Parkinson's for beginners: 'It's terrible when someone grabs my arm to get off the sidewalk'

You can either give up and give up, or you can do everything you can to cope with Parkinson's. Jan Heemskerk (62) is doing the latter. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2021 and, despite the initial shock, decided to make the best of it.

How? You can read all about it – even if you're close to someone with Parkinson's – in Heemskerk's recently published book, " Als Jan het kan… Parkinson's for Beginners " (Spectrum Publishers). Fed up with his poor health and weight of over a hundred kilos, Jan Heemskerk, who typically writes humorously, wrote "Als Jan het kan… Gezond en slimme voor gewoon men" (If Jan can… Healthy and slim for ordinary men) . He also followed with "Stopping worrying, a search for a more lighthearted life ."

Metro has been given permission to publish some passages from his book on Parkinson's here 'as an incentive for those interested'.

Jan Heemskerk is the former editor-in-chief of Playboy , MAN , and FHM . He also wrote for Telegraaf Vrouw , Libelle , Margriet , Viva , Saar , and Volkskrant Magazine . His self-help books of recent years have a clear purpose. Fit as a fiddle and alcohol-free, he was ready to embark on "the third half" of his life. Was, because suddenly Parkinson's disease threw a wrench in the works.

Despite the devastating news, Heemskerk decided to do what he does best: write, with humor and a healthy dose of self-deprecation, about how he's tackling Parkinson's as effectively as possible. Who knows, maybe fellow sufferers will learn something from his approach. Moreover, the Nederhorst den Berg resident became an ambassador and columnist for ParkinsonNL . With this independent organization, he aims to raise awareness of the disease, which is affecting a growing number of people .

Jan Heemskerk explores all possibilities to gain ground on this disease. He wants to be the Dutch Michael J. Fox, the actor who has been dealing with Parkinson's since 1990. But the author isn't just doing it for himself; quite the opposite. Heemskerk shares personal experiences and valuable tips for patients and their loved ones. Experts also speak. He even wants to go on a theater tour to reach even more people.

He offered a tip for outsiders via Telegraaf Vrij : let a "Parky," as Heemskerk calls his fellow sufferers, do as much as possible themselves. "I personally find it terrible when a stranger grabs my arm while I'm trying to get down a curb." And another piece of advice from his book: "Try not to let being pitiful get to you too much. Before you know it, you'll only be able to talk about your illness and start believing in your own drama."

Below you can read a passage from If Jan can do it… Parkinson's for beginners :

"How are you feeling now?" the neurologist finally asked. It was probably meant kindly, but I couldn't have said a word at that moment. I was completely dejected. And my wife, whom I'd called stunned from the car afterward—courteously in the parking lot—was at a loss for words. She hadn't even come with me to the hospital, because we'd never anticipated anything so serious. I'd never even heard of Parkinson's, let alone that I might have it myself.

"When are you going to die?" my wife almost asked, but she managed to keep it to herself. Maybe I should do a Google search first, you little cat. To complete the intake, I got an MRI scan a while later. Just to be sure there weren't any more scary abnormalities in my head. An MRI isn't fun. You're shoved deep into a tube with your head firmly wedged in. If you're a bit claustrophobic, you want out, and immediately. If you're sensitive to unexpected sounds, you're in for a treat, because an MRI sounds like all hell has broken loose, cranked up to volume ten with extra sulfur. They only got me in if my wife could secretly hold a foot. But don't let that scare you: I know people who thought it was a piece of cake. So don't pay too much attention to me.

Incidentally, everything else about the rest of my brain was fine. Look, I can't look inside someone else's head, of course, but we weren't exactly eager to learn everything about Parkinson's. If we'd understood correctly up until then, my body would function increasingly poorly in the coming years, with increasingly more and more severe symptoms and side effects. Ultimately, some essential part would fall victim to a defective neurotransmitter, and I would meet an untimely end. Or something like that. And that seemed like more than enough reason for wild panic.

For the first year and a half, two years, I deliberately buried my head as deeply as possible. My wife—the angel—would read everything about Parkinson's and only give me the good news. That way, I could get used to the idea, so to speak. And believe it or not: that denial worked very well for a while, a time I desperately needed to accept that I do indeed have a serious disease in my substantia nigra, one that could very well end horribly.

But not today, as they always say in war movies! Today it's over, done, enough. Today I'll straighten my back and go into battle. With this book, I'll try to do what I can to influence, cheer on what's worth celebrating, talk to whoever has a say. I hope you'll join me, otherwise I'll be so alone.

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