When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s nearly nine years ago, I had no idea what my future would look like. I consider myself lucky to have access to brilliant NHS services for Parkinson’s and also great support from friends and family. Without both of these, my Parkinson’s journey would have been a much more difficult…
Category: Symptoms & treatments
My DBS journey: Feeling afraid, holding onto hope and practising patience
For me, one of the worst things about living with Parkinson’s is knowing that it’s not going to get better. But the prospect of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery gave me hope that my symptoms could be eased and my quality of life could be improved. This summer after struggling for so long with the…
My DBS journey continues… Alongside England’s Euro 2020 journey
The last time that England reached the semi finals in the European Cup was in 1996. That was the first time I watched an entire football match. It was also the year I had brain surgery to remove a growth in my pituitary gland. Coincidentally, England reached the semi finals again this summer 2021, and…
Living with Parkinson’s: Memorable Moments
The theme of this year’s Parkinson’s Awareness Week (11-17 April 2021) is mental health in Parkinson’s. So I thought I would share a few memorable moments which have impacted on my mental health… The letter – I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in October 2013. I remember the day, a few months later, when I received…
Writing: A Creative Challenge
Last month, I entered the first Let’s Combat Micrographia writing competition for people with Parkinson’s – submitting a story which included over 25 words from a list of 50 words. My story was over 360 words, it was handwritten and my writing was actually legible! And it was much bigger than it used to be….
Handwriting, hope and homework
Handwriting:Today (23 January) is National Handwriting Day. The aim is to encourage us to put pen to paper and write down our thoughts. I’m not quite putting pen to paper as I write this blog, but I did put pen to paper this morning as I started my homework for this week. Yes, that’s ‘homework’…
Waiting and hoping, but not drowning
I began my DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) journey a couple of months ago. I’ve now been through the assessment process to see if I am suitable for this brain surgery – which although not a cure for Parkinson’s, has the potential to greatly improve my quality of life. The assessments involved an MRI scan, cognitive…
And so it begins…
Excited. Nervous. Scared. Those feelings you get when you’re waiting for something which has the potential to either crush your hopes or fulfill them. That’s how I felt this week after the wheels were finally set in motion for me to start the assessment process to see if I am eligible for Deep Brain Stimulation…
Blog 100: The future’s not ours to see
As it’s coming up to seven years since the day I was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s disease, this blog is about where I’ve been on my Parkinson’s journey for the last year or so, and what may lie ahead. When you’re on five types of Parkinson’s medication, taking more than 10 tablets a day, and…
Challenges, choices and keeping faith
Although it affects pretty much every aspect of my life, I generally try not to let my life revolve around Parkinson’s. However, this year Parkinson’s has brought me a new challenge in the form of dyskinesia. And I have been struggling with this, so much so, that my life has seemed to revolve around Parkinson’s,…
Living with Parkinson's 