Good Morning Friends,

Just to play the devil's advocate: As PWP we all have in common a deficiency of dopamine. So many of us look for something to help us out with that. For me, it's Requip XL (now 12 mg) and Fava Bean Extract, which is a natural source of L-dopa that crosses the BBB.

How is this different than a diabetic who is dependent on insulin to function within the range of normal (say, conscious, for example)? Or people with bipolar who stay well on lithium and get really sick without it? Should these folks break their addiction? Of course, they should do whatever they are up for with diet and exercise, but if they need insulin or lithium, they need it.

Similarly, people with unrelenting pain, say cancer patients or some of us with PD such as, well, moi. Under the care of a pain management specialist, I take hydrocodone daily. It allowed me to work (until the PD overtook me), to parent (on good days), to clean my house (do people still do that?) and to not let the pain overwhelm me. Do I suffer if I skip a few doses because I forgot to pack my meds when going out of town? Yes, like hell.

What's the lesson? That I'm addicted? No. It's don't leave the painkiller at home. Don't leave home without it.

BTW, I am also addicted to air. Water. My family. Poetry. And, apparently, this forum!

What are YOU addicted to?

Rose