Good Morning!

“Every morning in Africa, a Gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a Lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest Gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a Lion or a Gazelle... when the sun comes up, you'd better be running.”

~unknown

Welcome!

Welcome to my new friend from China! Continue to follow me on my journey!
~~Lovingly Always A Diva

Good Morning!

Relationships and PD!

   How you handle the issues Parkinson’s presents can have a big effect on your relationships. Whether you have Parkinson’s or are in a relationship with someone who does, how you both react to the diagnosis will affect your wellbeing and your relationship.
   Next week I will posting on "Can You Have Healthy, Loving and Sexual Relationships Living With PD." Join me on the journey!
Lovingly Always A Diva

Parkinson’s and Social Security Disability

Living with Parkinson’s disease can become increasingly difficult as the disease and symptoms progress, and often individuals afflicted with the condition will find themselves unable to maintain employment and maintain a steady income, since the disease can severely affect one's Physical Residual Functional Capacity. Such circumstances can make it very difficult to make ends meet.

Fortunately, there are a number of disability benefit programs available to those suffering from Parkinson’s, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Under the “Neurological Disorders” section of the Social Security Blue Book, individuals with Parkinson’s make be able to qualify for disability benefits if they can demonstrate that extreme symptoms of “rigidity, bradykinesia, or tremor” result in impairment of dexterity to the point that the individual can no longer perform any type of gainful work activity.

While the Social Security Disability process can be daunting, it is important to remember that benefits are available to those suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Though it can take anywhere from several months to almost two years to navigate the arduous benefit application process, it is important to remember that there are many resources available to assist the first-time applicant with his or her claim, including the information available on Social Security Disability Help, or access to a qualified Social Security Disability attorney or advocate.

Article taken from: www.socialsecurity-disability.org/blog/parkinsons-disease

Do this everyday!

Welcome!

Welcome to my Latvia friend! Thank you for following me on my journey! 
~~Lovingly Always A Diva

Good Morning!

Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow.
~Doug Firebaugh

Real truth!

Good Morning!

Our happiness depends on the habit of mind we cultivate.
So practice happy thinking every day.
Cultivate the merry heart, develop the happiness habit,
And life will become a continual feast.
~ Norman Vincent Peale

I Believe!

Tuesday Tell-all!

Hello readers!
   Monday's meditations was not posted on yesterday because of doctor appointments and my visit to the Social Security Administration. I do apologize because I look forward to posting my experiences and feelings about PD.
   All is well as far as my health is concerned. The same responses from the doctor; "see you next month and here is your prescription refill or for more drugs." Don't get me wrong I appreciate what my doctors do with what they feel they can do for me in this stage of  PD. I'm grateful! I just would like to walk in the office one day and hear them say we have found a cure! One could always hope.
   The second part of my day was spent at the SSA updating my case. Now the SSA does not feel that PD is a disability. That is one thing and the reason that it is not considered a disability for me is because of my young age. On any given day I would find that a compliment :) but it's not. I applied for benefits in 2007 when I had started getting worse and could no longer work. They turned me down. So I filed for an appeal, went through the hearing process and was still turned down. I kept on appealing every decision until I was approved in 2010. My lawyer then appealed for back benefits from 2007 because that's a part of the process. While receiving benefits every month, the SSA turned me down once again for benefits. My lawyer doesn't give up very easy and filed another appeal and recently I have been approved for partial benefits.
   Well, I'm happy about that but what disturbed me were the judges comments about my history with PD. The problem that I have, is that the judge only sees you for that one or two hours, then you're done. In those hours he listens and observes you. I'm fine with that but don't put on paper that you feel that I can work a part time or full time job because of your observations! I can't fully dress myself with some assistance, I don't drive, I walk with the assistance of a person or my walker. I don't cook and do minimal housework and with the medications I'm on, I could injure myself or a co-worker. It's not fair to me or other people, who have PD, and are trying to get benefits.
   I feel better now. I just had to get that off my chest! I'm looking forward to a greater week ahead as we prepare for the birthday of our great nation on July 4th. Keep following me on this journey as we fight for cures and better health care and considerations that PD is a disability just like other conditions and while we don't wallow in being disabled, we deserve what is deserved to us.
~~Lovingly Always A Diva

Good Morning~

"If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes."
~~St. Clement of Alexandra

To good health!!

Good Morning!

Don't worry about yesterday or last month. Today is a new day, so renew your mind this morning. Be positive and start fresh.

"Key to Staying Active -- Stay Active!"

PR Newswire - "Do what you can until you can't. Then do something else," Parkinson's disease patient advises.

After 12 years with Parkinson's disease (PD), 57-year old Bill Schmalfeldt has this advice for newly-diagnosed Parkinson's patients.

For Schmalfeldt, that means writing. By early 2011, the progressive neurological disorder had affected his voice. Since writing and recording podcasts for the Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., was the biggest part of his job, Schmalfeldt said he felt he had no other choice than to seek early retirement.

"I have trouble walking, I have trouble talking, but I can still write pretty well," Schmalfeldt said. "If you can't do what you did, you do what you can do."

To read entire article go to: www.nwpf.org

Laughter is the best medicine!!

Good Morning! A Poem about Laughter

Live with Laughter

So much time passess
We have moments of saddness
At other times it seems like we are passed depressed
One thing will keep us together

Its the sound of joy
Laughter from a little kid
The sound of there high pitch laughter
The laughter at every new thing they see

Laughter makes our day better
Laughter makes our life worth living
Nothing can make you feel better rather than laughter
So make someone laugh make yourself laugh and live life

~~lexie bousman

Just a chat!

Hello Readers!
   This week has been a good week for me! I am feeling and moving around much better. A nurse and physical therapy was set up for me and they will help me to stay inspired and motivated even through pain. I was reading on the PDF site and found information that I shared in earlier posts this week.
   Having a healthy and active lifestyle I was unable to vision because of so many distractions but I'm learning that I have to take better care of myself and require others who support me to remind me of this daily. I have a board that I have put up in my room and I'm writing goals, quotes and pictures on post-it notes to keep myself focused on what I can do not what I can't.  I call it "Note To Self" and when I accomplish a task or milestone on the note, I put a date on it to remind me that it's complete. I want to be around a long time with my body and mind right.  Don't you agree!
    Have a Great Weekend! ~~Lovingly Always A Diva

Quote:

"I am much more happy doing what I know I can do than what I am not sure I could do!"

Good Morning!

Increasing Your Mobility Confidence Information @ www.parkinson.org

Print this checklist:
Balance Checklist

Print this checklist:
Mobility and Parkinson's: Simple Compensations to Enhance Movement

Daily Living Activities Manual @ www.parkinson.org

Request a free copy of this NPF manual:
Activities of Daily Living: Practical Pointers for Parkinson Disease

Good Morning!

"The Dream is not what you see in sleep, Dream is the thing which does not let you sleep!"

Pain in PD:

This is what I experienced last week!
Pain syndromes and discomfort in Parkinson's usually arise from one of five causes: (1) a musculoskeletal problem related to poor posture, awkward mechanical function or physical wear and tear; (2) nerve or root pain, often related to neck or back arthritis; (3) pain from dystonia, the sustained twisting or posturing of a muscle group or body part; (4) discomfort due to extreme restlessness and (5) a rare pain syndrome known as "primary" or "central" pain, arising from the brain.

Information from www.pdf.org

Good Morning!

 I WAKE UP everyday with a smile because I know I have something to be thankful for!

Monday's Meditation~

Hello Readers,
   I have missed sharing and writing on my journey!! I had a severe attack on my body that resulted in my being in the hospital for a week. But I'm back, feeling better and on the mend!! I had posted on the blog that I was having back pain and it became so excruciating that I had to get some help.
   I had a MRI done and there were no serious problems but the pain was interfering with the PD. The neurologist told me that the muscle spasms mixed with the soft tissue were some symptoms of PD. I asked him if I was increasing in stages; he said no that PD have cycles where you're doing good and then your hit with this cycle. I had never experienced this before and let me tell you it was not a good feeling. I will have a nurse and physical therapist coming in to help me get back on my feet. I'm grateful and thankful for the hospital taking good care of me.
   The Diva is not going out like that guys!! We are "FIGHTERS."
~~Lovingly Always A Diva

Quote:

"Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you represents determinism; the way you play it is free will." - Jawaharal Nehru

Relationship Between Parkinson's & Degenerative Joint Disease

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative nervous system disorder through which loss of dopamine in the brain can cause tremors, body stiffness, slowness of movement and impaired balance. Degenerative joint disease, commonly known at osteoarthritis, causes a breakdown in cartilage. Both diseases are idiopathic and may cause common range of motion limits and motor skill impairment. Patients with Parkinson's disease may present with osteoarthritis symptoms before complete diagnosis reveals the neurodegenerative disorder.


Article by: Teresa O'Handlon - eHow Contributor

Quote:

"When life knocks you down, instead of bouncing right back up, turn on your back and enjoy the view!!!"--repost from View From The Bottom Blog

Monday's Meditation~

   I just want to say how grateful and thankful that I made it to the start of a new week! Last week was very difficult and frustrating for me physically as well as mentally. My body went from A to Z in a matter of a day. I went to get a back brace for the back problems that I was having. He increased the dosage of my pain medications and with all the other medications I take, it threw my body completely out of control.
   What is happening to my back is that I have degenerative tissue (I'll explain in another post) so this pain is interrupting my symptoms of PD. The frustrating issue is that I no longer use my cane or walker so I had to pull the cane out. Okay, I'll use it for balance to take the strain off my back. That didn't help so my sister suggested that I need my walker because I can barely walk. Now to me, this is a major setback. The next few days I can barely move at all. My joints are stiff, my tremors have increased and the adjustment to the medication have me nodding like a junkie. :)
   Presently, I can't have this happening to my body right now. I have a son who is now a senior and a daughter entering high school. The two of them are asking what's wrong, why I am going backwards if  I have all this medicine? I don't have any answers while my older son and daughter would like some  answers from the doctor. It got so bad that I stayed in bed all day Saturday only to wake up and take my medicine.
   Yesterday, I got out of bed, and I told my brain to activate my body to come under control. I got up, took my medication, showered and my daughter helped me to get dressed. I started reading some of my posts to don't give up and keep fighting and, although I was in pain, I just started walking around the house then rest, did it again then rest. I kept doing this despite the pain, I commanded my body to do what I needed it to do. I'm not digressing backwards because I have to much to live for. When my time comes where my body is in the last stages, I hope to be in my eighties or nineties. :)  you know what, I'll still be fighting!!
~~Lovingly, Always A Diva

Good Morning!

Have a Great Weekend - Images - Pictures">

Expect Something Better Tomorrow !!!

Vincent Price!

Vincent Price - Actor:

Born May 27, 1911
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Died October 25, 1993 (aged 82)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of death Lung Cancer
Residence Los Angeles, California
Nationality American
Alma mater MICDS
Occupation Actor
Years active 1935–93
Home town St. Louis, Missouri
Spouse Edith Barrett (1938–48)
Mary Grant Price (1949–73)
Coral Browne (1974–91; her death)
   Price was a lifelong smoker. He suffered from emphysema and Parkinson's disease; his symptoms were especially severe during the filming of Edward Scissorhands, making it necessary to cut his filming schedule short.
   His illness also contributed to his retirement from Mystery!, as his condition was becoming noticeable on-screen. He died of lung cancer on October 25, 1993, at UCLA Medical Center at the age of 82. He was cremated and his ashes scattered off Point Dume in Malibu, California.

This is just an exert to read the full article go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Price

Quote :)

"Friday's child is loving and giving"

Good Morning!

Thursday Note!

Hello Readers!
   I have missed posting because this (young) body has been giving me the Blues! I have learned to not let my body control me but I control my body. Most days this mind thinking works. If a pain is too overwhelmed, I usually take a pain pill and continue on. These past few days have been more than overwhelming no pill has been able to help.
   I now wear a back brace that serves no purpose (no offense to the manufacturer) it's just not working. I used my cane to help with walking and still need assistance from my children. I haven't been able to focus because it's been very frustrating! I called my neurologist to see if I could come in for a check up and lord knows I don't do this often but the nurse said he had no openings until July 18! I explained to her that I was experiencing new symptoms but no, that didn't phase her one bit. I finally told her to call me when if he gets a cancellation. She agreed to that solution and apologized for the doctor.
   Until then I'm going to hold on for as long as I can. If it gets me down like I have been, then emergency room here I come:). By the way I'm going to ask my doctor for an emergency number that patients can reach him. My other doctors have one. So I apologize to my readers for not checking in.
~~Lovingly Always A Diva

Good Morning!

Enough Said!

Have a Good Day!!

Monday's Meditation!

Hi readers!
   I hope you had a beautiful weekend. My weekend was more than I usually plan for myself but they were family functions so I went and enjoyed myself. A couple weeks back I posted that I had to have xray's for the back pain I was having. I took the xray's and went back to discuss the results and the doctor said there was no serious problems. I have what the medical field calls degenerative tissue in my back. I asked the doctor would this condition worsen as I got older. He said no because certain types of problems with the body can heal itself. He wrote me out a prescription for a back brace that I could wear daily as often as I needed. He also increased the dosage of one of three pain medications that I take.
   Now even though on one hand I have a solution to the problem on the other hand I have another problem. With the increase in the dosage of medicine my family is saying I'm walking around like a zombie! Usually when I get a medicine dosage increase, depending on what the medicine is, it takes about a week to adjust to my body. The problem is because I look a little spaced out my family is telling me don't take the medicine if you're going to be looking high and nodding out. Now if the medication is going to help me, I'm going to take it and deal with the side effects and if it doesn't help, the doctor will have to find another medication that will work out better. You just have to love family don't you! Whatever they're thinking just has to come out:).
   I also need to call my neurologist so he can check to see if he has to make any changes because I'm a little off with my PD medications. Also while researching what degenerative tissue is, I found out that some PD patients can get this problem as the stages go up. I don't think I have increased in stage levels. I just think my neurologist needs to make sure all the medications are working together. My first neurologist told me that all patients are not the same; meaning that some PD patients progress slower and some PD patients progress faster.
   Family members and love ones have a hard time processing when new things happen and while they should be assuring us that everything is going to be all right we have to assure them to trust that the doctors and specialist know what they are doing to help us.
~~Lovingly Always A Diva

Good Morning!

Poem: Believe In Me!

The poem posted called "Believe in Me" was written for me by a reader of Always A Diva Journey. They would like to keep their name anonymous to others and I respect your request. So thank you reader from all of us living with PD!
~~Always A Diva                               

Good Morning!

believe in me

                                                   Believing In Me
In order to find me I was force to lose me,
at least who i thought I was or would become,
then one day my reflection found me.
It was asking me if and what I believed.

I was shaken by this question, so much that I had no reply
as I paused I cried and this time, out of all my tears,
an answer was there waiting to be found

My reflection took me on a journey through space and time
it paused at moments when all fine, or so I thought,,,,
The moments of reflection that bothered me most, was when the inner me
was like a ghost.

Hot days and warm nights I remember oh so well
but that was before my joints began to swell
I've cursed myself and even my GOD

Before my medication causes me to nod.
My reflection had a voice faint at best
it caused me to remember, that life was filled with test.

My reflection you see could only be me
Wow I'd forgotten that my life was not just for me
So today I say thank you for all thats left to come

I ask that you forgive me for the times that I was dumb
For if I believe in GOD, I must believe in me
                                                                                     A. Friend

Just a Note!

Thank God It's Friday!
    I have been posting all week about all the things we can do about our sleeping habits for people who have PD. All these articles have been find but for me I think it's an individual experience. On a post next week, I'm going to share some tips for getting in and out of bed, turning over and some funny things that have happened to me while trying follow all these tips. Keep reading and tell your friends about it! Have a great weekend. :)
~~Lovingly Always A Diva

Tips For Getting a Good Night's Rest!

• Maintain a regular sleep schedule; get up and go to sleep the same time every day.
• Get plenty of bright light exposure, particularly natural daytime light.
• Decrease fluids several hours before bedtime.
• Go to the bathroom before getting into bed to sleep.
• Use your bed only for sleeping and intimacy with your partner.
• Set the thermostat for a slightly cool bedroom temperature for sleeping.
• Make a regular, relaxing bedtime routine a habit.
• Lie down to sleep only when sleepy.
• If you are unable to sleep after 15 minutes, get out of bed and engage in a relaxing activity like listening to music, meditation or reading until you are sleepy.
• Keep lighting and noise at comfortable levels when trying to sleep.
• Sleep as much as needed to feel refreshed, but avoid spending too much time in bed.

Article accredited to: http://www.parkinson.org

Good Morning!