@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member, even though you're self-employed, I'm guessing that you have made a number of connections with suppliers and other contractors who might be able to put you on their payroll. Is hiring someone to help you with your business an option?

Are you on any medications? Treating PD is far from a perfect science, but you might find medications that will lessen all of your symptoms to some degree and allow you to stay self-employed.

If you have to be recognized as disabled to preserve your IRA, I'm sure your neurologist can provide the proper documentation.

Parkinson's can be a depressing disease. There are medications that can help. Exercise really helps, too. Not only does it help alleviate pain and stiffness, but it boosts your mood.

To be brutally honest, PD is a life changing disease. Its effect on your brain is what is making you feel lost and hopeless, but don't give up! You may have days where you don't care if you see tomorrow, but don't give up! You have to find new and really creative ways to do things you never imagined you'd ever have to do.

Why am I sharing this with you? Because it's a matter of self-preservation. Trust me Joe, you'll want to make the best of every day because no one else can do it for you.

Below is a link to a really good foundation. There you'll find tons of information about diet, exercise, medication, etc.

https://www.davisphinneyfoundation.org/

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A MyParki...

I would apply for disability through the government. I could no longer do my job and I was approved fairly quickly. I was very detailed on my application. Once approved I had to wait 6 months to receive it. Good luck. I hope this helps.

Those are some really good ideas, maybe social security would label you disabled and you could start collecting on that. I did but I’m sixty.

Couple more thoughts. Is there a subject you could tutor students in? (My piano teacher gets $50/hr) Would you be able to do "handyman" work - lots of people in my area just need someone for a little job that they don't feel comfortable with - might be as simple as installing a dish washer. Also - google "at home work". Obviously you don't want to get involved with any of the myriad scams out there but there are legitimate jobs to be had. I did a quick search: Kelly (employment agency) handles at- home workers. A company called Working Solutions hires at home workers to handle event and ticket sales. Amazon and Ebay hire at home workers for customer service. So, that makes me wonder if chains like Lowe's and Home Depot would have similar openings - something that would be right up your alley I would guess. And as I used to tell my business clients, tell everyone (and I mean everyone - the grocery clerk, the mailman) that you're out there looking for work and what type you could do. You never know where a lead will come from. Don't get discouraged - it will happen but sometimes it takes a while.

Can you type/use a keyboard? Is there a skill you could teach on the internet, perhaps something geared to
a DIY audience? You have skills running a business.Could you mentor (for a fee) people wanting to get into the contracting business. Is there a "how to" piece you could write and sell. You might look into buying and selling on ebay. I empathize with the fatigue and intense muscle cramps. That's why it's so hard to get a regular job - you can't depend on feeling up to a day's work. I find vinegar helpful for the cramps - rub it into the muscle. Some people use pickle juice or mustard but I think those work because of the vinegar in them. I realize these are longer term solutions and you need something now but perhaps it will spark a thought about what your strengths are that you could market.