6028

Dreamed | I was healthy |

Sent a health update to my friends and family list... Will repeat it here--it's a summary of the past several weeks of journal entries...

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Hello everyone--

Here's where I am on my health-related issues (some of you may know some of what follows since we've talked about it personally--I just want to make sure everyone's up to date).

I started taking Sinemet at the end of October on a diagnostic basis to see if it would stop the shaking/tremor symptoms. If the symptoms stopped or abated, then that in itself would support a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease.

After almost three weeks of taking the drug, the symptoms started to abate.

At the same time, I was searching the web and reading all I could on the disease and the drug I was taking. The news was not good on either count. The disease is supposedly degenerative and progressive. However, there was a lot of negative information regarding long term use of the drug. There was a lot of discussion and data indicating that the drug, used long term, produces a drug-induced set of Parkinson-like disorders. I.e., the drug would reduce symptoms in the short run, but become an eventual liability--a big one.

As I was reading materials on the drug, I came across a PDRecovery site (PDRecovery.org) that has two large manuscripts dealing with PD recovery and drug-related problems associated with successful recoveries. (Note: According to the medical people, PD is not curable.) I learned they have a treatment team in Santa Cruz (PDTreatment.com) that takes on PD clients as long as they have NOT taken antiparkinson drugs for over three weeks (21 days). As I read that caveat, I calculated that I had been taking Sinemet for 18 days. I stopped taking the drug immediately. It was triggering an nictation problem anyway, which was one of the drug's known side effects.

I immediately contacted the PDTreatment team and asked them if my eligibility for their program was still OK since I'd stopped short of their 21-day cutoff. They have replied and indicated that I'm still eligible. I'm in the process of reading their two large manuscripts (required reading) so I can apply for their program.

Part of their technique involves the use of a Chinese manipulation called Yin Tui Na or Forceless Spontaneous Release (FSR). I won't try and describe all that's involved here. If you're interested, go to the PDRecovery.org site and download the manuscript PDFs so you can read offline. They don't charge anything for the downloaded files.

I'm scheduled to see the doctor again on 11/28 for a full physical. I'm to see the neurologist on 12/1. My intention at this point is to get a confirmation of the diagnosis, and if the diagnosis is PD, then apply to the PDTreatment team and go from there. I wish to proceed without relying on the drugs, which appear to produce really bad final results.

Since I stopped the drugs, the symptoms come and go, and seem to be more noticeable--at least to me. They subside when I do Qigong, dance, walk--when I'm moving. They appear when I am stressed,
need to eat, get too cold, or sit too long. Classic PD symptoms and reactions.

I look forward to getting cleared and started with the PDTreatment program/people. My next update should chronicle where I am in that process. Have a great T-bird day, everyone. Love and blessings... Rzzzz