Diagnosis, symptoms... Moving on with life despite Parkinson's

1. Hello Bego, could you introduce yourself in a few words?

Hello, I'm Begoña, I was diagnosed five years ago with Parkinson's disease and I'm in an early stage.

I'm 65 years old and am retired from teaching primary school. I'm married and have two daughters and two grandchildren.

2. how did you find out about Carenity and what encouraged you to join?

I found out about it on Facebook and it caught my attention right away, so I decided to sign up straight off, with the intention of sharing experiences and learning more about this disease.

3. What were the symptoms or situations that led you to seek a medical opinion?

Living with a Parkinson's patient, my father, really made the question of whether the disease is hereditary build in my mind.

I decided to have tests done and the neurologist started with a screening, which came back negative. But at my insistence, they did other tests and the results came back: I had Parkinson's.

4. What was your reaction when you found out you had it?

My reaction was normal, what I suspected was finally confirmed.

Today, after five years, I am still as calm as ever. The future is the future, and now I live in the present and I will not allow Mr Parkinson, whom many of us already know, to tarnish it.

5. What have been the biggest effectss of Parkinson's on your daily life?

Certainly there are changes - the tremor, my joints are starting to hurt and become stiff, I have insomnia, I don't walk as fast - but all of this today has not affected me much. I always feel positively: if I can't do this, I do that.

6. How do you manage your life with Parkinson's these days and what helpful tips might you give other patients on how to cope in everyday life?

The most important thing is that they recognise what they have and that they share it with their loved ones - this will help them feel more relaxed.

7. What are the things that have helped you to keep going?

The main things is that my life cannot just stop, I have to continue with hope and positive thoughts. If I manage to do this, my family, friends and I will be much better off.

My life is intense right now, I look after the house with my husband, and also our 11-month-old grandaughter. I also found a hobby and nowadays my best moments are when I am in my workshop where I do all sorts of handicraft. Every day I research and try things out and that relaxes me.

8. What are some positive messages you could share with our readers? 

My message would be:

Live in the present, whatever the future holds we must face it and adjust to make it better.

There are two things we must not lose: patience and hope.

May we go forward with joy and optimism despite our fears.

I don't want to make a tragedy out of this.

Someone wrote this to me one day and it touched me deeply:

"Now princess, the time has come to take off your crown and put on your armour, life is testing you... prove what you are made of."

Someone else told me:

"Bego, one day my mother told me that only the strong are tested by God and you're on that list, so don't let me down. I love you very much."

And this:

If one day you fall, don't worry! Do as the sun, which falls every evening but rises every morning with more radiance!

Don't you think that just for that, it's worth going on with a smile?