
Parkinson's Disease Support Group
Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder often characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement, and in extreme cases, a loss of physical movement. The primary symptoms of Parkinsons are due to excessive muscle contraction, normally caused by the insufficient formation and action of dopamine, which is produced in the dopaminergic neurons of the...
We saw something in a similar vein that was equally depressing last week.
This website is called "Daily
Strength". I don't think these kinds of postings give anyone strength. At least not in this Community. Perhaps the Community dealing with grief or loss is better suited for this post. I thought this was supposed to be a spot for hope and uplifting of the soul? This falls extremely short of the mark. It makes me very sad (as did the one last week) and I was already sad when I came here hoping to find strength.
I say this from the viewpoint of a primary caregiver and I have to believe that feeling is magnified infinitesimally for those afflicted with PD who frequent these pages.
While I don't expect this to be a Pollyanna sugar-coated forum and realize many come here looking for consolation from others in the same boat, this doesn't cut the mustard IMO.
In a website called "Daily Strength"...that also includes the strength to face a potential reality and to learn how to cope with it. Not to just assume that everything in your journey with your loved one w/PD is going to be squeaky clean...
Only talking about hope and "uplifting" the soul, and forgetting the "other side" is absolute denile.
For me, I want to know what my dad may have to go through. I want to mentally prepare myself, and I'll take the good with the bad.
The description in the aforementioned article is extreme, but obviously a possible outcome. However, for most people with PD, they will probably not experience all of those final symptoms, but obviously some.
I see "Daily Strength" as a source of information from those that are experiencing like "problems" as well as a beneficial support group through the friends we've met that we can talk to for specific support and understanding.
I stumbled across this site nearly a year ago, and find it extremely imformative and for me, beneficial. I would like to think that I have helped others, but know that I have received much more than I have been able to give.
In my opinion, though depressing, articles such as the one discussed here are appropriate because of the information provided. We may not like (even hate) the information because it makes us uncomfortable, but it's pertinent information non-the-less.
While I think it's great having patients and caregivers share a forum (I know it's been wonderful for me) I think that mix should change the equation somewhat as to the content of our postings.
FS - I know you're still quite young with much different life experiences and perspectives on stuff than some of the older folks here. And I was sorry last night after I reacted to your post as I know you didn't do it with malice. And I know that you're having a very hard time with this and are only trying to help yourself struggle through it. And so I want to tell you I'm sorry if I made you feel bad.
As Caring1 pointed out - many or most won't suffer all of or even the worst of these symptoms. That's why I don't like to focus on them. I think most of us are pretty well aware of what may come to pass, and if not, that's probably because those folks have decided they are either not ready or don't want to know.
Being prepared for possible outcomes and poking someone in the eye with reality are two separate things. One can be prepared without being frightened or demoralized and depressed.
Whether it comes to pass or not, worrying will not change anything. It is what it is. What will be will be.
We can spend all our time fretting over the future and step outside the door today and be struck dead by lightening or a thousand other things. It does the mind no good to worry over something that may never happen.
For over twenty years my aunt cared for my uncle who had PD and it was he who wound up sitting by the side of her coffin after she died of cancer. How many times over those years might she have fretted about his final days and, yet, in the end it was she who had the shortest time on earth and the shortest amount of time (6 months) to stop and make peace with her world once her dx was made. He had at least 20 years to do so.
Bottom line - any of us could have a fate awaiting us that would make PD seem a blessing by comparison. Even when my husband got his PD dx we were thankful it was that and not ALS or MS.
This forum will ultimately be what people want it to be and what they choose to make it. Yes, we can come here for a reality check but a Google search will produce hundreds of thousands of reality checks. That's why I don't think it needs to be done here. JMHO.
If this article was negative at all, keep it to yourself , none of us need to feel depressed