What We Wish We Had Known Before Our Parkinson’s Diagnosis – Parkinson’s News Today

There is a question circulating once again in the Parkinsons forums and Facebook groups. What do you wish you had known when you were first diagnosed with Parkinsons disease? This cycle of inquiry seems to repeat itself about once every six months.

Its almost like, by asking that question, we hope to find a hidden treasure we werent told about at the onset of our diagnosis. Some hidden gem will unearth itself that we somehow missed. Its as if we are looking for some sort of magic needed to skim over the hard stuff. Something that will enable us to press on as if we were superhuman in the face of our disease. But, we arent superhuman. I know that personally.

There isnt any one answer that will be it to our question of what we wish we had known. There isnt one answer that will fulfill the longing for the secret to making the acceptance of our diagnosis easier. Depending on where you are in your journey with Parkinsons, there could be several answers.

What would your answer be to the question above? Here are some inquiries made by those who answered that question:

Denial wont make it go away. Choosing not to accept the truth or even admit it into your consciousness doesnt mean you nullify its existence. Viktor Frankl wrote, When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. When we can no longer change the fact we have Parkinsons disease, we begin to live at a new level.

Our future does not rest on the diagnosis we get, but on how we respond to that diagnosis. Its not a worse life. Its different. Learn to accept it and get on with living because theres lots left to do and to live for.

Many people wish they were told about things they could do to slow the progression, such as exercise. Its hard to recommend treatment when youre not sure what youre treating, as is often the case when trying to diagnose Parkinsons. The exercise phenomena in Parkinsons is pretty new. According to recent studies, exercise is said to be hailed as the new medicine in Parkinsons disease.

When I was diagnosed in 2004, exercise wasnt often brought up. The ideas of boxing, dance, tai chi, and more were pretty new in terms of their benefits for Parkinsons disease.

Sometimes I have wondered if exercise was downplayed because the disease was predominant in older people. However, with the rise of young-onset Parkinsons disease, younger people may not be as feeble or afraid to try something more strenuous than chair exercises.

We have come through a period of Parkinsons history that relied heavily on medications to treat the disease. Now were finding that exercise makes a bigger difference than a handful of pills. And though we may wonder why we didnt know or start exercising sooner, its never too late.

It is not uncommon to grieve over this disease. We have lost a lot. Parkinsons can steal our identity and independence, and ruin our relationships. For those whove been through the grief process of Parkinsons its normal. And just because youve grieved once doesnt mean it wont surface again. With every new symptom that surfaces, you might experience something. Or, you may experience nothing. Everyone is different.

Dont let your diagnosis keep you from those things you love to do, such as dancing, as this clip shows. Some of us may appear or feel awkward in our movements, but often those awkward movements disappear for a bit while dancing, exercising, and more.

Finally, what we should remember, Parkinsons or not, is that laughter is the best medicine. Keep or get a sense of humor. Laugh at yourself. Laugh out loud. Just laugh. It does a body good. Isnt that what were striving for anyhow?

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Note: Parkinsons News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinsons News Today or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinsons disease.

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What We Wish We Had Known Before Our Parkinson's Diagnosis - Parkinson's News Today