bostonscientific

Hi! I'm Dr. Myrdalis Diaz-Ramirez. And, this is Episode #22!

Today, we have a very special guest, my dear friend, and great Dr. Nilesh Patel!

Dr. Patel is actually Vice-President of Medical Affairs at Boston Scientific for Spinal Cord Stimulation. We have a great conversation with Dr. Patel, about working for the private sector and preparing to be physicians who are the private equity. There are many, many great tips and insight in this episode. Don't miss it! Enjoy!

Thank you for joining us this week!

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Follow Dr. Myrdalis Diaz at these links: 

• Website: drmyrdalisdiaz.com
• Podcast: Design Your Physician Life
• Linkedin: Myrdalis Diaz-Ramirez 
• Facebook: Dr. Myrdalis Diaz-Ramirez

Follow Dr. Myrdalis Diaz at these links:

• Website: drmyrdalisdiaz.com
• Podcast: Design Your Physician Life
• Linkedin: drmyrdalis
• Facebook: myrdalisdiaz
• Instagram: drmyrdalisdiaz

Adam Cox is joined by Charles Ellis, Benign Prostatic Enlargement (BPH) sufferer, to discuss the condition and the effects it can have on sufferers. He explains how BPH has impacted his daily life, and also talks about Water Vapour Therapy and how it is used to treat BPH. 

www.bostonscientific.com

www.commsolutionsmn.com- We're well aware of the government push to co-opt and brainwash our children. Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center got together to form a shared powers agreement called The Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth. The say their mission is to engage the youth... Their board is made up of city council members, school district board members, county board members, college administration, and police chiefs. They also bring in partners like the Blandin Foundation, National League of Cities, Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board, Every Hour Counts, Healthy Community Initiative... and corporate partners like Boston Scientific, United Way, Topline Credit Union, Twin West Chamber of Commerce, and Cummins. Their leadership all comes from academia and government.

This group is talking about things like college readiness, but using tactics like social-emotional learning to keep students from evaluating facts, so that they can judge the world through their feelings. They are trying to raise activists that will fight for "social justice" and "racial equity", instead of critical thinkers. Why are we trying to make everyone homogeneous? Why is no one supposed to stand out? We are on a path to being subservient. Once they overthrow those that love liberty, the clamps will come down on us all. We must stand up while we still have time.

We also discuss the passing of the late Bob Dole and the shallow pool of MN Gubernatorial Candidates, despite all of the weaknesses that define Governor Walz.

Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode, Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast!” You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy!

Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify!

How’s your handwriting? Has it worsened over time? Mine has. In fact, that was one of my first clues that I may have Parkinson’s. Small handwriting is a symptom of PD and it can be frustrating. It may also mean a decrease in hand strength. Legible handwriting is still very important skill and a source of pride. In this episode we speak with a person who is dedicated to helping PwP improve their handwriting through workshops and workbooks and a PwP who has taken the classes.  In a matter of a few weeks, people will be able to read your writing again.

People with Parkinson’s have a 2-9 times increased risk of falls than a healthy person of the same age. This can be due to freezing of gait which occurs in about 40% of patients on average. Do you experience times where you just can’t move, can’t just take the next step for short or longer periods of time?  Let’s explore why and how you can help yourself without necessarily increasing or adding medications. In this episode, we will hear from the inventor of an innovative device to help with freezing and falling as well as a PD patient who uses it to maintain his active lifestyle.

More information visit: https://www.getnexstride.com/ 

Do people ask you to repeat yourself frequently? Do you think you are talking loud enough for others to hear? This is not uncommon in PwP. It has been estimated that approximately 90% of all Parkinson’s patients will experience speech issues at some point in their journey with this disease. Some people don’t know they are speaking softly and/or not clearly so others can understand. This can lead to poor communication and social isolation. Speech therapy can and does help. However, now there is a new wearable device available that is proven to increase volume and clarity in your voice. In this episode, we speak with a clinical speech-language pathologist and a PwP using this device. 

In this episode we tackle the extremely important topic of caregiving. Being a caregiver or care partner is often challenging and offers its own journey. It can be exhausting, frustrating, fearful, painful, as well as joyful, hopeful and rewarding. This is true for all caregiving not just for our love one’s with Parkinson’s disease. Today you’ll hear from someone who has experienced all the humanness of being a caregiver and ended up making it her life’s work to help all of us with the complex feelings that come with being a caregiver. She has written best selling books on the topic and created an online community. We often say to PwP “you aren’t alone.” My guest today will tell you that is as important for caregivers.

As of today, there is still no objective test to diagnose Parkinson’s disease. While we wait for researchers to find a biomarker, there is an organization using dogs to sniff out and detect an odor associated with PD. Yep, you heard it right. The dogs are super smellers and can detect PD with a 90% or better accuracy. To learn more about this and what this means for diagnosis and treatment of PD, we talked with the program director and one of the dog handlers.  You won’t want to miss this conversation.

There are numerous opportunities around the country to get educated on Parkinson’s disease. There are books, videos, webinars, websites, and educational classes offered by clinics and outreach centers, as well as national foundations and organizations. It is very important to start your education very soon after diagnosis and continue to learn the rest of your life. Today, I want to highlight two not-for-profit groups offering free educational classes to the newly diagnosed but with a twist – how to advocate for yourself along with educating yourself throughout your life. This is an innovative approach and an important combination. It’s the boxing equivalent to the one-two punch. Please keep listening.

In this episode we speak with Dr. Shill again to get an update on the COVID -19 pandemic, the vaccines and how this all relates to Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Shill gave us a fantastic overview in August 2020 in episode 11 if you want to revisit that one.  Also, we are trying something new on this podcast. Listeners recorded and sent in their stories of how using Zoom has helped them through these isolating times. Their stories are included in this episode. Enjoy.

There is a special place in Portland, OR where an enthusiastic, trained fitness coach built a gym dedicated to helping people with Parkinson’s. She calls the people she trains – Fighters.  That is very appropriate and sets the tone for what she expects from them. In one building they can take classes in drumming, singing, dancing, boxing, Tai Chi, yoga and more. 350 people take advantage of this opportunity to work on their physical and mental well being.  Listen in as Kimberly Berg describes how she does it and one of her Fighters tells of her experience attending in person and now virtually.

In this episode we discuss the genetic connection to Parkinson’s. It doesn’t matter if you know you have a genetic mutual, if you know you don’t have one or you don’t know and don’t want to know, you will learn a lot about how the research into the genetic mutations linked to PD is leading to science better understanding of the origins of the disease and eventually a cure. We talk to a leading researcher at NYU about the connection. Also, we hear from a family who has a deep connection to the LRRK2 mutation and what that has meant to them.

Did you know that a dog can be trained to help People with Parkinson’s? It’s true and amazing to learn about. When trained to service PD patients, the dogs can help with freezing, mobility, exercise, get help, fetch medications, push a wheelchair, protect and provide comfort. Most of all they help restore dignity, confidence and independence.  Stay tuned to learn more about these special animals. Warning: this is a tear jerker.

We have been tackling the decisions that people need to make for their healthcare insurance choices in our first series of episodes on a topic.  Next up, long term care insurance options. There are 3 broad choices people can make.  Which one depends on your situation. This is another very important, yet confusing life choice. Learn all about this important option in this episode.

Continuing our series on healthcare insurance options. Next up, Medicare. There are more choices than when your parents became eligible. In this episode, we learn from an expert on what option is the best one for your situation and when and if you can change your choice when your circumstances change. No matter what age you are, this is an important topic to understand. It can be very confusing. We break it down and make sense of the confusion.

This is the second episode in our series on healthcare choices and picking the best options for you. Next up – online pharmacies.  Where do you get your medications? The ones you need to treat an ongoing condition. Most people use the corner pharmacy. It’s convenient. Have you wondered about switching to an online pharmacy? One that can source drugs from Canada and other countries with lower costs for their medications? Thousands of people use them and save a lot of money. Is it safe? How does it work? Stay tuned and find out.

Healthcare in the US and, more specifically, healthcare insurance is a very difficult, confusing and frustrating industry to navigate and understand.  It can also be expensive. Yet, it is so important to our wellbeing. How do you make the best choices of you and your family? Even if this doesn’t affect you so much now, it will. Therefore, the Parkinson’s Experience will be producing its first series of episodes on one topic – understanding your healthcare insurance options.  I guarantee you will learn at least one thing in each episode. First up, the individual marketplace for healthcare insurance.

Fatigue, daytime tiredness, sleepless nights are experiences by a lot of people. It has a significant impact on their quality of life. For PWP, there is a 78% they will experience fatigue. Today we will learn more about this non motor symptom from a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon researching fatigue in PD and if DBS can help.

Today’s topic takes us to the intersection of dancing and Parkinson’s disease.  Dancing isn’t just another exercise recommended for PWP. Dancing combines the intense workout of an aerobic exercise class with other classes focused on strength, flexibility and balance.  Plus, it is set to music and fun. The dancer needs to connect the mind with the body in order to perform the dance moves. Yet, PD dancing classes are for everyone and for all mobility levels.  So, channel your inner Fred Astaire and keep listening to this episode to find out more from a PD dance instructor and student.

A healthy diet packed with nutrition isn’t just good for Parkinson’s patients. It’s good for everyone. However, there are a few changes you can make to your diet that can help with symptoms as well as your overall health outcomes. While there is no one-size-fits-all diet plan for PD, there are some guidelines we can follow to live our best life and enjoy some good meals. 

Today, our guests will review general food categories, discuss organic foods versus non-organic and what incremental changes we may want to consider in our meal planning.  Stay tuned!