I Have Parkinson's: What Should I Do?

Ann Andrews has written the book she wished she'd been able to read when she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in her fifties. Written with a combination of firsthand insight and hard-hitting research, I Have Parkinson's: What Should I Do?offers a realistic, compassionate, supportive guide to living positively with a disease that is usually portrayed in depressing terms. Drawing on her own experience and that of others with early onset Parkinson's, Andrews combines clear information about the symptoms and treatments with practical strategies for adapting to the challenges of life with the disease. The resulting mix of the personal and the factual sets this book apart from others on the topic. Andrews clearly explains the many aspects of the condition, the most recent medical research, and available treatments. She provides knowing strategies for dealing with the four characteristic symptoms-tremor, slowing of movement, stiffness and rigidity, and loss of balance-as they develop and change, as well as secondary symptoms. Chapters are devoted to coming to terms with the disease and how to go public with it, as well as practical advice on employment and finances, how relationships and friendships may change, and how to take control of your life. Andrews also offers positive suggestions on taking care of yourself through exercise, diet and supplements, and relaxation and sleep. This practical, informative, personal book is a reassuring and empowering resource for the 55,000 people diagnosed annually with Parkinson's disease in the United States, as well as the more than 1 million people who already live with it. I Have Parkinson's: What Should I Do?is a must read for family and friends on how best to support someone with this condition.