{"id":9049,"date":"2024-10-02T13:21:11","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T17:21:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluerocktx.com\/?p=9049"},"modified":"2024-11-13T10:40:36","modified_gmt":"2024-11-13T15:40:36","slug":"parkinsons-in-perspective-an-interview-with-vikas-chinnan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluerocktx.com\/parkinsons-in-perspective-an-interview-with-vikas-chinnan\/","title":{"rendered":"Parkinson\u2019s in Perspective: An Interview with Vikas Chinnan"},"content":{"rendered":"
Living with Parkinson\u2019s disease is a reality that many can scarcely imagine. The journey of navigating life with this progressive neurological disorder profoundly impacts the quality of life for patients and loved ones. Notable figures like Michael J. Fox have used their platforms to raise awareness \u2013 countless others also continue to share their stories, illuminating the everyday challenges and triumphs. At BlueRock, our mission goes beyond developing groundbreaking treatments; we strive to amplify these voices, shedding light on the real experiences behind the disease.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Vikas Chinnan, who was diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s at 45, shares his journey and the community\u2019s efforts to foster hope and support.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Can you tell us a bit more about your initial diagnosis?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n My story is a bit different than others \u2013 when I was a child I had a viral infection in my spinal cord, and, while unrelated to Parkinson\u2019s, it shared similar symptoms such as gait asymmetry. I had these symptoms on and off over the years but chalked it up to that medical event. It wasn\u2019t until August 2021 at 45 years old that I started getting a tremor and realized I could have something different.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It was recommended that I receive a DaTscan, which is a procedure that can help indicate Parkinson\u2019s disease and other similar conditions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What thoughts and emotions ran through your head when you received your Parkinson\u2019s diagnosis? How did you process it?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When they\u2019re first diagnosed, many people go through a period of grief. It\u2019s an understandable shock \u2013 they may become depressed because their life is changed forever. You look at people like Michael J. Fox and Muhammad Ali and see how their disease progressed, and it\u2019s hard to accept. This is also compounded by the fact that the low levels of dopamine associated with Parkinson\u2019s disease can <\/span>also cause depression<\/span><\/a> and apathy<\/span>, making it even harder to process.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That said, my circumstances were slightly different. I didn\u2019t go through this grief phase as much because I had been dealing with this uncertainty for so long. I had already been feeling depressed and apathetic for a long time. I had stopped socializing with my friends and was generally not feeling great, so much so that my wife observed that I seemed like a different person.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When I finally got my diagnosis, I was actually ecstatic to <\/span>finally <\/span><\/i>have some answers. I was just glad to know exactly what I was dealing with so that I could start treatments and find ways to fight it. I\u2019m also fortunate that my wife has a good job and we have kids that are slightly older and somewhat independent \u2014 that helped me a lot in my outlook as well, especially when I realized I may not ever be returning to a traditional employment scenario.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m lucky in that I have many doctors in my family, which was critical when planning next steps. Within 48 hours of my diagnosis my cousin, who is a neurologist, had called around within their network to help connect me with the right specialists to get a plan in place. It made me realize how lucky I was \u2014 having people that can help guide and advocate for you when you have Parkinson\u2019s is truly a privilege.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n How did your life change after your diagnosis?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Within a week of my diagnosis, I went to my first <\/span>Rock Steady Boxing class<\/span><\/a> which, if you\u2019re not familiar, has become popular in the Parkinson\u2019s community after Lesley Stahl from CBS\u2019s 60 Minutes <\/span>did a feature on her husband<\/span><\/a> and how he had taken up the activity.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I think I was the youngest person in my class by 20-30 years \u2013 the average age was 60+. When I walked into that first class, though, I just saw a bunch of fighters \u2013 a bunch of people who inspired me to not give up. It\u2019s been hard to watch some of my fellow classmates\u2019 conditions progress over time, but they\u2019re still inspiring me because they\u2019re <\/span>still <\/span><\/i>showing up and fighting every day.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Through this class I also met people working with the <\/span>Parkinson\u2019s Foundation<\/span><\/a>. They helped me get involved with fundraisers like <\/span>Moving Day<\/span><\/a> (walkathon) and <\/span>Revolution<\/span><\/a> (cycling event)<\/span>, as well as other volunteer activities that support Parkinson\u2019s awareness, healthcare, resources, and research.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I also now dedicate most of my waking hours to the Parkinson\u2019s community \u2013 not only because I think it\u2019s important, but because I really enjoy it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n How do you manage your symptoms? Has your disease progressed at all?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m only about two and a half years in, so I\u2019m still early in my journey. I\u2019m on different medicines that I tweak about every six weeks.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Parkinson\u2019s is a progressive neurological disease, so there\u2019s no turning back the clock. You can have a periodic worsening or improvement of symptoms, but in general you\u2019ll need more medicines and many of them will become less effective over time. I know I can\u2019t stop that clock, so I try to do what I can to slow it down. Right now the big things I focus on are sleep hygiene, stress management, diet, exercise, and medicine. I\u2019m holding steady, and I\u2019m fortunate in that I\u2019m not currently experiencing anything that I would say is an irreversible progression of my disease.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I know it will come at some point. Michael J. Fox is effectively wheelchair bound \u2013 that\u2019s the future that I\u2019m preparing for. At some point in my life, even though I hike and bike and do all kinds of stuff right now, I may be wheelchair bound. I realize that I can\u2019t fully beat this disease with the current solutions we have.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n