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Who Makes Up Your Medical Team When You Have Parkinson's Disease

You will have plenty of professional people surrounding you when you have Parkinson's disease. They will become part of your support system. Your support system will include medical personnel, therapists, community-based programs, nutritionist, social workers; even your pharmacist is part of your support system.

Your medical doctor and the staff were there for you when the diagnosis was made. They helped you to understand what Parkinson's disease was all about. They will continue to be there to care for your general health issues and to refer you to other medical health professionals as needed. You need to continue your annual check-ups.

Some individuals attend a specialty Parkinson's disease clinic, where nurses teach classes to educate individuals with the disease as well as to counsel patients regarding medical conditions and how to best manage Parkinson's in your everyday life.

Your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist if you are depressed or if you are having difficulty adjusting to your diagnosis, or if you have a high level of anxiety. Not everyone suffers from depression or anxiety. Psychiatrist may use different tools to help you including psychotherapy, group or private counseling, and medications.

There are several therapists, which may become part of your support system including a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, and also a speech therapist. A physical therapist can assist you with posture, improving your walking and your balance in order to prevent falls. A physical therapist can help to keep you safe or help you to achieve daily activities. An occupational therapist gives instruction on using equipment and how to handle daily living activities, problem solving, conserving energy and improving your mobility. The occupational therapist may also be able to assist you with stress management. If possible your occupational therapist may also come to your home to help you decide on ways to make adaptations that will help you to access items or help with mobility. A speech therapist can help you to improve your speech, and communication ability. A speech therapist can also give you solutions to issues you may be having with swallowing.

Community-based programs offer exercise programs so you can exercise in groups for social or emotional support.

A nutritionist can help you to devise a diet plan to help you maintain weight, make meal preparation easier or give you sources for the best foods to use to ease your symptoms such as constipation.

A social worker can help you with any problems you are having that involve social, emotional or economic issues. They are good at helping you to express what is really bothering you about work, school or home life and to find solutions that will help to make your life with Parkinson's easier.

Your pharmacist not only dispenses your prescription drugs but the pharmacist can keep a detailed record of all of your prescriptions to check for interactions or possible side effects or when medications should not be taken with others. It is important that you always use the same pharmacy for all of your medication needs so that the record will be accurate.