I’ve spent most of my life in the tech industry, so when I got my diagnosis in 2013, I immediately started looking for ways to track and understand what was happening to my body. When I found StrivePD in 2022, it just clicked. I had a way to organize and make sense of my condition objectively.
In the beginning, my symptoms were subtle. My arm didn’t swing normally and typing got harder. But over time, the disease affected my ability to work, walk, and think clearly. Brain fog would come and go. Some days I felt sharp and articulate. On other days, I struggled to finish a sentence.
What changed everything for me recently was undergoing Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). Since then, I’ve felt like a new person. It’s not perfect, but my “off” times have decreased. I now feel more like myself again.
I’ve realized that managing Parkinson’s is an ongoing adjustment. That’s where StrivePD continues to be a lifeline. I use it to track my medications, exercise, symptoms, and stress levels. It’s not just an app, but more like a personal coach. I’ve been able to log changes, run little experiments, and show that data to my neurologist. In fact, it was the app’s trend data that helped kickstart the DBS conversation in the first place. With StrivePD, I saw my dyskinesia getting worse over time. This is what gave me the confidence to ask my specialist, “Is it time for something more?”
Also, instead of bringing in a pile of handwritten notes to my care team, I can now pull up clean and concise summaries of all the data the app has collected. Whether it’s the meds I take, when I exercise, or mood reports, I can track how it all connects to my symptoms and share that with my doctors to help them make more informed decisions on my treatment.
The app has also helped me plan my life better. I don’t drive much anymore, but when I do, I can time my medications because StrivePD informs me when I’m at my best. My family has also gotten more involved. My wife and kids now ask about my data and even want to start tracking their own health. It’s sparked conversations about what we can all do better together.
From stress, to sleep, and the timing of my medications, StrivePD gives me more insights into how different things affect my symptoms. This has been especially important following my DBS surgery. For example, mornings are usually my best time, but as the day unfolds and stress builds, I can feel the difference. StrivePD helps me visualize that pattern. I can spot when I’m likely to feel dyskinetic or foggy and adjust accordingly. It’s helped me become more proactive instead of reactive. Whether it's scheduling a commute during a low-stress window or spacing out my meds just right, those small adjustments add up to a more manageable day.
What I love most is that StrivePD gives me control. I’m not just reacting to Parkinson’s but proactively participating in my care, shaping my days with better insights and holding on to the parts of me that matter most. It hasn’t just changed how I manage Parkinson’s, it’s altered how I live with it.
StrivePD is not just a tracker. It’s a partner, a coach, and in some ways, a friend who’s always there to help me figure things out.
