I am coming up to 5 years with Parkinson’s, and this morning I received a notification from my Garmin saying I had won back another year and my fitness age had come down to 47.5 instead of the 49.5 I am. I actually didn’t know about this feature – but if my Garmin watch says it 🙂
I was actually on a call during my morning walk with a newly diagnosed PD patient I was introduced to, and we were chatting. I reminded myself of two really important facts as I am about to hit the 5-year mark.
I am blessed, and I am probably way up versus the counterfactual (I will explain).
Blessed? YES
Despite everything PD, war, and other major trauma have thrown at me, in the most important bits of my life, I am truly blessed. I have an amazing wife and the three most perfect kids. When I say perfect, it is of course totally subjective, and of course, they are annoying, difficult, etc., but truly they are each perfect in their own way and on track to meet my objective of being better than their father. I am still working and enjoying it and hopefully giving value, I have great friends and as every day goes by, I am finding myself a new hobby of blogging about Parkinson’s, which is giving me meaning.
The pump, exercise, yoga, great doctors, friends, family, and a certain stubborn determination streak have helped, but looking back 5 years, I wouldn’t trade where I am big picture for the world.
I would change many things to do with the world we live in and the sorrow/tragedy around us, of course.
Counterfactual
5 years ago, I had no idea what a Garmin watch was, let alone ever thought I would use one. I was a 100% over-stressed workaholic who had very high blood pressure. Who knows what would have happened – we never know the counterfactual/alternative reality, but I doubt I would have been in a better place.
I have told the story too many times, and it is now boring, but it is worth remembering the first discussion about exercise 5 years ago….”You must do something like YOGA” – “NO”, “Then Tai-Chi” – “NO”, “Then Dance” – “OK Yoga”.
Exercise and serious health awareness only came with the onset – sad to say! As a person of faith it was what I see as a last warning – I think I listened. My advice to you is to avoid it ideally.
Garmin is of course not everything BUT
My Garmin is of course not the true judge. It didn’t know that on my walk/run this morning, I am attached to the Produadopa / Vyalev Pump, nor that I am still on antibiotics for a retreating cellulitis infection, nor that I was carrying a cane in case my balance issue that has been impacting me this week would reoccur.
I would NEVER NEVER say that I like Parkinson’s – I hate it. I will fight it tooth and nail. I dread the end state of PD more than perhaps anything, as it represents a loss of dignity that scares the life out of me, but it is a good incentive to keep fighting.
Everyone has their own story – each PD person has their own tale. In fact, those who read my blog will know my mood swings often violently – that is PD. But for a moment, I will live the Garmin reality. What would my watch have said 5 years ago? I am guessing I have gained at least 5-10 years on that scale.
Thank you to the person this morning in the US who made me remember what is important about life.
