The Parkinson's Experience podcast Sheryl Lowenhar

What is integrative medicine and how is it different than what we are used to which is mostly silos of care and mostly Western medicine? My guest today will offer an alternative to this, a better way to treat a patient with a condition or disease.
Dr. Britt Stone, an Assistant Clinical Professor at Vanderbilt Medical Center, spent her pandemic time pursuing a fellowship in Integrative Medicine at University of Arizona. She will describe how clinicians can work together with the families of people with Parkinson’s to make for a better experience and a healthier outcome. She believes treatment should include prescribed exercise, a healthy diet and, possibly complimentary medicines.
We had a great discussion. She opened my eyes to possibilities and the team approach to a better quality of life. If you like what you hear, let’s see if we can change the healthcare system together.
https://www.vumc.org/neurology/person/britt-stone-md
https://www.herbsociety.org/
https://integrativemedicine.arizona.edu/health_hub/awcimagazine/what_is_integrative_medicine.html
https://www.dbsandme.com/en.html 

In April 2010, Allison (Allie) Toepperwein experienced a tremor in her left hand while living in Austin, Texas after giving birth to her daughter. Around eight months later, in December 2010, Steven Eury noticed a tremor in his right hand while filming the birth of his son 1100 miles away in North Carolina. The following year, Steven received a diagnosis of Young Onset Parkinson's Disease (YOPD). It took another 4 1/2 years, and 2 1/2 months after Allison's divorce before she, too, was diagnosed with YOPD New Year's Eve of 2014.
Allison went on to make history by becoming the first person with Parkinson's to compete on the popular TV show American Ninja Warrior. She began blogging, delivering motivational speeches, and advocating for single moms, women, and young adults with diseases.
In May 2020, Steven, who had recently gone through a divorce, purchased property on a street named Allison. He intended to build a new home and embark on a fresh chapter of life with his children and his dog named Allie.
 
In August 2020, one of Steven's friends sent him a blog post written by a stranger named Allison, sharing her experiences of "Dating With Parkinson's." Steven felt an inexplicable connection and decided to reach out to her. Two months later, in October 2020, the two finally met. Two years later the couple were married. They now reside on the very street named Allison, alongside Steven's dog Allie, their three children, a cat, a bunny, and a new puppy. 
In September 2022, the pair joined 10 other people with Parkinson's to run the Blue Ridge Relay, which is an arduous 208 mile relay through the Blue Ridge mountains, two states and more than 16,000 Feet of ascent.  
Then, in December 2023, one week before Christmas, the couple created a new spark between them, by both undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. The couple had brain surgery on the same day, by Baylor's Dr. Sameer Sheth and team, in the same operating room, in the same hospital, Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center back to back. It is now considered standard of care for people with PD that qualify to have DBS. 
Let’s check in with them and learn what it is like for the two PwP to live together and have surgery/recovery together.
https://litwithin.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz0hlJ6mzD4
https://www.dbsandme.com/en.html
 

What stage are you in? Do people ask you that question? If so, do you tell them? Do you even know? What are the stages and what do they mean? Frankly, I have never asked my movement disorder specialist neurologist what stage I am in. I don’t know why. We have never discussed it. However, learning and knowing more about how your doctor is tracking the progression of the disease is, I think, important.
So, today we are going to speak with a movement disorder specialist. He will explain the stages of Parkinson’s disease.  What they are and what that means to individuals and their families. I think you will find this episode interesting and helpful.
https://www.honorhealth.com/physicians/daniel-savitt
https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/what-is-parkinsons/stages 
https://www.dbsandme.com/en.html 

Earlier this season on episode number 088 titled “the Skinny on Skin” we learned about the various skin disorders that can manifest in people with Parkinson’s. Well, on the flip side, the skin is the largest organ in our body. It must hold all kinds of secrets to our health.  It turns out alpha-synuclein gets deposited in the skin of patients with synucleinopathies, which includes Parkinson’s and related diseases. Therefore, a skin biopsy can be used to diagnose and confirm these diseases. Not only can this advancement in the diagnosis important, the skin biopsy can also be used to speed up clinical trials. The company leading the way with this procedure and process, CND Life Sciences, has only just getting started. They continue to investigate what the skin can provide clinicians and researches to help bring new therapies to market quicker.
The director of medical affairs for CND and a person with Parkinson’s explains how this all works. Listen on…
https://cndlifesciences.com/
https://www.dbsandme.com/en.html
 

What do you know about your gut? In the last several years, research has led us to a more detailed understanding of the role of the gut – which includes the stomach, intestines, and colon. This isn’t your father’s understanding of the gut. So, what does the gut have to do with it? It being the possible cause of many diseases including Parkinson’s disease.
In this episode we will learn about how the gut has a direct communication with the brain. We all know the saying, “follow your gut”. The direct connection explains why this saying is meaningful. In addition, we will learn the importance of a healthy microbiome - which is the bacteria living in your gut - and how we can make changes in our diet to help maintain a healthy gut. Most notably, we’ll learn what this all has to do with living our best life with Parkinson’s.
I hope you take the time to listen to this episode. It could improve your journey with PD.
https://foothillsneurology.com/staff/maria-ospina-m-d/
https://www.dbsandme.com/en.html 
https://www.parkinson.org/blog/awareness/gut-brain-connection 

The topic today is one of those difficult to discuss symptoms that most of us try to avoid and deal with it on our own. Not a great idea. So, let’s learn about and discuss our bladders. You might have an overactive one which is also referred to as hyperactive or underactive one also referred to as hypoactive. Unfortunately, the probably of anyone having bladder problems grows as we get older. However, people with Parkinson’s have an even higher incident.
Listen on to learn why bladder problems occur in people with Parkinson’s and treatments available. I think you will find the treatment my guest, Dr. Tory McJunkin, offers is unique and, possibly, a game changer for those needing some bladder relief. You could get your life and freedom back.
https://bladdercenter.com/
https://www.axonics.com/
https://www.facebook.com/BladderWellness/
https://www.dbsandme.com/en.html