Newly Diagnosed with Parkinsons?
If you are newly diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, you may be feeling overwhelmed and not know where to turn. You are not alone. We encourage you to connect with someone else in your local Parkinson's community. It may help to talk to someone else going through the same thing. Some newly diagnosed people want to join a support group right away and others won't even consider it. When you are ready, there are many programs and services available to you. You don't have to do it by yourself and there are things you may be able to do to fight back and live better in spite of your PD. The information below highlights some of the things you can do to take charge of your health and live well with Parkinson's.
Jump Start: A special event for those newly diagnosed with Parkinson's
Jump Start is a free quarterly program held in Orange County in partnership with Rogue PT & Wellness. You will learn the basics of Parkinson's from a Movement Disorder Neurologist and find out the benefits of exercise for people with Parkinson's from Claire McLean PT, DPT, Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist. You will also have the opportunity to explore many of the programs available to you in Orange County. Find more information here.
Helpful Articles for the Newly Diagnosed
Newly Diagnosed? - Parkinson and Movement Disorder Alliance
Resources for the Newly Diagnosed - Michael J. Fox Foundation
Five Questions to Ask After a PD Diagnosis - Michael J. Fox Foundation
You've Been Diagnosed with PD. Now What? - Davis Phinney Foundation
A Letter to My Patients on the Day They Were Diagnosed from Dr. Sarah King
"If I could turn back the clock and write a letter to every single one of my clients on the day they were diagnosed with Parkinson's, this is what it would say."
A Note From the Parkinson & Movement Disorder Alliance
This is often the toughest time. There’s no getting around it, and we’re sorry you have to wrestle with this truth. No one asks for this. We know that. You’ll never forget the day you hear the diagnosis. As you move through the clouds, all those thoughts and feelings, remember to give yourself a little credit...read more
A Letter to My Newly Diagnosed Self by Alan Cole
Wise words from Alan Cole PhD five years after his diagnosis. Alan is the author of the popular blog PD Wise.
Exercise, Exercise, Exercise
Where do I start?
Exercise is medicine and this rings especially true for the person with Parkinson's. What should your exercise plan look like? Physical therapist Claire McLean will take you through your ideal exercise plan in this free video series.
Food for Thought: Diet and Nutrition in PD
Dr. Laurie Mischley ND, PhD, MPH is a clinical investigator with Bastyr University and practices at Seattle Integrative Medicine. This video will give you a good overview of how diet can affect Parkinson's. Dr. Mischley updates her research on a regular basis on her online Parkinson's School.
What to Eat and Not to Eat
Dr. Heather Zwickey is a research scientist with a specialty in integrative medicine. There is a lot of information to digest in the presentation. When you are ready, you can find the 2.0 version of this video here. This video is brought to us by the Parkinson and Movement Disorder Alliance.
Being Positive and Proactive
Experts recommend that you don't wait for a problem to arise to do something about it. Hear what Claire McLean PT, DPT, NCS and Movement Disorder Specialist, Dr. Ramon Gil recommend.
Davis Phinney Resources
The Davis Phinney Foundation has a number of excellent resources for those beginning their PD journey including a primer called Charting Your Course.
Peer Support Programs
It often helps to talk to someone else who has been living with Parkinson's for a while. There are several options to connect you with someone.
Twitchy Woman Peer Support Program - For women newly diagnosed with Parkinson's. This program will try to connect you with someone in your area.
Michael J. Fox Buddy Network- Whether newly diagnosed or have been living with Parkinson's for years. This is for family members/care partners also.
My Parkinson's Team - Chat with others on the same journey...whether from down the street or across the world.
Davis Phinney Ambassadors - The Davis Phinney Foundation has ambassadors in 35 states and in Canada. They are there to answer your questions about living well with Parkinson's.
Resources for those Newly Diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease
Online Parkinson's School with Dr. Laurie Mischley
Learn about topics such as medication, nutrition, gut health, exercise, supplements, lab work and more.
The New Parkinson's Disease Treatment Book
This book, written by Dr. J. Eric Ahlskog gives a thorough explanation of Parkinson's and its diagnosis, symptoms and treatments.
Parkinson's 360
From the Michael J. Fox Foundation "Parkinson's 360 walks through the different symptoms, as well as the emotional and social changes that may arise at different points in the journey. It's a candid and relatable guide for patients and families living with Parkinson's."
Ending Parkinson's Disease
This book, written by Dr. Ray Dorsey, Dr. Michael Okun, Dr. Baas Bloem and Dr. Todd Sherer is a must read and a call to action for anyone affected by Parkinson's Disease.
Mediflix
Mediflix is now offering a series of short documentaries about Parkinson's. Watch inspiring and informative stories about people living well with Parkinson's and catch round table discussions with top experts in the field.
Every Victory Counts
Every Victory Counts is a comprehensive manual that can answer many of your PD questions. You can download the digital version or order a hard copy at no charge from the Davis Phinney Foundation.
Parkinson's Wellness Fund
The Parkinson's Wellness Fund helps those with Parkinson's pay for out of pocket PD related expenses.
Patient Emergency Kit
The Parkinson's Foundation offers a free Aware in Care kit which contains tools and resources to help people with Parkinson's during a hospital stay. You can order your kit online.