The Art of Being Patiently Persistent: Navigating Healthcare and the Journey to Wellness
Guest blog by Frank Antonicelli
Most of us know the old saying, "Patience is a virtue." In our fast-paced world, where instant gratification is often the norm, the importance of that phrase in healthcare cannot be overstated. The journey to wellness is rarely a sprint; instead, it's a marathon that requires a combination of resilience and endurance.
In my personal journey with Parkinson's Disease, I've come to adopt and live by the mantra "Be Patiently Persistent" as a way to survive and take control of my care. It's incredible how such a simple statement has profoundly and positively impacted my pursuit of mental and physical wellness over the years.
However, putting it into practice did not initially come easy. In fact, my first experience dealing with the healthcare system taught me how necessary patience and persistence are if you want to gain any control over the care you receive.
The Complexity of Healthcare
One of my biggest challenges was navigating the healthcare system, which tends to be needlessly complex, intimidating and time-consuming. From scheduling appointments to waiting for test results and coordinating with different specialists, the process really tested my patience and spirit.
Before being diagnosed with Parkinson's, my experience with the healthcare system was limited. I didn't know what was causing my symptoms, so I saw a bunch of different doctors and physicians and went through countless batteries of tests, all of which seemed to lead to a dead end and no clear answer for what was going on with my body. This daunting process took its toll until I finally reached the right person, Dr. Robert Miller, who took the time to listen and ask the right questions. Dr. Miller played an instrumental part in helping narrow down and identify specific symptoms and referred me to a neurologist, Dr. Marie Michalek, who was able to accurately determine what was wrong with me. This was one of my first exercises with being patiently persistent, which finally led to a breakthrough with my Parkinson's diagnosis.
Understanding and accepting the complexity of healthcare was one of the first steps I took towards developing the resilience needed to pursue my well-being persistently. It became clear that I needed to educate myself as much as possible on the intricacies of the healthcare system to take better charge of the care I was seeking.
Building a Relationship with My Healthcare Team
Patience was crucial in building a solid relationship with my healthcare team. I learned that establishing trust takes time, requiring open communication and a willingness to work together towards a common goal. Over the years, I was fortunate to form a strong relationship with my healthcare team and Joe Green, my Movement Disorder Specialist (MDS). During our eight years working together, Joe and I got to know and understand one another fully through consistent communication and hard work. We took the patiently persistent route to determine what worked best for me and what didn't. This resulted in a solid strategy for exercise and stress management that I follow to this day.
A great byproduct of my relationship with Joe was the creation of my first audiobook, Embracing Parkinson's, which is a recorded series of conversations between Joe and me that chronicles our experience and the strategies we developed to manage my PD symptoms.
One of my top rules for building a solid relationship with my healthcare professionals is to feel comfortable asking questions. In fact, I encourage others to ask their providers as many questions as possible. Going in knowledgeable about this open dialogue helped us create a relationship where we both understood each other.
My advice is to be patient with healthcare providers as they work to understand the patient's unique health situation and needs to develop a personalized care plan.
Navigating Diagnosis and Treatment
Receiving a diagnosis or undergoing treatment can be a very stressful and uncertain experience. Patience is essential as you wait for the correct diagnosis and treatment plan to unfold. In some cases, it may take a significant amount of time to find the most effective approach, and persistence is key to exploring different options and advocating for your well-being.
Throughout my journey, I have tried a myriad of treatments, including chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT), hyperbaric oxygen therapy, massage therapy, peptide therapy, mini sauna therapy, IV nutrition therapy and supplements, etc.
While some were effective and worked in the short term, I've come to experience that PD is a constantly evolving beast, which has led me to adjust my approach accordingly to keep up. In many ways, it's like trying to hit a moving target. Once you think you've got it in your sights, something changes, and you are set back a few steps or, in some cases, back to square one. Over time, this can get very tiring and discouraging, but in order to survive and live the best life I can, I realized I needed to be patient and persistent with my treatment processes.
Each time, I took the necessary steps to see the treatment through and tried my best to be as knowledgeable as possible. I also learned to recognize when a specific treatment wasn't working or was negatively impacting my health and how to weigh out my options before letting go.
Small steps can lead to big victories. Whether overcoming a physical hurdle or mastering a new aspect of self-care, every small victory contributes to the larger narrative of healing.
Embracing Lifestyle Changes and Routine
I've also discovered that my path to wellness required me to make significant lifestyle changes, including a healthier diet, regular exercise, and managing my stress levels. These changes didn't happen overnight, and patience was vital in allowing me the time to adapt. Even in small steps, persistent effort has led to meaningful and sustainable improvements in my overall health. Even on the days I wake up feeling lousy, I remind myself, "If I don't use it, I'm going to lose it."
I learned to establish a routine that includes walking/jogging 2+ miles and/or riding bike 5 to 10 miles every other day. Each day, when I rise, I spend half an hour in bed stretching, doing core work and prayer. Once up, I do large body movements and add isometric or resistance (squats, deadlifts, power cleans, pull-downs f/b, seated press, leg stretching & strengthening exercises, shoulder/chest stretching & strengthening exercises).
Mental and Emotional Resilience
The journey to wellness can take a toll on mental and emotional well-being. Knowing when to exercise patience with myself and the process was crucial during moments of uncertainty and health setbacks. In early 2020, I experienced a severe health setback that I wasn't sure I was going to bounce back from. I had to develop a resilient mindset and persistently work towards getting back on track. Thankfully, I also had the support of my friends, family and healthcare providers.
This setback eventually led me to make the leap into getting Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery. The process leading up to the surgery was an exercise in being patiently persistent, as I needed to go through a process to ensure I was a candidate for the procedure and dealing scheduling delays, as the Covid pandemic was in full swing. During this time, I researched as much as possible and asked as many questions as possible to ensure I was informed and confident about my decision. I also had to put my trust in my doctors and in the process. My neurologists Venkatachalam Mangeshkumar and Stephen Falowski were guiding lights and helped me through every step of the way, from getting my surgery confirmed, performing the procedure, and my post-op care. I'm fortunate to report that the DBS procedure was a success and has dramatically improved my overall quality of life.
Embracing the power of positive thinking and visualization has also been a game-changer for my health. The mind-body connection is a profound force, and when we channel positive thoughts, we create an environment conducive to healing and well-being. Scientific studies suggest a positive mindset can boost the immune system, reduce stress, and improve overall physical health.
Visualization takes it a step further, allowing us to picture ourselves in a state of optimal health. By vividly imagining my body functioning at its best, I was able to send powerful signals to my subconscious, which influenced my actions and habits in a way that aligned with my wellness goals. It's not about denying challenges but approaching them with a mindset that fosters resilience and recovery.
Faith and Belief
Everyone has their own system of beliefs and ways of coping with illness and other difficult situations that life presents, which I respect and admire. For me, faith and prayer have held immense significance in my healing journey. Believing in something greater than myself provides a comforting anchor during challenging times and has fostered a positive mindset, which has been crucial for my recovery.
In the face of Parkinson’s, my faith became a driving force, instilling resilience and grit, which has provided me with solace and the strength to move forward each day. The act of prayer has been a powerful tool for reducing my anxiety, helps me accept my condition and reminds me of everything and everyone I am thankful for.
While I recognize the importance of medical interventions, integrating faith and prayer into my healing process has enhanced my mind-body connection and has contributed to a more holistic approach to well-being. Without my faith and the support of my friends, family and healthcare team, I don’t think I would be standing here today. I am truly grateful for what I have.
Creative Outlets and Everyday Life
In addition to healthcare, I have applied being "Patiently Persistent" to pretty much every other area of my life. I love music, especially The Beatles, and I started writing poems and song lyrics in 1990. After a hiatus, I decided to revive my creative projects, and in 2016, I began reworking my early pieces as a therapy exercise and writing new poems/song lyrics.
In 2017, I created Be Still Publishing as a publishing house for my writings. Around the same time, I began working with a record producer and videographer. We started putting music and visuals to my lyrics and have been slowly but steadily releasing songs and videos I am proud of. Through being patiently persistent with our creative processes, we've allowed ourselves to take the necessary time to collaborate, which has helped evolve our music and video output in a very organic and authentic way.
Being patiently persistent has also helped me get through some of the hassles of everyday life. For example, I got locked out of one of my online accounts and had to go through an arduous process of speaking with multiple customer service agents who, instead of helping, passed me onto the next person. After hours of being put on hold and redirected to redundant departments, I started to falter. At that point, I took a deep breath and told myself that if I had a solid strategy, I could reach the right person to help me.
Shortly thereafter, I was able to talk to someone knowledgeable in the company, learn about their process, and get my account back. It took a lot of time, and yes, I did get frustrated but being patiently persistent ultimately paid off.
Last Words
Whether it's healthcare, creative endeavors, or just everyday life, being patiently persistent is not a sign of weakness; rather, it is a testament to a commitment to my own well-being. I've accepted and embraced the journey and learned to understand that progress may be gradual, but every step forward is a victory. By practicing patience and persistence, I've empowered myself to overcome obstacles, adapt to changes, and ultimately achieve a state of lasting wellness.
So, as parting words, If you are going through a rough time, I encourage you to breathe deep, tighten your laces, and continue the journey with patience, persistence, and the belief that your health is worth the effort.
