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Abstract

Approximately 50,000-60,000 new cases of Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed each year in the United States, adding to the
one million people who currently have Parkinson’s. It has been estimated that 7-10 million people worldwide are living
with Parkinson’s. The good news is that my diagnosis explains all of the health issues I’ve had for the past three years. The bad
news is that I’ve been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. My symptoms are made better when I am not cold, not under undue stress,
and have adequate sleep. My simple analogy about Parkinson’s and dopamine is like a car with a fuel tank leak. You constantly
are low on fuel (dopamine) so you are always adding fuel back (dopamine agonist), yet you never have a full tank. My life now is
balancing fuel consumption (use of a dopamine agonist plus remaining dopamine) with factors that accelerate dopamine (fuel)
consumption. Everyone with Parkinson’s expresses his or her disease differently, it’s very unique, but I remain dedicated to
slowing the progression. My strategy for treating Parkinson’s goes as follows: Dopamine Agonist; Isradipine; Complementary
and Alternative Medicine (lots of supplements); Stretching and Exercise; Meditation; Deeptissue massage; LSVT Loud; LSVT
Big; and playing Golf. For those of us with Parkinson’s, we remain hopeful for new treatments, advances and one day ahead, a
cure. But for now, we use courage and determination, mixed with a will to survive, and all held together by glue we call hope.
Overall, I’m doing my best navigating life with Parkinson’s

Biography