Parkinson's Progression, Advancing Symptoms, and Being Real with Kevin Kwok

Kevin Kwok and Polly Dawkins, Executive Director of the Davis Phinney Foundation, sat down to talk about how Kevin continues to live well with Parkinson's despite his new and worsening symptoms and how they impact his mindset. They talk about the Tao of Pooh, his career, his voice, how he adjusts his exercise routine depending on his symptoms, and more.


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[revdrjamesshowersjr]

Thank you Hon. Mr. Kevin, what a powerful story and do enjoy hearing about your progress.

[petermay]

Greetings from Kent, in the UK. Excellent session Kevin, you're an inspiration! Having lived with my PD diagnosis since 2008 I'm now at the point where I have to decide whether DBS is the right choice for me. In the 15 years' interim I've responded with 'constructive denial' and been fortunate to have achieved amazing results from having a positive mental attitude. Now my medication is progressively less effective and working for a shorter duration I can no longer ignore the reality of my symptoms. It can be a lonely place. Listening to your honest account of meeting the challenges, and rising to overcome them with humility and humour, is uplifting and heartwarming. For which, many thanks!

[kaystokes]

Hey Kevin from Puyallup, Washington. Thank you for sharing. I loved hearing your story. You are an inspiration for all of us Parkies.

[splashesin]

Kevin and Polly, :) I wish I had made it in live! I don't know hpw I missed the notification, I might've been cooking. 😅 Catching up now.

[theschwas]

Nice job Kevin! appreciate all of your insight after dealing with PD for 14 yrs I concur wholeheartedly with your experiences and take. Best, Neil S

[alecspeer]

Kevin: "I was very fortunate to have my care partner in the world." No kidding! I can tell you it's not easy not having one, I'm 75 in 2023, diagnosed 2019, Levodopa dependent June 2021.
I haven't bothered to hide my PD; I have told everyone. I'm not ready to cave to "assisted care" (damn expensive, eh?). Pushing to live as long & as normal a senior life as I can.
My OFF in the morning is literally a pain, shuffling until 9-10, then it improves so that thankfully I look & walk like many senior folks with ordinary ambulatory issues of our age group.

[AFAblacksheepAFA]

I have read that a dbs could be new adjusted when needed and the sympthomes getting worsed again. Medtronic said a DBS helped for a lifetime on tremor, stifness and rigitity

[splashesin]

The Tao seems like how things are going. It's hard to explain to other people, who don't know how I used to push through things. They don't get that I still try to do that, but the end of the reps simply comes faster, and I feel like Wesley towards the end of The Princess Bride. The progressiveness of ways I'm debilitated started really hitting me harder in 2012, but 2009 was the first out of nowhere intense dystonia event. At first I wondered if it was a reaction to some food. It seemed like it could be connected to potatoes or a special seasoning a chain place had for their potatoes. I also thought maybe it was just that I was power walking too much per day. 16 miles. I think maybe those things lent to a little of what was happening but that it was just simultaneously a life long evolving situation. I googled all kinds of physical therapy things to figure out how to knead the muscles in my legs and feet, but it also started happening with my arms and hands. I found a mitigating oral regimen which helps some. I try to preempt some of it, when I know I'm going to be hiking. I can really relate to trying to hide it, like Kevin, initially.

[adilsuleman]

hi Kevin has the botox helped with the eyelids?

[jeanniewrigley]

I have tried 2 medications. The side effects are barbaric. Newly diagnosed.