Parkinson's Disease For Dummies

A user-friendly guide to coping with the daily issues of Parkinson's

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease you're probably wrestling with fear, despair, and countless questions about the future. It's brighter than you think. In Parkinson's Disease for Dummies, you'll discover how to keep a positive attitude and lead an active, productive life as this user-friendly, guide pilots you through the important steps toward taking charge of your condition. It helps you:

• Make sure you have an accurate diagnosis

• Assemble and work with your health care team

• Inform others about your condition

• Choose the most effective medications

• Establish a diet and exercise regimen

• Consider surgical options, alternative therapies, and clinical trials

• Maintain healthy personal and professional relationships

• Adjust your routine as your PD progresses

This one-stop resource provides proven coping skills, first-hand advice, and practical tools, such as worksheets to assess care options, questions to ask doctors, and current listings of care providers.

Autorentext

Michele Tagliati, MD, is Director of the Parkinson's Disease Center at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. Gary N. Guten, MD, MA, is an orthopedic surgeon, author, and Parkinson's patient. Jo Horne, MA, is the author of three books and a long-distance care partner.

Zusammenfassung
A user-friendly guide to coping with the daily issues of Parkinson’s

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease you’re probably wrestling with fear, despair, and countless questions about the future. It’s brighter than you think. In Parkinson’s Disease for Dummies, you’ll discover how to keep a positive attitude and lead an active, productive life as this user-friendly, guide pilots you through the important steps toward taking charge of your condition. It helps you:

• Make sure you have an accurate diagnosis
• Assemble and work with your health care team
• Inform others about your condition
• Choose the most effective medications
• Establish a diet and exercise regimen
• Consider surgical options, alternative therapies, and clinical trials
• Maintain healthy personal and professional relationships
• Adjust your routine as your PD progresses This one-stop resource provides proven coping skills, first-hand advice, and practical tools, such as worksheets to assess care options, questions to ask doctors, and current listings of care providers.

Inhalt

Foreword xix

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Conventions Used in This Book 2

Foolish Assumptions 3

How This Book Is Organized 3

Part I: Understanding PD 4

Part II: Making PD Part — But Not All — of Your Life 4

Part III: Crafting a Treatment Plan Just for You 4

Part IV: Living Well with PD 5

Part V: Coping with Advanced PD 5

Part VI: The Part of Tens 5

Part VII: Appendixes 5

Icons Used in This Book 6

Where to Go from Here 6

Part I: Understanding PD 7

Chapter 1: Parkinson’s Disease: The Big Picture 9

Defining Parkinson’s — A Movement Disorder 10

Accepting the chronic progressive factors 11

Distinguishing between Parkinson’s disease and related conditions 12

Debunking some commonly held myths about PD 13

Recognizing symptoms that raise questions 14

Seeking the Care You Need 14

From medical professionals 14

From loved ones 15

As your PD progresses 15

Treating Parkinson’s — Previewing Your Options 15

Starting the Course, Staying the Course 16

Dealing with the here and now 16

Working, playing, and having a life 18

Making plans for your future 18

Chapter 2: Considering Possible Causes and Risk Factors 19

Considering Theories on Causes 19

Taking a close look at environmental factors 20

Looking at possible genetic factors 22

Checking out other possible causes 23

Weighing Your Risk Factors 26

Considering your age and gender 26

Taking a look at ethnicity 27

Regarding other risk possibilities 27

Changing Don’t Know to Know 29

The need-to-know info 29

The attitude that busts research barriers 29

Chapter 3: Sizing Up Symptoms, Signs, and Stages 31

Familiarizing Yourself with the Lingo 31

Symptoms — What You Look for 32

Signs — What Your Doctor Looks for 33

Four primary signs 33

Secondary signs and symptoms 35

Non-motor signs and symptoms 36

Stages — Understanding the Unique Path PD Can Take 38

Early stage PD: When life can be fairly normal 39

Moderate stage PD: When you need to accept help 39

Late stage PD: When planning keeps you in control 40

A Few Words for You and Your Care Partner 41

Part II: Making PD Part — But Not All — of Your Life 43

Chapter 4: Getting an Accurate Diagnosis 45

Bringing Up the Subject with Your Doctor 45

Scheduling an appointment 46

Preparing for your initial exam 46

Stepping through your initial exam 48

Leaving with the answers you need 49

If It Looks Like PD…Connecting with a Neurologist 50

Locating an experienced and qualified neurologist 51

Evaluating your neurologist 52

Preparing for that first visit 54

Interviewing the good doctor 54

Reviewing your first impressions 55

Moving forward if it’s a good fit 56

Working with Your Neurologist to Determine Whether This Is PD 56

Navigating the clinical exam 57

Establishing the severity and staging the progression of your PD 58

Ruling out the red herrings: What else can it be? 60

Parkinsonism, But Not PD 61

This Is Your Life — Getting a Second (or Even Third) Opinion 62

Chapter 5: You’ve Been Diagnosed — Now What? 63

Sorting Out Your Emotions 64

Dodging denial and meeting your diagnosis head on 65

Allowing yourself to get angry 65

Admitting you’re scared 66

Getting to acceptance 67 ...