Living With Parkinson's Disease Pikeville KY
The Center for Advanced Neuromedicine at King’s Daughters Medical Center
Pikeville, KY
Living With Parkinson's Disease
Accepting that you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease is a process. Learn more about the steps most people go through, and what adjustments to expect at home and at work.
Dealing With the Diagnosis
It's normal to feel overwhelmed and anxious after learning that you've been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Most people with Parkinson's go through a similar acceptance process following their diagnosis.
It begins with denial and is often followed by helplessness, then anger, and then withdrawing from family and friends, before finally reaching acceptance. Going from being a well individual to someone with a chronic, progressive disease is a major transition, says the National Parkinson Foundation.
Some Parkinson's patients may avoid going to the doctor for follow-up appointments or refuse to take their medication, almost as if they are hoping the diagnosis was wrong.
It may help to seek a second opinion. If you decide to do so, look for a physician who specializes in neurological diseases, such as a neurologist or a movement disorders specialist, who focuses on treating diseases like Parkinson's.
Role of Family and Friends
Parkinson's not only afflicts people with the disease, but their spouses, children, and friends, all of whom, must make adjustments in their lives, too. The future is cloudy to the entire family. Spouses may worry about finances and their increased care-giving role...
