Hey! Remember me? I'm your PD....

Well, it was bound to happen....

As it is, on a good day mornings are particularly difficult for me as it is usually the longest period I go without medication.  An extended "off" period if you will.  This past Sunday my wife was out of town so it fell on me to get my son and I up, dressed and out the door for church.  Everything was going pretty much according to plan until I pulled into the parking lot of our church and suddenly remembered that I had not taken my morning dose of Stalevo.  After a brief moment of panic I realized I had not died and thought, "Eh...don't need it."

Well about 15 minutes into church I felt the familiar stiffness in my legs and the sudden and intense cramping in my feet.  It was my PD tapping me on the shoulder and reassuring me that yes, in fact, "it" was still here.  Midway through church I was becoming increasingly more uncomfortable. By the end of church I was having difficulty standing and my shuffling gait was in full effect.

I learned two things Sunday.  One, the medication I currently take (Stalevo, Azilect and COQ10) is in fact helping with my symptoms.  Two, my PD is not going anywhere.  This realization was both alarming and reassuring.  I was alarmed that my symptoms were so pronounced without my medication but reassured that the medication was, at least at this point, managing my illness.

The experience was just another stepping stone on my path of accepting both my illness and it's affect on my life.  This lead to my decision to challenge Mr. PD to see if I can determine just where my limits are. 

"Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light." 
Dylan Thomas

Stay tuned......