Wow, it is tough to realize that I am actually saying to myself, “It is a good Parkinson’s Day.” In fact, it is still hard to believe that I have Parkinson’s. But as most things related to this disease, I appreciate when there are days where my tremors are minimal, my balance is good, my movements are not overly slow, my handwriting is legible, my words are not slurred and I am not depressed and fatigued. Yes, it is indeed a good day.
How did I end up with this condition? I have no knowledge of any members in my immediate or extended family who had Parkinson’s Disease. Research has shown that at least 10% of the cases are genetically linked. Also, environmental factors such as exposure to certain pesticides and herbicides may contribute to causing the movement disorder. Again, I cannot say I have had such exposure. For most of the cases of PD, it is known as idiopathic, meaning there is no known cause. I believe I fall into this category.
So, what makes one day better than another when you have a chronic movement disorder? I wish I could answer this with great certainty because I would duplicate it every day of every week. Unfortunately, it does not work this way! I can take my meds, get rest, not be too stressed, eat well and live the best I can yet still have a terrible Parkinson’s day. I also know when I mess up any of these elements, I can have a really, really bad Parkinson’s day. So my goal is to do all I can to prevent an exacerbation of the symptoms while also trying to live a “normal” life. A balancing act to say the least, but well worth the effort.
When I have a good Parkinson’s day, I thrive. I feel happy and I love to share my good health and good spirits with all around me. I especially enjoy giving my husband a break from caring for me and worrying about me. I let him know that, “today is a good day,” and hope he feels relief from the stresses of living with a Parkinson’s patient at least for a day or maybe even more. How fortunate I am to still have many good Parkinson’s days!
