Welcome back John Pepper

[Norton1]

It's taken awhile to get you reconnected and thank you to Hugo for his assistance.

We are looking forward to an interesting ride now you have returned.

Norton1

[JohnPepper]

Hi Norton. It's nice to be back. I promise I won't give any details of where to buy my book, I'll just let them ask any one of the other bloggers if they can tell them how to get one. I am going to start new questions relating to old issues, because I can't stand having to scroll down to the bottom for issues with more than 40 replies. It isn't any fun!

John

[Park4me in reply to JohnPepper]

John- I just ordered your book on Amazon. May take awhile to get since I dont have prime. I am very interested in reading it and have been doing vitamin supplements and exercise since being diagnosed in 2012. I am currently on azilect and mirapex.

I am curious in all your research, do you take or support LDN? I just asked my doctor to prescribe and he does not want to do it. I have heard a lot of positive remarks about it.

[Norton1 in reply to Park4me]

Sorry to butt in Park4me, but I can tell you that in the UK (I don't know where you are from) it is possible to get a prescription over the phone for LDN and have the medication made up by a pharmacy in Glasgow. So far as your doctor is concerned LDN is probably not prescribable for Parkinson's and he would be contravening some medical law were he to do so. You could ask him to prescribe it and qualify it by you agreeing to take full responsibility for any consequences, which of course is how it should be.

Regards

Norton1

[JohnPepper in reply to Park4me]

Hi Park4me. Thank you for ordering my book, I hope you get a lot of benefit from it. I would like to make it clear that the book was written as a record of my experience with Pd and was not researched in any way at all. There are many items in the book that are copied, with permission, from other works. I have no way of testing medications, nor am I qualified to do so. I am very aware that none of the normal Pd medications have the ability to affect the progression of Pd. Therefore, whether you take them or not, you do not affect the progression of your Pd. If you are taking any Pd medication and want to stop, you will not be causing your Pd to get any worse. However! I would imagine that you would have to come off the medication slowly, but I am not a doctor and cannot tell you anything more about it. The azilect causes your brain to retain more of the dopamine you already have, so that you should not need to take as much levodopa medication as you were doing before you started the azilect. Read up on the internet about LDN. The only proven way to affect the progression of Pd is energetic exercise. There is no secret in this. Hard walking is the best exercise, but you must start doing it in small amounts, slowly building up to one hour a session, three times a week.

John

[Park4me in reply to JohnPepper]

John, I have read your blogs regarding walking. I just spent 10 days in Sedona and walked 6-8 miles every day and never felt better. I struggle so much about meds and have not let my doctor increase what I am currently on - azilect and mirapex .25 3 times a day. I am wanting to stop the mirapex to avoid long term side effects and feel that since I am still in the "baby faze" with meds. Do you think I am on the right track - knowing that I will replace with diet and exercise which I also do now?

I am still working but have a 18 month countdown til I quit. I did step down from management due to the stress and that helped a lot.

[JohnPepper in reply to Park4me]

Hi Park4me. I am very pleased to hear your attitude towards your treatment. What worries me is that you walked 6-8 miles every day. We have to understand that our muscles need time to recover from exercise. If we don't give them that time they eat themselves up, in order to get the energy they need to do the work you are imposing upon them. Rest is as much a cure as exercise! As far as the meds are concerned, I am not a doctor and have no idea what each different medication is supposed to do for us. The only thing I do know is that none of them has any affect on the progression of our Pd. So not taking them does not speed up the progression. If you can avoid taking medication, so much the better for your body. But if they do relieve some of the symptoms, temporarily and you are unable to function unless you do get that relief, then take them by all means. If you want to come off the meds, I would suggest that you do it slowly, The body adjusts to all medication and has to readjust to having it taken away.

John

[kearney34]

Welcome back John..the format remains difficult having to scroll down, keep up the great work John Cheers djr

[JohnPepper in reply to kearney34]

Thank you kearney34. I am very appreciative of the support I have received from others, after being allowed back on this HU website. My modest contribution to our understanding of Pd has gathered both applause and criticism, which is to be expected. I am in a very unusual situation. My condition has improved to the extent that I no longer need any medication and am able to live a normal life again, providing that I continue to do my walking. Without ever examining me, many neurologists have stated that I do not have Pd, because there is no cure for Pd. I have never claimed to have been cured. I still have Pd, but I have managed to reverse many of the symptoms and can maintain them at that level, as long as I avoid stress and do my exercise. I hope that I am able to encourage others to follow my lead and benefit fro my experience.

John

[Prayingforacure]

Hi John, I have been off line for quite awhile caring for my Dear Hubby. It has been very difficult but God provides me the strength I so need. Never ever a regret in his going off the pd meds, I often questioned if he had not fallen causing brain injury if things would be different and better since no MEDS. It is good to be back on line don't know how often it will be but shall try to get in now and then. Take care, blessings you you,yours and all others.