self-care – Page 44 – My journey with Parkinsons

Trying not to focus on ‘the end game’

I saw this posted on a Facebook page this morning for people with Parkinson’s and those that support them. It felt raw and very sad for that person to post this note to his or her Parkinson’s community. As someone also with the diagnosis, I absolutely get what they are saying. How could I not?Continue reading “Trying not to focus on ‘the end game’”

A sense of unreality

I am regularly plagued by a sense of unreality. That I don’t really have Parkinson’s. That any symptoms I might have can be explained away by overwork, tiredness, age, anything but Parkinson’s. My symptoms are pretty mild. I can walk without shuffling. My balance is pretty good. My reduction in energy levels explained away byContinue reading “A sense of unreality”

Finding – and training – a new GP

For the last at least 10-15 years I have had the same GP and so has my husband. He has seen me through diagnosis of depression (many years ago), arthritis (and operations to replace finger joints for this), a Hiatus Hernia, Esophageal Dysmotility (swallowing issues) and most recently of course, Parkinson’s. Sometimes, rightly or wrongly,Continue reading “Finding – and training – a new GP”

Knowing (and accepting) when you need help!

I have always prided myself on my independence and have been loathe to accept help unless I really need it. In this latest chapter of my life journey, now more than ever I need to be more open to accepting help. As mentioned in my last post, I had a fall on 30/12 and injuredContinue reading “Knowing (and accepting) when you need help!”

Being Brave

I have been described by colleagues as being ‘brave’ but what does that mean to me? To me being brave is getting up every morning and doing my job, but it can also be waking up in the morning and saying ‘today I can’t go to work, I need a break and time out toContinue reading “Being Brave”

Peer Support

I have worked in a number of jobs where there have been support groups available for people with certain health conditions in common. These groups can be invaluable as people often have similar shared experiences and knowledge of what has – or hasn’t – helped for them. It reminds me of when I was aContinue reading “Peer Support”

It’s OK to feel overwhelmed!

Today life has crept up on me and I feel overwhelmed! It’s not just the recent diagnosis – although that’s quite enough, thank you very much – but a collection of ‘life stuff’ alongside it. As I’ve said previously, I have had bouts of depression in the past and some days I would wake upContinue reading “It’s OK to feel overwhelmed!”

I asked for help today…

Parkies or no Parkies, I think of myself as a professional woman who is usually confident in the work that I do. I admit that in part my confidence has been a bit rocked, but basically pre-diagnosis and post-diagnosis I am still that functional professional woman. I have always had high expectations of myself andContinue reading “I asked for help today…”

Discussing the future

It is important to me, that I enjoy life here and now and don’t dwell on what might happen in the future too much. After all none of us have a crystal ball to predict what the future holds, with or without any kind of diagnosis. However, for me there was a conversation I feltContinue reading “Discussing the future”

Travel, memories and moments

I told my brothers as soon as I had the diagnosis. As I said to my husband, for the next 10 years and more – I’m aiming for at least 20 – we are going to spend time with those we love, build beautiful memories and live life to the full! We will travel –Continue reading “Travel, memories and moments”