When you are diagnosed with chronic disease like Parkinson’s, especially at an early age (I was 39), you may have a long life to live with Parkinson’s. During that long life, there are certain to be good times and bad times; all lives have some good times and some bad times. And no one promised that because you have Parkinson’s, you will not also experience other illnesses or tragedies, accidents or losses. It is just the way things are.
But sometimes it makes me want to jump up and holler, “Wait a minute! Isn’t Parkinson’s enough?!” In 2016 (after 18 years with PD) I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I also found that I tested positive for the BRCA-1 mutation, so the chances both for cancer and for recurrence were very high. Three surgeries and three months of chemotherapy later, I wanted to scream, “Isn’t Parkinson’s enough?”
A comorbidity is a disease or medical condition that is simultaneously present with another medical issue. All of us living with Parkinson’s are likely to be diagnosed with another disease somewhere along the way. A study in Spain found that the most frequent comorbidities for Parkinson’s patients were hypertension (34%), diabetes (15%), hyperlipidaemia (14%), and depressive disorder (8%). Another study from Canada reported that back problems (36%), arthritis (34%), hypertension (29%), cataracts (24%) and urinary incontinence (11%) were the most common comorbidities in PD patients. And a study in China reported the most frequent comorbidities for the PD patients were cerebrovascular disease (43%), hypertension (33%), diabetes (11%), and chronic pulmonary disease (7%). A significant number of PWPs in each country had another medical issue to deal with in addition to their PD. Isn’t Parkinson’s enough?
I had a friend with PD whose husband was himself diagnosed with a degenerative disease and therefore could not care for her. Within a couple of years, he died, and she had to carry on alone. She could have cried, “Isn’t Parkinson’s enough?” But she had a few wonderful grandchildren, and she became very involved in their care. So even though she lost a loving care partner, she found love and joy in her life.
Life may give us Parkinson’s, but it also gives us so much more if only we are able to recognize this is so. We need to strive to be grateful for all the good times and all the good things we are given. . . . like grandchildren.
Still I think I might get a new bumper sticker that says, “Isn’t Parkinson’s enough?”