Being diagnosed with a chronic progressive illness like Parkinson’s disease (PD) changes your life forever. Don’t give up or give in to the disease! Today is a very hopeful time for people with PD. I hope these thoughts and observations will help you.
- Allow extra time to do everything from eating, drinking, and dressing to walking, talking, and writing. Recognize that everything seems to take longer when you have Parkinson’s disease. You’ll also find that simple tasks most people take for granted, like swallowing saliva, chewing food, changing facial expressions, and projecting your voice, now require conscious thought. Plan to do activities around those times when your medication gives you the most benefit. Mornings are often a better time of day to exercise and work becauseyou are not as fatigued as in the afternoon. Although you may get fatigued during the day, be careful not to nap too much; otherwise, sleeping at night may be difficult. Taking a short nap after lunch can be revitalizing, but try to limit your daytime sleep so that your nighttime sleep can be more restful.
- Consider attending a local PD support group, no matter what your age. Support group members understand your struggles because they face or have faced the same challenges. To find a Parkinson’s disease support group in your community, see the Resources section at the end of this chapter or consult the Yellow Pages of your telephone book. If you are reluctant to attend a PD support group because you will see others with advanced cases, and you don’t think you can handle that, talk on the phone with others who have PD. Or, start a small group that gets together for lunch or coffee. Being with others who have PD may alleviate fears rather than worsen them. It is encouraging to see people with PD still driving, working, and caring for their families.
- Contact your local Independent Living Center (ILC). Every community in the United States is part of a national network of independent living centers. More than 500 community-based, nonprofit ILCs serve people of all ages and disabilities and their families. Their goals are to provide information and referral, advocacy, peer support, and independent living skills training. These centers can: (1) Assist you in finding out about disability services in your community; (2) connect you with others to advocate for changes in the law or rules; (3) help you hire and manage personal care attendants; and (4) put you in contact with people who have faced challenges similar to your own.
Next tips:
0 comments:
Post a Comment