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Key Takeaways 1. Introduction: The Diagnosis That Changed Everything Hi, I’m David Gebhart. I’m 44 years old and live in British Columbia. Back in May 2017, I was finally diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. It was the culmination of a five-year journey from first symptoms to an answer. My type of…

The first time I tried vitamin B1 (thiamine) therapy, it didn’t go well. I wasn’t prepared, I wasn’t ready, and I failed miserably. Hi, it’s David from Life With Parkinson’s. If you’re new here — welcome. Consider subscribing to follow this journey. And to everyone returning, thank you for your…

Living with Parkinson’s disease presents a variety of challenges, from tremors to stiffness and balance issues. One of the most frustrating—and potentially dangerous—symptoms is freezing of gait (FOG). This occurs when your feet suddenly feel glued to the ground, preventing you from walking despite your best intentions. For individuals like…

I’m just coming out of one of the most unpleasant and frightening experiences I’ve had since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The last eight to ten weeks have been brutal—physically, emotionally, and mentally. But as difficult as this period has been, it’s also forced me to learn something critically important,…

Traveling has always been an adventure for me — the thrill of seeing new places, spending time with family, and simply being on the move. But over the last few years, I’ve noticed that Parkinson’s doesn’t always play nicely with the open road. Whether it’s a short trip, a family…

If you live with Parkinson’s Disease like I do, you probably already know how unpredictable symptoms can be. One day your tremor is manageable, the next day your muscles feel like they’re firing on their own. For months, I kept experiencing strange waves of dyskinesia, internal tremors, nerve pain, and…

Does being afraid of something stop you dead in your tracks — like you just can’t take another step forward? I get that. I’ve felt it a thousand times. Hi — I’m David from Life With Parkinson’s. If you’re new here, welcome. And if you’re a regular, thank you for…

Have you ever been told by your neurologist or Movement Disorder Specialist that they simply have no more treatment options left to offer you?If you have, you already know the emotional shock that follows. It can send you searching everywhere for alternatives — or leave you feeling stuck, helpless, and…

“People always tell you to ‘stay positive.’ But no one tells you what to do when that positivity runs out.” If you or someone you care for lives with Parkinson’s disease (PD), you’ve probably heard this advice countless times. “Stay positive.” It’s meant as encouragement, but in reality, it can…

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is commonly defined as a neurological movement disorder that affects the brain, causing motor symptoms such as tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with movement. It also presents non-motor symptoms including anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive changes. While this medical definition is accurate, it fails to capture the…

Hi, it’s David from Life With Parkinson’s. If you’re new here—welcome! I’m really glad you stopped by. And to those of you who’ve been here before—thank you. Your support means the world to me. Today, I want to talk about something that’s become a bit of a surprise topic for…

Hi, it’s David from Life with Parkinson’s. If you’re new here—welcome! And to everyone who keeps returning to read, thank you for your continued love and support. Today, I want to share something special—a review of a product that truly made a difference for me: MagnaReady, clothing designed specifically for…

When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, it was one of the most confusing and difficult times of my life. Looking back now—more than eight and a half years later—I can see three things that I truly wish I had understood better at the time. Knowing them wouldn’t have changed…

Hi, it’s David from Life With Parkinson’s. This past Christmas, I received a gift that turned out to be far more than just a book — it was a wake-up call, a challenge, and a roadmap all rolled into one. The book is called Ending Parkinson’s Disease: A Prescription for…

For Parkinson’s Awareness Month, I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Charlotte, who runs The Owl YouTube channel. Like me, she shares her life and experiences living with Parkinson’s disease. Over time, we’ve supported each other’s ventures on YouTube, and when we talked about collaborating, it felt like…

Hi, it’s David and Hayley from Life with Parkinson’s!If you’re new here, welcome — we’re glad you found us. To everyone who’s been following our journey, thank you for your continued love and support. We’re back with another post in our caregiving series, and today, we’re talking about something very…

Hi, it’s David from Life with Parkinson’s. If you’re new here—welcome. And to everyone returning, thank you for your continued love and support. When I look back at all the changes I’ve gone through since diagnosis day eight years ago, there’s really only one thing I can say: Wow… what…

Hi, it’s David and Hayley from Life with Parkinson’s. If you’re new here, welcome — we’re glad you found us. And to those of you who have been following along, thank you for your continued love and support. (Kiwi says hello too!) In this post, we’re diving into a topic…

Living with Parkinson’s comes with daily challenges, but it also brings opportunities to explore new approaches that may help improve quality of life. One treatment I’ve added to my personal plan is red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation. In this post, I want to share my experience with red…

Living with Parkinson’s disease means navigating an endless stream of information, advice, and hopeful promises. Over the years, I’ve tried to stay transparent about what I’ve personally experienced — the good, the bad, and the lessons learned along the way. This blog is an honest follow-up to my earlier post…

Recently, I had the privilege of sitting down with Jessica Dove London, the founder and CEO of the Turnoto Group. They’ve just launched an evolution of their product—something I think is truly game-changing for people living with serious illnesses, including Parkinson’s. This wasn’t just another product pitch. It was a…

Parkinson’s disease brings with it a whole range of changes. Some are surprisingly easy to live with, while others are far more difficult to accept. When I was first diagnosed, I never imagined how much it would reshape not just my daily routines, but also my relationships and the way…

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…

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…

Living with Parkinson’s isn’t always about the visible tremors or the medications I take — sometimes it’s the quiet, heavy moments that are the hardest to process. When I’m in an OFF state, unpleasant and unexpected things can happen. These moments don’t just affect me physically; they can be emotionally difficult to…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Understanding Impulsive and Compulsive Behaviors (ICBs) Before I learned the term ICB, I was living it. Experts define ICBs as irresistible urges to engage in activities that feel rewarding but can become excessive or harmful. These can include pathological gambling, compulsive shopping, binge eating, hyper sexuality, or punding (repetitive, purposeless tasks). In Parkinson…

Today I want to share something close to my heart: how sound therapy and tuning forks have helped me as a person living with Parkinson’s. First, I need to send a huge thank-you to SOMA Energetics for their unwavering support of the Parkinson’s community. They’ve been a beacon in the sound healing world…

Introduction Sound can be profoundly healing. For people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers, creative therapies offer comfort and hope alongside medical treatments. Many have found that listening to music, feeling gentle vibrations, or using tuning forks can ease stress and even improve symptoms. In fact, one person with Parkinson’s described how…

When Life with Parkinson’s was still in the development stage, and the plan of what it would become was being formulated, I had no idea what the final product would look like. I just did not have anything to really compare it with from my previous business experience. The funniest…

One thing that Hayley and I have noticed for a while is that there is not a lot of YouTube content for Caregivers of People with Parkinson’s(PWP’s). We aim to fill this gap with our new playlist that we are working on. We will list the videos on this blog…

 “It feels like I have hit a sweet spot with the ball. It’s gotten to know me so well with the AI technology, sometimes I fall asleep while using it. There is one situation where I do not use it, resting anxiety vs situational anxiety.” “The other situation that I…

When my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, I was seventeen years old. This came as a shock to me. I did not expect to have two chronically ill parents. Growing up, I always idolized my dad. I honestly did not believe that anything could touch him; especially an illness that…

I was so excited when the first personal computers from Radio Shack came out, I was lucky enough to get one, a Tandy 1000. I remember being introduced to my first video games around that time. Boy they were a lot of fun, I have enjoyed them my whole life,…

This is a new playlist I am working on for everyone who has questions about why I feel or look better. Please see the YouTube videos below. You are out of options for Parkinson’s Treatments! A common theme that I have been hearing, not just online through this channel, but…

Ending Parkinson’s Disease is a 4 author collaboration, by doctors on the frontline of the Parkinson’s landscape, who boldly attempt to answer the question of, ok, this is where we are at with PD, where do we, or where can we, collectively, go from here? The authors explain how we…

Just think back to that time you were getting dressed for bed, getting ready for an outing, or just everyday chores, and suddenly, you couldn’t finish the job. Have you been there? I have. It is debilitating, and sometimes even dignity robbing. Each time my wife Hayley and I encounter…

Welcome to the first weekly update on my GDNF fast walking journey! I’m excited to share this journey with all of you! Week 1 and Week 2 Recap – August 26 – September 7, 2024 Week 1 had a special moment for me as I was able to take out…

It is my honor and privilege as a beta tester and content creator, with some of my peers, to be able to share this up and coming health service app with you. It is available for Apple and Android devices, and focuses on bringing communities together for various chronic health…

Living with Parkinson’s has taught me that food isn’t just fuel—it’s part of how I manage my day, my energy, and even my sense of independence. When I first realized gluten wasn’t my friend, I thought bread was off the table forever. I mean, who doesn’t love the comfort of…

If you’ve been following my journey, you already know I’m always searching for simple, nourishing recipes that make life with Parkinson’s a little easier—and a lot more enjoyable. Food is fuel, yes, but for me it’s also comfort, connection, and sometimes even therapy. This recipe for Banana Coconut Breakfast Cookies is…

I first heard about Comfort Linen products shortly after moving to West Kelowna three years ago, and knew I had to try them. As a person with Parkinson’s Disease, I was beginning to have trouble moving freely in bed, and I did not know how to fix that issue. At…

Organika is a family run business founded in 1990 in British Columbia, Canada. It is committed to a single purpose- helping people love living healthier lives. Organika, which once comprised of a small number of supplements sold out of the back of the founder’s van, has grown into a business…

VILIM ball is a revolutionary non-invasive handheld medical therapeutic device which provides neuromodulation therapy that, in most cases, is able to provide temporary relief from hand tremors. It was developed by VILIMED, a medical startup based in Kaunas Science and Technology Park in Lithuania. The idea for the VILIM ball…