Parkinson's Central - New Smart Phone App is an Electronic Advocate
Terri Reinhart
Recently, I had to get a new cell phone as my phone company changed over from one something or other to a different something or other. The old phone wasn't smart enough for the new system. So now I have a newer old version of an Android phone. It's a little smarter.
This is good because there is a new Parkinson's Central smart phone app offered FREE by the National Parkinson's Foundation. As soon as the LG P500 was up and working, I downloaded it and decided to check it out.
There is a lot on this app, from general information about Parkinson's disease and how it is diagnosed to treatment options, hints for making your doctor's visit more productive, news about current research, and a whole section about living well with PD. There is a surprising amount of information there.
Now, I will admit right away, I am not big on reading a lot of information on my cell phone. I'm over 50 and my eyes start to rebel. If I am going to look for this type of information, I will look it up on the full screen computer. Even there my eyes will tire quickly. However, I know for many people, cell phone apps are THE WAY to get their information. I highly recommend this app for those people with Parkinson's disease who use smart phones.
I didn't think I'd be using it, but then I saw...
There is a section on other health issues and PD (under Doctor Visits), specifically about dental visits. I didn't know levadopa and epinephrine together could cause an "exaggerated effect on blood pressure and heart rate". Hmm, that could explain why I had such a violent reaction when the local anesthetic was accidentally injected into a vein in my mouth.
I will cruise through more of the information on the app, even if it is on the phone. I suspect I'll find other gems of knowledge hidden in each section. The nice part of having it on my phone is I can show it to my dentist or other health professional. It has more weight when it's coming from the National Parkinson's Foundation.
As patients, we have to learn how to stand up for ourselves. This can be challenging, especially when we are standing up to doctors and other health professionals. Our own doctors may understand us, but if other medical issues come up, it's much harder to explain. I know. I tried this when I was in the hospital for a hysterectomy. No matter how much I tried to tell the nurse-in-charge that my sleep attack was not anything to worry about (I was in bed, not driving) and was, in fact, a side effect of my medication, she just pursed her lips and glared at me. When my husband came, the nurse turned to him and said, "We had an incident this morning." I felt like a naughty child.
Now I have a helper right in my hand. The Parkinson's Central app is an electronic advocate. Now they have to believe me. See? It says so right on my phone.
So there.
Click on the photo to go to the National Parkinson's Foundation page about Parkinson's Central.