EMPLOYMENT, DISCRIMINATION AND “SUPER” THERAPIES

The words “You have Parkinson’s disease” are often accompanied with advice about life that is inappropriate and counter-productive.

The Western Allopathic Medicine view of Parkinson’s disease is of a progressive, degenerative, irreversible disease which is not a “death sentence” but a “life sentence”.

All too often, medical and social advice is to accept that the “disease” is incurable, progressive and degenerative, put our affairs in order, take all the medicine prescribed by the doctor and give up hope of living a normal life. So we see too many People with Parkinson’s giving up work they enjoy, reducing their physical and social activity, and restricting their life to “fighting Parkinson’s disease” as “courageous victims” (e.g. Michael J Fox).

There is a better way!

It is important to listen to and understand the full import of advice given by Western Allopathic Medicine Practitioners (generally GP’s/PCP’s and neurologists) and also understand the LIMITATIONS of that advice. The major limitation is that the advice given is based on Western Allopathic Medicine experience and expectations only, and those experiences and expectations do not include getting well.

The fact is that if we expect to be chronically ill and get worse, we will.

Here is my advice for all those diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and wishing to be well.

1. If you are working, keep working. Especially if you love or enjoy your work.

2. Find the cause(s) of your symptoms. Classes one, two, fourteen and sixteen are about what causes the symptoms often diagnosed as Parkinson’s disease. Once you understand what has caused YOUR symptoms, you can create a plan to reverse the causes, so removing the symptoms.

3. Remain active and/or increase your activity. If you have been in the habit of exercising regularly, continue to do so. Continue your normal routine of exercise and sport. If you have not exercised regularly before diagnosis, now is a great time to start. There is a huge range of research now showing that regular aerobic and weight-bearing exercise slows the progression of degenerative symptoms. Exercise does what no medicine can do – it slows disease progression.

4. Speaking of medication, is diagnosis a good time to start Parkinson’s disease medication? Generally the answer is no, unless you are already so debilitated that you need immediate relief for daily function. Even then, Parkinson’s disease medication may not be the answer. Class nineteen explores all the current types of Parkinson’s disease medications, how they work (if we know), their advantages and their disadvantages.

5. If you are considering medication, ask the question; “Will the known advantages and mechanisms of this medication assist in reversing the circumstances, toxins or infections that have created these symptoms? If the answer is no, seek alternative strategies.

6. If you are already taking Parkinson’s disease medications, review class nineteen to more fully understand what the medication is doing for you, and what disadvantages might accrue. Consider again what has created your symptoms and what strategies you are using to reverse those causes. Then consider how you can slowly reduce your reliance on medication while pursuing your pathway to good health.

7. You may be taking medication for other diagnosed “diseases” or “conditions” (e.g. hypertension, elevated serum cholesterol, angina or other chronic cardiovascular disorders, anxiety or depression, asthma or other chronic disorders). Before accepting a diagnosis of yet another “disease” and commencing a medication regimen to suppress the symptoms, consider the accumulated effect of all the medications (and supplements) you are already taking. Read the full description of each medication provided by the manufacturer in publications such as MIMS or your nationally recognised Drug Guide. The leaflets included with each drug may tell only part of the story.

8. If you are taking several drugs for different “conditions” or sets of symptoms, list common adverse effects to see whether it is these that are causing your symptoms rather than a new “disease” requiring even more medication (see case history below).

9. Once diagnosed with a “disease”, the temptation is to socialize with others also diagnosed for support. Parkinson’s Support Groups are created to bring comfort, companionship, information and activity to those struggling with the concept of an “incurable” disease. Their intentions are laudable and loving. Most are run by volunteers who willingly give up their time to help others. So what’s the problem? Parkinson’s Support Groups base their policies and activities on the premise that Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, degenerative, irreversible disease that has no known cause. Their philosophy is also, generally, that Western Allopathic Medicine is the only true repository of knowledge about Parkinson’s disease, so all presentations should conform with this view (there are some exceptions). Many years ago, I presented my story and strategies to two Parkinson’s Support Groups. The central ruling body then moved swiftly to remove my name from the list of “acceptable” presenters. Sometime later, two of my patients suggested to another Parkinson’s Support Group that I should attend to present my story, but the idea was ruthlessly quashed. I attended serval Parkinson’s Support Groups during my journey and found them to be populated with those focused on “coping” with illness and not considering ways to get well. A few Support Groups also receive funding from Pharmaceutical Companies that can skew their view of wellness strategies. While there is never any overt demand to support of any particular therapy, Pharmaceutical Companies are not altruistic and know that support money means drug support for them.

10. Parkinson’s Support Groups are not necessarily “bad” for you but, before getting too involved with fund raising and illness-coping activities, consider whether the views of the group support your intention to be well and/or whether there may be another social group that provides you with interaction with a wider variety of people whose intentions are many and varied, bringing colour and excitement into your life. Book clubs, hobby clubs, travel groups, bush walking groups, sporting clubs and many other group activities can add variety and entertainment to your life.

11. You may be advised to “get your affairs in order”, and this is always good advice; not necessarily because you are “ill”, but because a well-organized life is a more peaceful life. “Getting our affairs in order” is often considered as a prelude to death or permanent disability. This is NOT your situation right now. You have or are exploring the causes of any illness symptoms and planning your pathway back to good health. Part of your planning probably has, and should, include budgeting, exploring options if your work is contributing to illness, and reinforcing beneficial relationships. This is living life well and to be applauded.

12. “Should I tell my boss/work that I have Parkinson’s disease?” This is a question I am asked very often. In general, my answer is yes, but there are considerations of caution. In most advanced societies, it is illegal to discriminated against any worker because of a disability or illness. But there are ways to make life difficult for workers without contravening the law. So this question must be considered on a case by case basis. The best possible scenario is to explain quietly and privately to your boss/manager/supervisor that you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, have a plan to reverse it (and are in touch with someone who has done that), and would like to keep on working as normal. Where possible, this conversation is best had as soon a diagnosis is made, you have begun your exploration of wellness, and before your symptoms inhibit your work or safety.

13. If it seems likely (either because of your assessment or experience) that your management will not be amenable to allowing you to continue working as normal, and may make life more difficult for you, it is wise to seek advice and support from outside your immediate workplace. This may mean speaking with your Union Representatives or advisor, a senior member or even Board member of your company, or perhaps seeking some legal support before approaching management. I must emphasise, that this is a last resort. In my experience, most employers/managers have been very supportive and understanding, and worked with their employee (you) to create working conditions conducive to continued participation in the work you enjoy.

14. Continuing to participate in the work force is a certain way to maintain social interaction, income and a sense of worth.

15. What if you have already retired? You now have a wonderful opportunity to focus fully on wellness. This will involve planning your daily routine to include strategies of self-help (classes 8-12), preparing health-creating meals, detoxing and being active. It is also a great opportunity to find new activities outside of your normal routine to add variety to your life. Join book clubs, discussion groups, start a new course with U3A (University of the Third Age) or similar tertiary institutions (there are similar courses in many countries and, with the internet, we can study in other countries!!). Learn ballroom dancing or line dancing, join a choir or a street band, meet new people and laugh.

16. “Super Therapies” are offered too often. These are therapies that are usually expensive, require no real participation from the patient (except payment and, often, travel), and promise a quick “cure”, no matter what the cause of your symptoms might be. These therapies may include injections of various substances, oral medications, hypothermia, rigorous fasts, restricted food intake or mysterious “retreats. Don’t be fooled, there is no quick cure. You have already discovered the causes of your symptoms and have a plan in place to reverse them. If you haven’t, start the classes again and get these fundamental tasks sorted now. “Super Therapies” are usually based on the slimmest logic and, usually, a lack of understanding of the causes of Parkinson’s disease. The therapies are aimed at making you feel good now, but with no thought of long-term self-sufficient wellness. Don’t be fooled.

17. “Super Therapies” are often sold via Multilevel Marketing (MLM) networks. Always be cautious of these schemes. The products may or may not have value. The aim of any MLM scheme is to make a lot of money for those on top of the “pyramid”, enough money for those downstream to keep them happy and working and, incidentally, provide a product that will satisfy customers for at least a short time. There are some excellent products sold with MLM schemes but, invariably, I have found equivalent quality product sold for less money using normal wholesale/retail strategies. Many selling MLM products are “amateurs” in that they are not trained in any health therapy skills and have simply accepted the product training in order to make sales. When practitioners are involved (and I know several), check around to see if the product does what is claimed, this is a product you really need and/or is there an equivalent product for less money sold through normal channels.

18. In other words, where “Super Therapies” and MLM products are concerned, buyer beware!

CASE HISTORIES

Case History: Nancy was diagnosed only a few months before she came to see me for advice on how to get well. We began with food revisions, supplements, hydration and exercise. We then introduced meditation and self-love strategies.

However, Nancy had been told often that her disease would progress until she needed a wheelchair and full-time care. She was so influenced by this, that she decided to delay treatment “for a while” so she could prepare her house for wheelchair access and restructure her work life around a disability that she had not yet acquired.

Her focus was such that, within two years, she needed a wheelchair and had lost the will to be well.

Case History: Tony had his own small business that required log days and significant physical activity. When he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, he was advised, by two doctors, to close his business and prepare himself for disablement.

Tony closed his business but came to me for advice. We introduced all the strategies detailed in these classes and, over time, Tony began to see improvements in his health, and regretted giving up his work. He became active outside the home again and looked for volunteer work to keep him busy.

After nearly two years of increasing wellness, Tony reopened his business and moved happily back to busy days while maintaining self-help and health-maintenances strategies. Ten years later, he is still well and still working.

Case History: Alice was very young to be diagnosed with an “old person’s disease” – Parkinson’s disease. She was almost 40, had young children, and was very afraid of the future.

As a teenager, Alice had displayed difficulty in dealing with serious circumstances in life, so had been prescribed an antidepressant medication. This seemed to help her cope for some years but, eventually, she needed an extra antianxiety drug to see her through.

Lifestyle and food choices created moderate hypertension, so she was prescribed blood pressure medication each morning then, sometime later, her serum cholesterol appeared to be a little elevated, so she was given a statin drug.

In her late thirties, Alice developed a tremor and her movements seemed to slow down, so she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and prescribed a dopamine agonist.

She came to see me full of fear for the future and hardly daring to hope for any form of health improvement.

Progress towards wellness was slow but, once we saw the whole picture of symptom development over her life, we could “peel back the layers” and address causes.

Alice found strategies to deal with family trauma that had created “depression” in her teens, so was able to, very slowly, reduce her reliance on antidepressant and antianxiety drugs; she modified her food intake (as advised in classes 3 & 4), so her serum cholesterol and blood pressure returned to normal range; she increased her exercise and social activity, improving her mood, strength and circulation; we ordered a hair analysis, found traces of heavy metals and used deep but gentle detox strategies to remove those. Over a long time (several years), Alice’s Parkinson’s disease symptoms reduced and faded, so she was able to reduce her dopamine agonist very slowly until she, eventually became well and drug-free.

Had her lifestyle, family and total symptom picture been considered in her teen years, Alice may never have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease because she would not have need the drugs causing the “Parkinson’s disease” symptoms.

Case History: Arthur was only recently diagnosed when he first came to see me. A highly successful business man, he was determined to find a way to wellness and had travelled thousands of kilometres to see me.

We introduced all the strategies detailed in the classes and, after only three months, Arthur retuned to say he was seeing improvements and said “Thank you for giving me my life back”.

We reviewed all his activities and therapies, and I warned Arthur that there was still a long way to go, and full wellness would take some time to achieve.

I did not hear from him for over a year, then received news from a mutual acquaintance that Arthur had decided that continuing to work with me was too slow and had travelled overseas to receive IV injections of foetal stem cells from a domesticated animal. This made him feel better as it seemed to suppress his symptoms for some time.

He went back each six months for more injections, then needed to go back more frequently for more injections as the symptom suppression became less effective.

After three years, the therapy stopped working and his degeneration was rapid.

Arthur never returned to see me but decided to rely on others for care.

References

• COLEMAN John ND; “Stop Parkin’ and Start Livin’”; Michelle Anderson Publishing, Melbourne, Australia, 2005.