I was at a Tai Chi class at Hartford Health a few days ago and a nurse asked if I could comment on the program, pluses or minuses.. I don't know how much detail you want so I apologize now if this this is TMI:
I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in Utah in 2019. By March of 2020 I was in Connecticut after having sold my veterinary practice and home and moving to Connecticut.
I was one of those people who "Live To Work". I ran my practice for 35 years. I didn't take vacations. I didn't take weekends off. The practice was open six days a week and I worked six days a week. I regularly saw emergency cases after-hours and on Sundays. So losing all that to Parkinson's Disease was more than a shock. Even though I'm 67 I never thought about retirement because I never planned to retire. One more reason why this was more than a shock.
You asked what classes I attended. Upstairs there was a class on movement disorders. We learned about taking bigger steps and being mindful. Ultimately they said I was normal and didn't need more classes. Then I took acupuncture sessions for several months. Again ultimately it was decided that I didn't need more sessions. Then I took classes for dealing with constipation. As a result, I bought a Squatty Potty--great tool!--and I still take Motegrity.
Now I' m taking Tai Chi classes.
You asked if it has improved my life. Something definitely has but I don't know which has helped the most. In the early days I was nearly suicidal. I could no longer work and felt that without work what's the point of a life. In the early days I dreamed that I was still working. Then waking up each day and realising I didn't have a job to go to and I'm back to the idea of: What's the point?
Then last night I again dreamed I was at work. Unlike earlier dreams there wasn't a sense of doom. A client had brought in a dog to be euthanized. I gave it an IV dose of medication to stop its heart. And left it lying dead in the cage. Later I walked into the room to check on other patients, I felt a cold, wet nose bumping my arm, I turned to see the euthanized dog alive and wagging its tail at me.
Upon waking I didn't feel the morose sense of loss that had plagued me that past few years. Maybe there's a light at the end of the tunnel and maybe it's not an on-coming train.
In other words, I'm no longer suicidal and no longer thinking nothing but 'gloom and doom'.
Yes I would recommend this for other patients. Again I apologize if this is TMI.
DHA for dyskinesia also improving sleep?
Weakness, Vulnerability, Instability, and Fear
