There Isn't One Parkinson's Journey: Rizwan's story
Rizwan was diagnosed with Parkinson's in January 2020. He talks to us about his diagnosis and how he celebrates Ramadan even though he's unable to fast.
I’m Rizwan. I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in January 2020 when I was 49 years old.
My initial symptoms were difficulty with walking and reduced swinging of my right arm. My handwriting became slower.
When I received the diagnosis, it was quite stressful. I was new to the country, having moved to the UK only 6 months before the diagnosis. My family and I were still in the settling-in phase. Within weeks after my diagnosis, the coronavirus pandemic hit, exacerbating the feeling of loneliness.
I was able to fast during Ramadan for the first year after my diagnosis because I wasn’t on any medication. But it made me feel quite tired at the end of the day. Sadly, I could not continue fasting after the first year because I had to take medication at regular intervals.
Fasting during Ramadan was very important for me. I had fasted all my adult life. It was a hard decision to miss out on fasting but I got a lot of support from my family, particularly my wife and children, to help me come to terms with my condition and its implications.
Even though I’m unable to fast, I still observe the month of Ramadan with special prayers, completing the recitation of the whole Quran, and of course, joining my family and friends at iftar time.
If you’re living with Parkinson’s and celebrate Ramadan, you might be able to do some of the fasts. You may not be able to do the whole month but if your medical condition allows, you can fast for a few days if you want to.
If you can’t fast, there are other activities that you can still participate in such as prayers, reading the Quran and joining the iftar. And then, there is Eid to look forward to! Celebrate the Ramadan season with your loved ones as best as you can.
Celebrating Ramadan with Parkinson's
If you have Parkinson’s, it might not be possible to fast during Ramadan.
"If you can’t fast, there are other activities that you can still participate in such as prayers, reading the Quran and joining the iftar. And then, there is Eid to look forward to! Celebrate it with your family as best as you can."
If you're unsure if you can keep fasting or want to learn more, we're here to support you.