We Are #MightyTogether

I have been a writer for many years, both as a creative artist and an academic. I know words and have no shortage of them, but I have never considered that my voice as an individual was worth documenting in a journal or any type of blog that involved my personal story (or stories).

I was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD) at 34, about a month before my 35th birthday, after nearly a year of tremendous suffering.

The journey from my PCP being concerned I had MS (which I had little awareness of and was immediately relieved to learn it was Parkinson’s disease, which was one of the few neurological diseases I was aware of) to having each specialist put me into smaller categories that eventually led me to the serious question of YOPD, which was confirmed with the tremendously successful trial of Carbidopa / Levodopa that supported every clinical symptom I had been dealing with for years.

I had no idea so many of the different random health issues I had been suffering were all connected to this singular disease.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would reach the point in my suffering that I prayed for a Parkinson’s diagnosis if it meant there was some relief to be had. That is the low I hope no one ever has to experience, and if you have, I hope that we can connect- regardless of what trials you face (YOPD or no).

I am here to write, to learn, to grow, to connect, and to hope my voice is not lost on a community of people who might understand, when the body of people I have largely known my entire life are still wrestling too greatly with their own processing of this to handle the gravity of it.

More to come.

#ParkinsonsDisease #MightyTogether #ADHD #Autism #DegenerativeDisease #Grief

Hi everyone, I’m Jodie and I’m new to the community. I finally took the leap to make an account because I am feeling incredibly isolated and physically exhausted down to my very bones.To share a bit about my neurotype and background, I am an AuDHD (Autism + ADHD) adult. My brain runs on high-intensity logic, deep pattern tracking, and analytical execution, which means I can mask my struggles pretty heavily in the outside world. But behind that mask, I operate under extreme executive function fatigue and live with zero natural interoception.Right now, my body is in an active medical crisis. I am navigating a massive metabolic crash from severe Hashimoto's hypothyroidism (TSH 35.2), along with Fibromyalgia, POTS/dysautonomia, and Idiopathic Hypersomnia. Because of the intense deep sleep drive and nerve tracking, I manage a daily baseline of neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction, meaning waking up to heavily saturated overnight briefs is my standard reality. Managing this hidden medical gear and chronic pain while forcing my body through physically punishing manual labor has left my energy reserves completely dry.When I’m offline and resting my body, my personality is rooted in my special interests. I love deep-diving into complex anime lore, analyzing the world-building frameworks of webnovels, and hanging out with my wild co-pilot cat, MustacheCat.I joined The Mighty because I want to find a safe space where I can entirely drop the mask. I hope to connect with other analytical, neurodivergent women and chronic illness warriors who manage similar complex logistical gear with total neutrality and zero judgment. I’d love to meet some people to share comfort, swap tips on daily pacing, and remind each other that we aren't broken. Thanks for welcoming me to the sisterhood.#MightyTogether #newhere #Fibromyalgia #AutismSpectrumDisorder #ADHD #pots #neurogenicbladder #IdiopathicHypersomnia #Dysautonomia #chronicmigraines #Depression #Anxiety #Grief #catsofthemighty