Archive for the 'recovery' Category

Aug 26 2010

My Old Energy Has Returned

I was diagnosed early stage PD last January and have been on Sinemet ever since. I wasn”t seeing any definitive response to the med which my doctor saw as troubling, suspecting that might mean I had Parkinson’s plus… a grimmer diagnosis that simple Parkinsons. We worked up to 7 pills per day, which is a lot to start off with.

I felt better but honestly I myself wasn”t 100% sure it was because of the meds, because by that time (now i was 6 months post dx) I had gone beyond the shock and initial depression I had experienced upon initial diagnosis and was heavily into alternative treatments… (acupuncture, Chinese herbs, massage, exercise, twice weekly yoga, rest, meditation, Reiki, etc). reading your book was extremely helpful and inspiring. Facing my own deeper negative thought patterns was critical… particularly the belief that i wasn”t really ever going to recover.

My old energy has returned. Although I am not symptom free I do feel better as I learn how to take charge of my health more and more every day. Slowly I have come to believe in my capacity to recover. what a journey!

2 months ago I started gradually reducing my daily Sinemet from the peak of 7 pills to now 3, ramping it down half a pill per week. I plan on continuing this as long as I feel well, intending to get off it altogether several more weeks from now. Obviously  I am pleased with this development,  and recognize there will likely be more hurdles to overcome as I go forward. the point is I am ready for the challenge.

Dan

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Aug 12 2010

Now is the Time to Decide

I have talked with many of you who I know have been thinking about attending this year’s Parkinsons Recovery Jump Start to Wellness program. This year’s 2 1/2 day program will be held in San Diego, California October 18th – 20th.

I know October seems a long time away, but now is the time to decide whether you will be joining us so you can get the best travel deal possible.  Some  people waited until the last minute to decide and paid a premium for travel.

Can’t decide whether you want to attend?  Check out the group picture of the individuals who attended the 2009 Jump Start to Wellness program.

I discussed the intent and design of Jump Start to Wellness during my radio show today.You can get the scoop by visiting:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/parkinsons-recovery

For more information about Jump Start to Wellness, click HERE or call me at our toll free phone number: 10877-526-4646.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery
1-877-526-4646 (Toll Free)

Resources
Dehydration Therapy: Aquas
Parkinsons Recovery Membership
Parkinsons Eye Problems
Vibroacoustic Therapy
Jump Start to Wellness
Parkinsons Recovery Chat Room
Symptom Tracker

Books
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
Pioneers of Recovery
Five Steps to Recovery
Meditations for Parkinsons

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Jul 08 2010

Exciting News of Recovery

Published by admin under recovery,road to recovery

Good morning Robert.

I am as high as the 4th of July – no pun intended. I saw my neurologist yesterday – he is the head of the Movement Disorder Clinic in Vancouver, BC. They could find very few symptoms of Parkinson’s and were quite amazed. He said that the neurosurgeon who will call me about DBS surgery will probably say that I am doing too well!

I did keep asking them if they wanted to know why I was doing so well and I mentioned antioxidants, change in attitude, changes in diet and increased exercises … There were two nurses in the room who are also with this program and at the end of the appointment I asked them if they wanted to talk with me but they declined. I just hope that I have planted some seeds for change here.

I thought you two would be interested in the remarks of my holistic physiotherapist who I have been seeing for 12 years – she has been super for me.

Marilyn, huge congratulations! That is fantastic news and I know you will find the people who are receptive to your message to pass it on to. You’ve done great healing with your intention, positivity and openness to what is possible.

You’re a great role model of the healing journey and I’m very appreciative that you have shared part of your journey with me.


Thank you.

Warmth and Light,

Sharon

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Jul 04 2010

Adopt the Placebo Effect as a Potent Therapy

Question:

I read the book of Dr J. Coleman [Stop Parkin and Start Livin]  as well as many other books & it is encouraging to know we can recover. I understood that 90% of the work is to nurture healthy beliefs, to find & release known & unknown negative images – bottom line to change the mind. It is a daily routine to maintain the focus on wellness & recovery while we are feeling symptomatic. I must confess it is a tough journey but it is worth it. I choose this path & GOD is helping.

I don’t like the way the drugs make me feel & my plan is to reduce the doses when I am ready. I started to take regularly FAVA BEANS as part of my diet, also taking 3 serving of fish/week pm. I cannot describe my way any further because we are told there is no specific programme, everything must be individualized.

at last my question for Dr. Rodgers – What is the best way to trigger a placebo EFFECT & maintain it to reach the recovery.

Thank you for your work

Abi

Response:

I agree totally that the key is a transformation of our negative thoughts. I believe this transformation was so critical to recovery that I recently published my book, Five Steps to Recovery, and recorded meditations that go along with the book that say absolutely nothing about therapies that can help and everything about the five critical steps that are necessary to transform thought forms.

The placebo effect is simply a way of installing the belief that you are going to get better. You have already triggered a placebo for yourself by virtue of your acknowledgment that thoughts are the difference that makes the difference to recovery.

The formidable challenge turns on the second part of your question: How do you maintain the belief that recovery is possible, especially when symptoms can flare at any moment. It is easy to switch a positive
outlook into a negative one in a matter of seconds.

The key is to acknowledge that maintaining the belief that recovery is happening is a moment to moment process. We all can choose in any given moment to criticize, judge and be negative about our situation or to instill thoughts that embrace hope, new possibilities, new visions and new life for ourselves and our family.

We have over 60,000 thoughts a day.  An interesting twist for most of us is that 90% of those thoughts are the same thoughts we had yesterday, the day before and a year ago. We trash ourselves with negative thoughts day in and day out.

Simply put, we humans are really not very creative when it comes to the thoughts that we express to ourselves. Perhaps we have an affinity for being redundant. Perhaps we get negative pleasure in beating up on ourselves.

A practice that works is to recognize the hamster wheel of negative thinking when it starts to turn – to acknowledge the power of negative thought forms when they rear their ugly head – and to release, remove, detach and eject and shield those thoughts from pestering us again. The challenge is to hop off of the hamster wheel and hop onto a vehicle that takes us on a road we do want to travel, the Road to Recovery.

Maintaining the beliefs that will make us well depends on a steady focus and unwavering intention. Day by day negativity is released, allowing new possibilities to become manifest. This is not an easy process. It takes time and focus. But, it is doable.

At Parkinsons Recovery we devote time and attention to helping people who attend our Jump Start to Wellness programs with just this type of transformation. It makes the difference between coming back into balance and nurturing the spirit of our souls or sustaining a state of disharmony that nurtures the symptoms of discomfort and disease.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery

Resources
Dehydration Therapy: Aquas
Parkinsons Recovery Membership
Parkinsons Eye Problems
Vibroacoustic Therapy
Jump Start to Wellness
Parkinsons Recovery Radio CDs
Parkinsons Recovery Chat Room
Symptom Tracker
Parkinsons Recovery Radio Network

Books
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
Pioneers of Recovery
Five Steps to Recovery
Meditations for Parkinsons

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Jun 11 2010

Holistic Approach to Treating Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

Hello Robert:

By way of introduction, my name is Howard Shifke and I am in Tampa, Florida. I am 49 years old. Last November, I received my Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis, and my diagnosable Parkinson’s symptoms were traced back to February of 2009.

My mother had Parkinson’s for 24 years before she died, and she had gone through the standard route of her time of years of misdiagnosis followed by years of medications. When she died, she suffered from Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia. As you know from your own personal experience, this is a very sad ending for somebody you love.

Needless to say, I learned from her experience and from my research, and I have been taking a completely holistic approach to this disease. In March of this year, I began a blog to share my research and look for like-minded people who were fighting Parkinson’s drug free as well (http://fightingparkinsonsdrugfree.blogspot.com). Last month I discovered the Parkinson’s Recovery Project (www.pdrecovery.org) and their information has been fantastic. They have a down loadable 690-page pdf and an important additional chapter, number Forty-Five, which was not part of the original materials.

I began their recommended meditations and affirmations about two weeks ago, and then I studied Yin Tui Na as taught in the PD Recovery research materials. I taught my wife what I had learned and last week she began performing Forceless Spontaneous Release, a form of Yin Tui Na, on my right foot per their instructions. She has been performing Yin Tui Na on my foot for 30 minutes per day for 7 days.

My results: My balance now is very good. For the first time in nine months, I can walk up and down my stairs without holding on. I can get out of a chair without using my arms. I can bring my utensil to my mouth without the cogwheel effect. I can stand up pretty straight and take a stride that I would estimate to be 60-70% of a “normal” stride, and my arms swing naturally. I do not fall asleep sitting at my computer in the middle of the day, and I do not require a daily afternoon nap. I no longer have constipation. I am typing accurately with both hands again, which is a skill I lost in November of 2009. The calluses at the tips of my fingers have disappeared. Much of my rigidity pain has subsided (I mostly feel the rigidity in my upper back, particularly when I focus on standing straight; the pain is probably about 50% of what it was). I still have tremors all the time. However, the tremors are only about 50% of the intensity I used to experience.

I am trying to get the message out that although Parkinson’s affects everybody differently, I have experienced holistic modalities that are getting rid of my PD symptoms. I am hopeful that others may benefit from what I have researched and learned. Please feel free to share this email with anybody you think may benefit.

Best regards,

Howard

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Jun 08 2010

Roller Coaster Ride

Published by admin under Stress and Parkinsons,recovery

Gabby gave me permission to post her e mail to me today in response to one of my newsletters. May her strength and courage be an inspiration to us all.

Robert Rodgers, PhD

Thanks Robert for this much needed inspiration. I got a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes because it felt like you were describing me to a T. I feel like I’m on a roller coaster and never know what to expect from one day to the next.

On good days I feel great (like the old me) and sometimes even catch myself wondering whether my diagnosis was accurate. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, I’ll have a few really bad days, my tremors will get worse and my chest muscles are in such pain I struggle to breathe. Having historically been a very healthy and active person who has also been a bit of a control freak, I am struggling to adjust to my new life of uncertainty.

Having said that I am very spiritual and know that God has literally carried me this last year. I also believe very much in the power of our minds and as a single mom of 2 teenagers I just have to cope. It has helped me to remain as positive as possible, put my head down and just push through, taking one day at a time and knowing that God is there to help me when the going gets tough.

I have just recently started a new job which is extremely pressurized and stressful and I am really struggling to keep my head above water but don’t really have a choice. I have been quite concerned about the effect this is having on my condition but your email has encouraged me to just remain positive and believe that I can cope and I will be okay!

Thank you.

Gabby

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Jun 03 2010

Another on the Road to Recovery

Published by admin under recovery,road to recovery

Just a quick note to tell you that after the cruise I was feeling so much better that I went off Sinemet

It’s been 20 days and so far I’m feeling better and better.  I think I’m on the right track. I also think it’s because I learned useful information  from your Jump Start Program and the cruise.  I wanted to thank you again for your efforts

Thanks and I’ll  keep you updated

Tom Harrelson

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May 31 2010

One More Letter from One Who is Recovering

You are getting some fascinating letters from others who are recovering – so good to know. I have quit leading 2 groups in the valley and now have more time to recover.

Suzanne Jonas’s Cd’s are marvelous and make a real difference. Randy Mentzer is helping with nutrition, medications and supplements.

The biggest change was the experience on the cruise of a deep knowing that I am getting better. I won’t be at Jump Start in Oct, though – too close to Mom’s big birthday bash. It will be a 3 day affair with over 120 people invited, she is so pumped. I do know where I get my stick to it attitude and she really enjoyed meeting you and the group. Thanks for making her feel special.

Marilyn

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May 24 2010

Parkinsons Disease Progression

Below is a letter I received from Dirk who describes the exciting progress of recovery of his wife. Please take not that “progression” in this case – as with so many other stories I document here on the Parkinsons Recovery blog -  is toward recovery, not deterioration. Veronika is clearly on the road to recovery.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery

.Dear Robert,

You are doing a great job. Compared to a year ago, Veronika is doing somewhat better. She has more energy, the lip curling disappeared, her arms are moving better when walking, so we are optimistic and believe that the turnaround – similar to Nathan Zakheim – is forthcoming but might be a year or two away. [Nathans' story of recovery is documented in Pioneers of Recovery].

Our diet is 70% raw and we bought recently a water ionizer (Kangen Water) that might also help with her osteoporosis.

She is now for one year on Dr. Paneri’s medicine. A friend of ours from Vancouver, who has also PD and is on Dr. Paneri’s medicine, confirmed that it is working. Last winter – because of a postal error – he was for one month without ajurvedic medicine and felt lousy and as soon he got new supplies his condition bettered. He went last summer over to India and spend a few weeks around Dr. Paneri. He told me that he met quite a few patients who were definitely on the road to recovery.

I am doing everything I can to help her and get her body in a condition to heal itself. But there are still some issues from her abusive childhood experiences that might be the root cause of her PD. Earlier this year we were listening in Puerto Vallarta to your interviews
[http://www.blogtalkradio.com/parkinsons-recovery] and I have to dig those ones out again, that were dealing with psychological damage.

It is too bad that – so far – we were not able to attend one of your seminars [Jump Start to Wellness]. But we will make it one of these days.

Thank you  again.

Cheers,

Dirk

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May 17 2010

Spiritual Growth from Parkinson’s

I have just returned from a trip to the Rocky Mountains in Jasper Alberta – attending a friend’s daughter’s wedding. It was a 9 hour car ride that I was dreading that turned out very positive. I took along Suzanne’s Cd’s and my portable player, drank in the splendor and generally felt very well.

How do I  tell people about the spiritual growth that is happening for me that is making all the difference. Physical symptoms just seem to be insignificant – the peace and joy I am experiencing is awesome.

Thank you for the cruise and your program. I very much felt a community of people committed to Recovering and also supporting each other – a solid foundation. I am no longer frantic to tell my story, rather I will spend my time doing the work I need to and sharing with those who are interested – it is so freeing up.

Marilyn

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