Fighting Parkinson’s, and Joe has gotten off of his medications

Joe Almanzar was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in February of 2012. He started taking 2mg of Requip XL. In rather short order, the 2mg was increased to to 4mg, and then was increased to 6mg. In May of 2012, Joe discovered the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery™ and began working on his recovery.

In August of 2012, when Joe started coaching with me, he was three months into doing the Recipe and he had a sense he was ready to explore how to reduce and eliminate his medications. We worked together, and Joe has shown a lot of courage and perseverance, using a slow and safe method of medication reduction. (To those of you reading this, as I have cautioned in the past, do not try to quit taking medication cold turkey — nothing good comes from that). By November 14, 2012, Joe no longer was on Parkinson’s medications.

On November 27, 2012, Joe had his six-month follow up with neurologist. After putting him through her tests and acknowledging that he was doing okay (i.e. no need to increase medications at that time), Joe explained what he was doing for his recovery and that he had been off of the medications for about two weeks at that time. His neurologist’s response echoed what many others have heard under similar circumstances…that since he was doing okay without medications, he could proceed as he was, but to keep in mind that it is the neurologist’s view that everybody needs to be on the medications so some day he would have to go back on them, too.

I explained to Joe that it is the current medical standard that everybody with Parkinson’s needs, or soon will need, to be on medications. My neurologist told me the same thing, so do not worry about it. When enough of us fully recover, they may have to re-think the current medical standard for Parkinson’s.

Below are the comments Joe has posted along the way in his journey to getting of medications and in his continuing recovery journey:

Joe says:
July 17, 2012 at 1:37 pm
Thanks Howard for emphasizing that we need to be as kind to ourselves as we are to others and that our BEST IS good enough.

Joe says:
August 15, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Howard, as usual you sent this information very timely since I am experiencing the Qigong getting harder to do especially the Medical Qigong for the Liver although I have not had any improvement in my sense of smell.
Thanks Howard this information makes me feel better.
Sincerely,
Joe

Joe says:
September 10, 2012 at 11:44 pm
Thank you again for a timely blog. We needed you to reinforce the need for acceptance.
Joe

Joe Almanzar says:
September 21, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Thank you Howard. You are such a great inspiration to us all! Your blogs are always so timely!!
Joe

Joe Almanzar says:
October 5, 2012 at 5:10 pm
Hi Howard,
As Marie said, I too would like to see you in Santa Fe. I would also like to help you find a venue here if you need my help.
Joe

Joe says:
October 31, 2012 at 12:16 am
I ditto all of the comments that others have made. Today, I decided to reduce my pills again. The recipe is helping me recover; it really has helped me on the road to recovery.
Thanks Howard!
Sincerely,
Joe

Joe D. Almanzar says:
November 6, 2012 at 2:44 pm
Hi Howard,
After reading this blog, I decided to respond about what has been happening with my recovery. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in February, 2012. I am feeling better day by day. As you know, I have reduced my medication from 3 pills per day to 1 pill per day which I will reduce again soon. I have been getting less of the rough days and less severe. I have been doing the Recipe for Recovery since May, 2012. I was fortunate to find Howard on the internet soon after I was diagnosed. I hope to be fully recovered soon.
Thanks Howard!
Joe

Joe D. Almanzar says:
December 4, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Howard,
I’m glad that you have started the workshops, and that the Seattle one was incredible!
Joe

Last Saturday was a celebration of the courageous people at my Seattle workshop who jumped into the Recipe with both feet.

This Saturday is a celebration of Joe Almanzar, the 11th person to utilize the the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery™ and the slow and safe method of medication reduction to reduce and then eliminate his medications. He now is continuing his journey to full recovery drug free.

Congratulations Joe!!! You are worth it!!!

And, to everybody working on their recovery, hold on tight to the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery™ and keep pushing forward, moment-by-moment, day-by-day, all the way to your full recovery.

YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!

All my best,

Howard

Please note: While I was traveling November 29-December 3, 2012 for my Seattle workshop, the company that hosts my web site was doing server maintenance. It has come to my attention that not only was my web site down periodically over that time period, but also, I was not receiving all of my emails; they have been arriving sporadically, but I have no way of knowing if I am receiving them all. If you emailed me between those dates and I have not responded to your email, it is because I have not received your email. Please re-send your email and I will be respond. Thank you. Howard