TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH

I was diagnosed over 20 yrs ago, and to say it has been easy is a complete stretch of the word. Last week I was asked something about when I was diagnosed, which reminded me of the “Top” Neurologist I was seeing at the time in Dallas and his words on my first visit which were: “You have about ten years to get your affairs in order”. I thought to myself then, screw that, and he strongly encouraged me to stop playing basketball at the time, which completely puzzled me. Playing basketball was the only time I was feeling good. Of course, those were different times. But after him feeding me more and more prescriptions, and him not ever understanding what my symptoms were about because they were not in
the normal” box”, I found a better neurologist that was more open to work with me and helped me reduce the medications. Every case of Parkinson’s is so different. So, at that point, I also started trying different diets and other exercise programs. Some things worked
and others did not. But the question in my mind was why do I have to figure all these things out? Was everyone just accepting the same brutal end to this disease? I also learned there are two ways to approach fighting this disease, both have there pluses and minuses. One way is to be overly optimistic and the other is to be defiant. I seem to be more confident with the defiant avenue. Which at times hasalso caused me problems, but yet here I am.

In the 20 years of looking for all that works in my battle, I have been involved with exercise groups, although well intentioned they either lacked the background or care and could never fill the increasing void I had to fight effectively against my ever-expanding issues with the disease. That was until I ran across Alison Geymer. She has now over 16 years working with Parkinson’s patients and has been just a complete eye opener in helping me. She has the ability to watch me move and tell me what’s going on and how to fix it. As well as she is a diligent researcher in all things PD. She has helped
me out in so many ways I cannot even begin to explain. Whether it is diet, physical therapy, dry needling, which has become a favorite of mine, or just listening and trying to help me with which
vitamins and nutrients I should be taking after reviewing my blood tests. It has been monumental in my ongoing efforts to fight this disease. Now I must also say, it is not easy what we do. She drives us all to
be better. So, if you want to fight and fight hard against this disease, I will strongly recommend her.

It’s been over 7 yrs since we first met and I am doing better than I was when we met, how many people can
say that?