Now that the diagnosis is confirmed (refer to previous article)and your Movement Disorder Specialist has confirmed that the disease you have is, indeed, Parkinson’s disease, you have to sit back, take stock of the situation and chalk out a plan laying down the various alternatives you have.
First of all, you need something to keep a note of all your important thoughts, decisions, advice from doctors or any other thing which you consider important enough. A notebook would be good to maintain but the best option would be a tab, laptop or a mobile phone. PD normally affects older people who already may not have a good memory.
The next step would be to realign and reassess the step that you have noted down. Finally, you have to finalize the routine which you want to adopt. You would do well if, before finalizing the tentative itinerary, you note down the points.
One of the first, that you have to guard against post-diagnoses, is depression. That is one of the most commonly reported reactions to a diagnosis of PD.
The patient and his family have to look out for the following signs of depression:
- Depressed feeling,
- Loss of appetite,
- Losing interest in all things which used to give you pleasure till the diagnosis of PD,
- A sudden reduction in daily activity,
- Inability to sleep or excessive sleeping post diagnosis,
- Lowering of self-esteem, added self-pity and
- Thoughts of death.
A combination of medication and psychological treatments is normally provided to the patient. It is the prerogative of the physician to recommend the necessary course of action which would depend on the symptoms. It is essential to re-establish the feeling of self-worth.
Delusions, paranoia and hallucinations are all possible side-effects of treating PD.
Energy conserving tips
Plan your activities carefully i.e. recreation, exercise and other tasks. The idea is not to stuff too many activities in a day. Things that require more energy should be done when you are feeling your best.
Relax before and after every chore and meals; no activities after meals for at least 30 minutes.
Ask for help from family members for various tasks.
Sleep well! Keep your head elevated while sleeping.
Climb steps only if your doctor permits.
Do not strain. Pulling, pushing or lifting heavy things is not permitted.
Get dressed only while seated.
Wear clothes with elastic waistbands.
Pullovers and front-opening clothes should be preferred.
Wear slip-on shoes.
For bathing
- Use a shower chair,
- Use soap on a rope,
- Use long handled brush or sponge and
- Place a non-skid rug on the bathroom floor.
Grooming
- Perform grooming only while seated,
- Hairbrushes and combs should have long handles or finger loops,
- Use toothbrushes with handles or use an electric toothbrush.
Eating well
The food should be nutritious, well-balanced and easily digestible. This will ensure that the diet is suitable and provides the required nutrition while maintaining the body weight.
Drink a lot of fluids to ensure a smooth bowel movement.
Most important of all, Take your medications on time and exercise regularly.
How to Take Care of People Suffering from Parkinson’s Disease at Home https://t.co/KRJ2E21lxY#Health #neurology #OldAge #Geriatrics
— Zigverve.com (@zigverve) May 3, 2016
Further Reading:
Parkinson’s Disease – Introduction, Definition, Prevention and Causes
After reading this post, one will no have to turn to a third person for further clarification because it is quite detailed
This is such a detailed and informative post. Thanks for sharing!
Very informative post
This is a very helpful information. Thank you.
really amazed by the set of information you have been sharing on this disease on your blog Dr. Singhal. Very informative!
Thank u for sharing such a relevant and informative article…
Yes depression is common in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Thank Dr Singhal for sharing such an informative article,