Tips For Living Well With Parkinson's

[@MLStanleyK]

Thanks - I'm a year in officially but probably a couple, and getting use to the meds and schedule has been tough but I'm moving forward and seeing/hearing from people like you is helpful, so THANKS.

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

Thank you so much for your comment! I hope to be helpful, so thank you! The beginning is a scary time but be hopeful and take care of all of you, your whole body and especially your mental health....We all focus on the exercise and diet which is SO SO important but I am a big believer in mental health and how it impacts our brains, they all work together I believe in slowing progression and living our best lives. Stay in touch! : )

[@MLStanleyK]

@@ParkinsonsWigglesProject Yes, most of my PD so far is non-motor so my mental health is most important at this point. I am also a sober alcoholic so balancing with meds that might affect my mind is important for me. After seeing your video I got in the car and took a good LONG ride! Anyway, thanks and take care.

[@ricksuvanto5009]

Thanks. One of the best trips I've taken was an amtrax trip from Chicago to LA.

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

It’s like a secret route through the country, I loved it 🤗

[@iloveanimals1662]

You help me a lot to stay positive,thankyou. My husband and MIL have P.

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

Thank you so much!!

[@jeanninehill6009]

Great advice! It's so refreshing to see life from your perspective and be reminded of all the good things in our lives. We have so much we can be thankful for!!

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

Thank you Janine! I have an old friend from Chicago who sometimes sends inspiring morning messages and he just sent this today..."When life gets hectic and you feel overwhelmed, take a moment to focus on the people and things you are most grateful for. When you have an attitude of gratitude, frustrating troubles will fall by the wayside." When we stop for a moment to focus, we do have so much to be thankful for! : )

[@beverlymoore7876]

You are such an inspiration, Jennifer. It helps so much to see somebody like you who is maintaining a sense of control and drive in your life. I’m three years into my diagnosis, although I’ve been experiencing symptoms, like many others, much longer. You really give me a sense of hope. Thank you.

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

Oh my goodness, thank you so much!!! I am almost speechless, which rarely happens : ) but it means the world to me to know that I've given you a sense of hope! This disease is a challenge and I find it so much easier to deal with by making the most of it. There is absolutely a way live our best lives with this disease!! Thank you Beverly!!

[@scoop123456789]

Another great video! The cat kneading the other one.. .OMG!!!

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

Moji is the massager and she is such a sweetheart....Too cute right!!

[@joemancini2988]

Good words, Jenn. For me, I started taking some high-tech probiotics over a year ago based on PS128, called Neuralli, developed by a Taiwanese biochemist. I had awful problems with my GI tract since PD, and this isn’t a cure, but it is a treatment. I am sleeping better, eating better, and moving better without constant distress, cramps, and nausea.

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

In the United States supplements are essentially unregulated, so I only take one which COQ10 and eat fresh fermented foods for a healthy gut 🥰

[@RobbofromCronulla]

I cannot over emphasise the importance of a comfy chair, I have 2. when the meds don't work and the dystonia is sucking the life out of me I fall into the refuge of my comfy chair. P.S. I love your work.

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

Thank you! A comfy chair...being comfortable is soooo important! Having a spot that is our PD refuge, yes 🥰

[@davidhughes5998]

Really like the positive attitude.

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

Thank you David! Some days are a challenge but I’m always looking for the bright side 🤗

[@berniehelbling2891]

I’m always amazed how you can be so optimistic and aktiv. I’m constantly fighting with apathy,depression .

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

Sometimes I am too! Amazed and so thankful. My dog really motivates to get out everyday and go for our 30 minute walk at least once. I find most of the time starting my day with our hike in the hills is not only energizing for the rest of my day, but also good for the mind. Look into "forest bathing" strange name but interesting to read about. I have mentioned my cognitive behavioral therapist in other videos and in 2013 when I was diagnosed she helped me work through it. I still reach out to her when I am going off the path I'd like to be on and she's sooooo helpful! I am a BIG believer in CBT 😊 Have you ever tried anything like CBT?

[@berniehelbling2891]

Thanks for your quick response! What is CBT ?

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

@@berniehelbling2891 it’s cognitive behavioral therapy. It’s meant to be short term, which is great for the wallet and schedule. It was a game changer for me as how to process and manage the feelings and fears about my diagnosis. Another key to it was I found a therapist that I totally connected with, she is amazing! If something comes up for me I can still reach out to her…she’s just as a important part of my health care team as my movement disorder specialist 🤗

[@SDWP]

Love it! Great video work.

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

Thank you!! : )

[@billmoore7452]

Keep those videos coming. Love it. So positive!

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

Thank you Bill!! 🤗

[@GoProGoalieUzi]

So true my dear..how many cats do have? Two I think I saw! We have one, his name is Booboo Shah 😆😆😆 he is now 12.5 but still acts like he was born yesterday!! We love him so much!! I wish I could dance, never really was good at, unless I had a few in me..😆😆 good times, see you on the next one ❤️

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

We have two cats and a dog :) There was three kitties, the little black and white one, her name was Petite, died last year....I miss her! It's never too late to learn some dance moves I say so put on your favorite tunes and go for it. It's really great exercise too! Thank you!!

[@GoProGoalieUzi]

@@ParkinsonsWigglesProject loosing a pet is so hard. I remember when booboo went missing for three days, my wife and I were a mess lol.. I better throw the Michael Jackson and Bruce Springsteen and get at her!! 🍻

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

@@GoProGoalieUzi It is soooooo sad and hard losing a pet!! Thankful for my other fur balls 🤗

[@tax699]

❤❤❤

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

Thank you! 💕

[@alittlebitshaky]

It can be done. To live well, to enjoy life, to be happy and thrive! It has to be a conscious decision and you have to work at it but it is not impossible. And I’ve found, the BEST people at doing that, the best at making that choice and living life, are people with Parkinson’s!

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

YES!!

[@alittlebitshaky]

So my living well with Parkinson’s tips are pretty much the same as yours ….exercise, exercise, exercise! (Sssshhh I’m still in bed and not on my sunrise walk) Eat well. Being creative has helped me too. My family. My biggest supporter is my Parkinson’s BFF. And drinking champagne (ie celebrating anything and everything). Simple really!

[@JeremyMcdonald]

Awesome tips! And it was nice to see Brian!

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

I snuck him in there 💕🙃 Thank you!

[@charleslobaido8403]

Great tips as usual... I'm starting to get into a groove on when and how much to take my meds.. some days I feel better than others...is that pretty normal? I'm still working full time and for the most part I feel better at work than laying around the house ❤

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

From my experience day to day variations is totally normal. It's great that you have found your groove, it took me a few years until I had it down. I am a big believer in working for as long as you can! It's good for the brain all around, way better than laying around the house....but I also believe in granting ourselves some guilt free lazy days!

[@charleslobaido8403]

Thanks for replying 😊

[@galespressos]

Love this 💕 !

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

Thank you so much!! :)

[@toryberch]

Hey Jennifer, I'm curious when's the last time you've used an escalator? I was at the mall and for the first time ever I could not go downwards on one. Is this a Parkinson's thing?

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

Hi Tory! Was it because of anxiety? I haven't had that experience with an escalator but I have recently become uncomfortable/anxious driving across the Richmond Bridge. If I am driving alone it helps to have some to talk to, hands free of course, to distract me and stop my mind from becoming more anxious. Never before has this feeling happened to me...I've driven across that bridge thousands of times. Is that kind of what you were feeling about the escalator?

[@LifewithParkinsons]

Thanks Jennifer. Great advice! Glad to see your one minute video. Does that phone still work?

[@LifewithParkinsons]

I never heard back about my video either.

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

Hellooooo 🥰 I was going to ask you about your video, lol! I’m sure they got more submissions then they expected. I can’t remember if I had my current phone which is an iPhone 10 or if it was my old 6…I want to say my current one 🤔 Thank you for watching!!

[@donindusted]

Rules I have learnt to live by Light the way, clear the way. Always make sure you can see and have cleared trip hazards Only Do One Thing At A Time. You need to focus on the task at hand You Need Help. Accept it graciously especially if you're male What You Could Do Yesterday May Not Be Possible Today. Your ability to do things is going to vary Medication Timing Is Important. Also if you need a little extra dose earlier you need a little more don't deprive yourself It's Always Going To Throw You A Curve Ball. Don't blame the disease for everything it may not be the cause and this may let lazy diagnosis hurt you Your Mental Health Is Critical. It's to easy to let depression and apathy take hold ensure you have support and a path to help You're Going To Have To Deal With Misunderstanding. People will think they "know" your disease every case is specific to the individual

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

Thank you so much for sharing these great tips and adding to this very important and ongoing conversation! ☺

[@nassersharaballi5028]

Love ur videos

[@galespressos]

😎🤔☺️

[@elliottchurchill7314]

I have had Parkinson’s for 6 years now and the best thing that I discovered is cannabis! I’m currently on 2 prescribed medications levadopa and selegeine. They work great for the freezing and slowness but not for tremors. However, I have found that a small amount of cannabis virtually takes away the tremors. Honestly cannabis has given me my life back. There are times when I forget that I’m sick. I take about 5 to 7.5 mg THC of cannabis in capsule form when I take my levadopa. Here’s the beauty, the dosage is so low that I don’t get any high but the tremors stop and there are absolutely no side effects. I use capsules that contain 2.5mg THC per capsule so I can accurately control the dose. I strongly encourage you to try it, why suffer when you don’t have to. Oh I should say that I live in Canada and cannabis is legal. Check your local laws. Cannabis stops Parkinson’s tremors.

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

Thank you Elliot! I’m in California and have tried both CBD and Cannabis but have yet to find the magic one. So happy to hear that you have, and that it’s given you your life back! I know others as well who’ve had good luck with it, and like our regular meds it’s probably about finding the right strain or med, dosage and the rest. Thanks for sharing what’s working for you!!

[@berniehelbling2891]

I was diagnosed with pd 2013. I m taking THC too. Also 5 to 7 mg.(oil). It’s really helpful for sleeping! But can you really take it at daytimes? Don’t you get sleepy or dizzy?

[@ParkinsonsWigglesProject]

@@berniehelbling2891 I am a devoted nap taker, short and sweet, no longer than 30 minutes. But yes, I do get tired sometimes. I don't take CBD daily, it has been something I have randomly experimented with and always open.

[@brandicalhoun5132]

What Brand do you take?