-->Re: PD & Exercise
-->
-->To Mark
-->
-->I have had PD for eight years, diagnosed at age 34. At that time I
-->exercised aerobically for almost an hour daily as well as running my
-->own business, home and raising two children. (talk about wanting to be
-->'in control' and a perfectionist! :-). I continued to exercise
-->strenuously like that until three years ago when it got to be just too
-->much. I cut back and began to walk daily, as well as swimming &
-->biking (weather permitting). I was also extremely lucky in that I
-->was able to sell my business and eliminate that stress. Daily walks
-->were a part of my life until last year when several bouts of surgery
-->and cold weather got the better of me and gave me a reason to stay
-->indoors. As winter progressed, I regressed and before I knew it I was
-->stiff and sore continually. Mornings were horrendous and I began to
-->feel sorry for myself and very old.
-->
-->In the spring I hauled myself out and slowly began exercising again,
-->first on passive exercise machines (I swear everyone could hear me
-->creaking that first week). I joined a neighbour on her daily morning
-->walks, often returning home alone (with cramping right foot) after
-->reaching the end of my short street while she continued on. That
-->annoying problem still happens occasionally, but now I usually manage
-->to get all the way around the block with her. In the evenings I bike
-->to visit friends and walk again.
-->
-->The moral of the story, for me, is that exercise is EXTREMELY
-->important. I would love to be able to do aerobics again regularly,
-->and one day I may. Squash is also on my list of things I would love
-->to be able to do again. But for now I try to exercise when I can, I
-->make sure I don't overdo it (usually), and I do it as often as I can.
-->
-->Many people still don't realize I have anything 'amiss' - of course
-->they aren't with me all day. And even though PD is a continual
-->struggle people still assume that because there doesn't seem to be
-->much wrong and I seem to be 'handling everything' just fine it can't
-->be a big deal.
-->
-->What I'm trying to say is that, YES exercise is important. But only
-->what you can do without overdoing it. It has to feel good, we have to
-->be as kind and nurturing to our bodies as we can. We can't get down
-->on ourselves and we have to listen to what our bodies are saying. I
-->don't believe that we brought PD to our bodies by some personal
-->shortcoming, but I do believe that PD can teach us some things - does
-->it have to use such drastic measures though? :)
-->
-->Anyway, this is just my own, boring story. Thanks for letting me tell
-->part of it, for what its worth. Let me just say that when I listen
-->to the birds singing in the morning, hear my children laughing, feel
-->me cat purring on my lap and the soft caress of a warm summer breeze
-->on my face, I realize how grand life really is. And even though I can
-->get really 'down' and feel quite lousey sometimes, I wish everyone
-->could be as fortunate as I am. ( or is it 'me' -grammar? - but the
-->general thought is there, and I'm sure you get the gist of it).
-->
-->My heart goes out to some of the postings here, and I just wish I
-->could say something that would help, but all that comes out is, we're
-->with you, we care, and hang in there.
-->
-->Lynda
-->
-->
-->
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