How I Was Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease
Hi, I’m David Gebhart. I’m 44 years old, and I live in British Columbia, Canada. Back in May of 2017, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The type of Parkinson’s I have is more movement-related than tremor-based. I do get tremors, but mostly when I’m nervous. For example, if I’m recording a video, I’ll often […]
The Parkinson’s Journey – Chapter 8: Living with Parkinson’s: Facing New Challenges with Dyskinesia
Just when I thought I had my treatment plan under control, everything shifted. Living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) often feels like that — just when one issue is managed, another steps in. Today, I want to share three vital things I’ve learned about dyskinesia — the kind of lessons I believe every person with Parkinson’s […]
The Parkinson’s Journey – Chapter 6: Can a Cup of Tea Help with Parkinson’s? My Journey with Herbs, Farnesol & Luteolin
It’s been nearly fifty years since the gold standard treatment for Parkinson’s was introduced. I’m grateful for the ways it has helped me and so many others, but I can’t help wondering if it’s time for the next evolution. Science keeps moving forward, and yet sometimes the answers don’t come from a pharmacy shelf — sometimes […]
The Parkinson’s Journey – Chapter 5: Parkinson’s Disease Stole My Energy – How I Got It Back
There was a time when I could work a twelve-hour day, come home, and still have enough left in the tank to fix something around the house. Somewhere along the way, my gas tank developed a leak — and I just couldn’t plug it. The loss of energy didn’t happen overnight. It crept in so quietly […]
The Parkinson’s Journey – Chapter 4: My New Parkinson’s VILIM Ball Treatment Update – 3 Months In
Living with Parkinson’s means navigating a landscape that is always shifting beneath your feet—sometimes subtly, sometimes abruptly. Over the past three months, I’ve been exploring a new form of vibration therapy using the VILIM Ball, a small device developed by Vilimed that’s designed to help manage Parkinson’s symptoms through localized mechanical stimulation. As someone who is not […]
The Parkinson’s Journey – Chapter 3: How I Made My Parkinson’s Treatment Plan
What makes a good treatment plan for Parkinson’s? That’s a big question. And if you’re like me, it can feel a little overwhelming at first. When I was first diagnosed, I had this fog of uncertainty that hung over everything. It’s not like someone hands you a perfect instruction manual with your diagnosis. There’s no one-size-fits-all […]
The Parkinson’s Journey – Chapter 2: My Parkinson’s Diet Plan: What You Need to Know
There’s a quote: “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.” — Hippocrates It sounds simple, but it’s led me to reshape how I think about every bite I eat. If you’re wondering what’s changed for me lately, the answer lies in how I eat, what I eat, and most importantly — why I eat […]
The Parkinson’s Journey – Chapter 1: You’re Out of Options for Parkinson’s Treatments
In the world of chronic illness, few words land harder than this one-liner: “I’m sorry, there’s nothing more that can be done for you.” It’s a phrase that marks a shift—sometimes sudden, sometimes creeping—where hope through traditional means seems to run dry. For people with Parkinson’s, especially those still adjusting to the diagnosis, hearing those […]
Protein and Parkinson’s: Three Things You Need to Know
For me, living with Parkinson’s feels like a daily battle just trying to time my meals around my medication. I often joke that my life with Parkinson’s has a “good vs. evil” battle: on one side, the L-DOPA medication that keeps me ON; on the other, protein-rich foods that keep my body going — but at a cost. […]
When the Urge Won’t Let Go: My Journey through Parkinson’s, Dopamine, and Compulsive Behaviors
Table of Contents Toggle Understanding Impulsive and Compulsive Behaviors (ICBs) When a Game Becomes a Trap How It Started: The Game That Took Over Regaining Control, One Tap at a Time Moving Forward With Hope A Caregiver’s View: When Love Meets a Hidden Struggle Frequently Asked Questions Support Our Work For Caregivers: Walking the Line […]