how do i treat my parkinson's

I’ve been asked many times, what do I do to treat my Parkinson’s, so I thought I would let you know my current routine. Not that what I do is particularly interesting, but PD symptoms differ from person to person and I find myself curious about what others do too.  

I was diagnosed with PD in 2011 when I was 46 years old, so it’s been 9 years. I take 5 doses of carbidopa/levodopa per day, 1- 25/100mg pill about every three hours. Along with the pill I drink a glass of water mixed with either 500 milligrams of vitamin C powder (I use half an envelope of Emergen-C) or 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.

I take several supplements. Fish oil, citicoline, vitamin D, vitamin B12, probiotics, acetyl l-cysteine, and alpha lipoic acid. I also put a tablespoonful of psyllium husk in my morning smoothie.

I try to exercise 5-6 days a week. Doing a variety of exercises keeps things interesting and helps my body and mind work in different ways. It also allows me on days when I don’t have a lot of energy, to still get some movement by choosing something less strenuous. I enjoy yoga, walking, weightlifting, HIIT (high intensity interval training), and hiking. Sometimes I do them at a gym, outside, or at home. I also really enjoy gardening, so I take care of my yard and garden including the grass cutting and tree trimming on a very steep yard with many stairs.

Overall, I eat pretty well although my sweet tooth is really going bananas lately. I don’t diet per se, but I do try and stick to Michael Pollan’s quote of “eat food, not too much, mostly plants”. I limit processed and junk food and try to keep portions reasonable. And even though I do have an increased sweet tooth, I try and make my desserts which does slow me down versus buying ready made things.

To help with sleeping well, I create quiet reading time and only read fiction before bed, avoid computers & social media. Now this is going to sound really silly but when I wake up in the morning, while I’m still lying in bed, I make a big smile and think to myself, I’m grateful for this day and it really starts off my day in a positive way.

Taking care of my mental health is important. I’m a pretty positive person by nature but having PD is difficult. I meditate and do quiet thinking, make an effort to spend time with family and friends, and volunteer in my community, all of which help me maintain a good outlook and feel centered. I’ve also seen a therapist from time to time. She has lots of experience with patients who have illness in their lives and has been a very helpful when I’m having a challenging time.

That’s it. I’ll tweak my routine as needed and constantly try to learn and observe, and honestly having PD has made me a more compassionate, empathetic, and thoughtful person. I hope your current routine is working well for you and if you have any good tips, I’d love to hear them. xo