So November the 7th will mark my one year anniversary since being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Been a strange old year, depressing as fcuk to get the diagnosis in the first place but it explained a lot of what was happening to me. Funny thing is I never realised such a large part of the disease was personality change and mood swings.
Have been able to control it to a degree with meds and a massive change to my self control to realise that now I am ill I have to work harder to be kinder and control myself when I feel the rage rising. Was told when I got the diagnosis to expect 5 good years before the condition became truly life limiting. One year down, despite some notable weakness in my left side it has not been to bad, been working out and eating healthier, still unfortunately have a lapse and drink more then I should but probably less this year then in my previous 35 years of heavy drinking.
I took on a part time job in B&Q in shoreham, they are an amazing employer who i told upfront about my condition and supported me anyway. Getting out and doing 3 days a week is good, it keeps my mind active and forces me to engage in conversation with the public in a subject I am pretty knowledgeable on. Did not really need the money so all of the wages goes into a savings account when in 3 years time I will be going to China for stem cell therapy which with any luck will reset my condition back to the level of first diagnosis.
The medical industry is truly amazing, I joined a support group in Brighton for people with parkinson's and it helps to talk with others in my condition, which is why I would advice you guys with mental health issues to join a support group, talking and being among like minded people helps. Last week I was reading a study about how chemo therapy was actually in some cases helping people who have parkinsons, so the is lots going on and what I have learned it is important to stay positive.
I have noticed that at times I have become more sensitive and when I see the news and see how some of these refugees coming to Europe are escaping such terrible things, that actually I am pretty lucky in comparison and also I have been blessed with a good life, worked hard, but got a lot of advantages of living in a developed country. By the same token I have also learnt that though I can be kinder I can also be more opinionated as probably seen in the political thread on here.
To finish, I am fighting and fighting hard, for my son, to be around as long as possible and to try anything to get better or stay from getting worse, it was the most depressing time of my life but now has given me a new purpose, at times it is bricky because friends now know about it and is the first thing they ask about how I am doing when I just want to be treated as I always have. Thankfully a few of them still call me a clown shoe who never buys a round and that means the most to me.
So guys if you are having issues, see a doctor because it could be a physical condition as well as mental, get support because talking with my support group this last year has helped, and one thing I have learnt about depression is it will creep up on you even when you think you are doing well. So see doctor, talk with people and never never stop fighting the good fight.
Good luck guys.
