a shop window in Beirut, Lebanon~

"Your presence is a unique gift to the world."

Good Morning~

The diagnosis

 A slight tremor is when I first noticed that something wasn't right and maybe I should bring it to the doctor's attention. I was being treated for epileptic seizures at the time; so I told my doctor and that is when life for me would be changed forever. After extensive testing, I was diagnosed in 2003 with Parkinson's Disease. When my doctor told me the news, I broke down and cried but my doctor assured me that I was in the early stage and with proper medication I would be fine and could continue living a normal life. No one knew I had PD but family and a very few friends because the tremor wasn't really visible to anyone but me. Plus I didn't want any extra attention. So life went on as usual for a while...

Living With My Disease...

" Love, Sex, & Other Drugs"- 

Starring Anne Hathaway & Jake Gyllenhaal

*** A must see for those living with and affected by people with Parkinson's Disease.***

Definition Of Parkinson...

A progressive disease of the nervous system marked by tremor, muscular rigidity, and slow, imprecise movement, chiefly affecting middle-aged and elderly people. It is associated with degeneration of the basal ganglia of the brain and a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine.