“Should I stay or should I go?” is the title of a song recorded by The Clash. It is a question I ask myself daily, sometimes multiple times a day. Motor fluctuations caused by Parkinson’s disease have put me in this quandary. This question crops up every time I have to go out in public. I do not want the effects of Parkinson’s to make me shy away from going out in public.
I go to church, the grocery store, concerts, visit friends, and many other places when my medicine is working at full force. However, I do not live in an ideal world. Church services, concerts, and the like are not scheduled for when my mobility is at its best. There are times I go out knowing my motor fluctuations will clash with the event I want to attend or the activity I want to do.
Still, I go out when my medicine is not working full force. There are several tactics and resources I can use in such cases when I am out and my motor fluctuations act up.
- I use my cane.
- I have someone with me.
- I use handicapped parking spaces.
- I go to the grocery store and buy only what I presently need.
- If I feel like my medicine is wearing off, I go home.
- I walk on grass, because unlike sidewalk grass gives.
- I tell people I have Parkinson’s disease and accept help.
- I stay away from crowds.
- I think positive thoughts.
- I limit what I do and do not push myself to do more than I should.
Those strategies work for me. Some may work for you. Find your own strategies to replace the ones that don’t help you overcome motor fluctuations. The manner in which Parkinson’s affects you will determine how you will answer the question “Should I stay or should I go?”