There are so many stories here and mine is about the same; the shock, the emotional and physical pain of PD. I was 40 when the first symptoms began. I was newly re-married. My children were ages 16, 10, 9 and 2. I denied the presence of a tremor, slower movement, depression, and fatigue. After two years of going it alone, I finally gave in and saw a doctor at the patient, insistence of my husband. I am a pianist and dancer. I could do neither any longer and I was dumbfounded, desolate, and drowning in unbelief at what was happening to me. I had to quit cooking because I burned and cut myself every time I tried to fix a meal. I could no longer tie my shoes or button a blouse. I was having a hard time swallowing. I was extremely depressed, could not sleep when I needed to, and had no ambition or ability to reason anything in my mind. I was dreaming, dreaming, dreaming goofy, scary things! I retreated into myself, did only the bare minimum to keep my kids going to school. None of us understood it. After a diagnosis and medication I improved somewhat although briefly. After my first neurologist told me that I would never get better and that I should get used to the idea that I would become disabled down the road about 10 years. I didn't take these words very easily.
In the last 6 years, I have studied, searched and tried many, many things to help me function. Holistic this and that, cell and brain supplements, emotional healing techniques, faith in God, anything that felt right. They have all, indeed helped. I can play the piano most of the time, go dancing once a week with my husband, teach dance once a week, keep my house up so so, stay in touch with my adult kids, my one grandaughter, but most of all, I love life, even with PD. It's precious. I still have down times; even nosedives complete with crash and burn but they do not last. Eventually I come back up, find my body and go on. PD is 'a friend who has come to teach me great truths!' It's not the preferred method of learning life's truths but I don't have a choice. I have such love and empathy for all and any who have suffered similar experiences. It's good to share; very good for me anyway. I appreciate all who have offered their feelings, opinions, and experience with PD in their life.
Tracy Anne
Friday, 19 June 2009
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
PD and me
I am now 43 years old and was officially diagnosed with Young onset Parkinson’s Disease on 21/10/2003, not a day i can easily forget. Looking back now i can see there were signs of PD many years before the diagnosis, a shaking hand and arm and a severe bout of depression all evident at least 8 years before the diagnosis. The shaking hand and arm were only noticeable whilst i was playing online games and at the time i just put this down to bad posture at the keyboard. The depression lasted 4 years and cost me my job at the time but i will go into this at a later date when i feel i can share this.
Around about 1998 i started a new job working for a local computer company, things were going great for 4 years until a customer noticed that all the time i was working on their server my left hand was constantly shaking. This came as a bit of a shock, i knew it shook whilst gaming but never noticed that it now shook at other times, i think this is more to do with it happening gradually and because its gradual its not noticed by you but is blatant to anyone that does not see you that often. After a discussion with the wife a doctors appointment was made to find out what was going on.
My GP told me after looking at the shaking and getting me to perform a few hand movements that it was definitely not PD and nothing to worry about but she would make an appointment to see a specialist, in the mean time i was prescribed some tablets to try and control the shakes. Taking the tablets for the first time it became apparent within an hour that something was wrong, when the floor starts to look like its rolling like a wave and things going on around you seem in slow motion its a sure bet something aint right…. After a quick couple phone calls to the doctors surgery it became clear that i was prescribed a dose far higher than i should have been and i just had to sleep it off and then start at the correct dose.
The visit to the first specialist was a barrage of physical tests in front of him and then a repeat of the same tests for his superior after he was asked to have a look too. The outcome of the tests was that we were told i had EBT (essential benign tremors) and not to worry as a lot of people had this condition and could i visit him again in 6 months.
Two 6 monthly visits later we finally plucked up the courage to corner the specialist and ask him what he actually thought was going on as it had become obvious it wasn’t EBT. He said his personal opinion was that it was Young onset Parkinson’s Disease and that i really needed to see someone specialising in that field, he agreed to make an appointment to see a good PD specialist in London.
On the date of the meeting we duly travelled to London via train and visited a few sights while we waited for the 4:15pm appointment. My wife even managed to get me on the London Eye which is a feat in itself as I’m scared of heights LOL. We made our way to The Cromwell Hospital, a walk along a long stretch of road, a right turn down a street and we were looking at the entrance to the hospital. Now you can call us country folk but I’ve never seen so many Rolls Royces, Mercedes etc in one place, I’ve also never seen so many chauffeurs hanging around outside having a smoke. We walked through the entrance and i thought we were in the wrong place, not a nurse or doctor in sight, the place looked like a hotel with a large reception desk and plush seating everywhere (our local hospital has those horrid plastic chairs) we approached the reception desk and while waiting to be served (LOL) i overheard the receptionist tell the gentleman in front that his blood test came to £397, my chin must have connected with the floor on hearing the price we knew we would have to pay to see this specialist but now my mind was whirling with thoughts of just how much this was going to cost us. The receptionist confirmed our booking and asked us to take a seat and the specialist would come and get us when it was time, a specialist would come and get us LOL we were used to a buzzer going off and our number being displayed telling us we could now see a doctor at our local.
At 3pm Dr Bains duly greeted us and took us into a consultation room, he listened to my story making notes all the while, he asked me to draw some shapes on a sheet of paper, to write a couple of sentences then got me to stand up and proceeded to get me to perform loads of physical tests, index finger to nose to straight in front and then the other hand etc etc. After performing these tests he sat me back down and wrote on his notes for nearly 5 minutes all the while i kept glancing at my wife and we both wondered when he would speak. He eventually put down his pen, looked straight at me and said “I`m afraid i have to tell you that you have PD” talk about the carpet being pulled from beneath you..we had done some research on the internet and knew it was a possibility the diagnosis could be PD but to actually be told it was PD was devastating! He said he would arrange some scans and that we need not worry about paying just yet as they would send a bill.
We walked out of the hospital, neither of us speaking, i felt my wife’s hand grasp mine in a steel like grip and we made our way along the main road. We were walking along a main road in London and i can honestly say there wasn’t a person on the pavement and only the odd car go past us which is just as well as i could feel the tears rolling down my cheeks and if it wasn’t for the vice like grip on my hand i think i would have sat down on the spot and just blubbed away. How women are so strong in exceptional circumstances i will never know but i thank my lucky stars i married such a strong person.
We made our way back to the station and finally in a packed station we discussed how we both felt, why do women always know the right things to say?
Our train was late arriving (someone had a heart attack on the train) we sat on the train discussing various things, whether to tell the children straight away etc, we were due to swap trains 22 miles from our home but due to the delay the train was cancelled so we sat in silence the last 22 miles in a taxi eventually arriving home at midnight.
A long day that will not be forgotten in a hurry!.
Ripley
Around about 1998 i started a new job working for a local computer company, things were going great for 4 years until a customer noticed that all the time i was working on their server my left hand was constantly shaking. This came as a bit of a shock, i knew it shook whilst gaming but never noticed that it now shook at other times, i think this is more to do with it happening gradually and because its gradual its not noticed by you but is blatant to anyone that does not see you that often. After a discussion with the wife a doctors appointment was made to find out what was going on.
My GP told me after looking at the shaking and getting me to perform a few hand movements that it was definitely not PD and nothing to worry about but she would make an appointment to see a specialist, in the mean time i was prescribed some tablets to try and control the shakes. Taking the tablets for the first time it became apparent within an hour that something was wrong, when the floor starts to look like its rolling like a wave and things going on around you seem in slow motion its a sure bet something aint right…. After a quick couple phone calls to the doctors surgery it became clear that i was prescribed a dose far higher than i should have been and i just had to sleep it off and then start at the correct dose.
The visit to the first specialist was a barrage of physical tests in front of him and then a repeat of the same tests for his superior after he was asked to have a look too. The outcome of the tests was that we were told i had EBT (essential benign tremors) and not to worry as a lot of people had this condition and could i visit him again in 6 months.
Two 6 monthly visits later we finally plucked up the courage to corner the specialist and ask him what he actually thought was going on as it had become obvious it wasn’t EBT. He said his personal opinion was that it was Young onset Parkinson’s Disease and that i really needed to see someone specialising in that field, he agreed to make an appointment to see a good PD specialist in London.
On the date of the meeting we duly travelled to London via train and visited a few sights while we waited for the 4:15pm appointment. My wife even managed to get me on the London Eye which is a feat in itself as I’m scared of heights LOL. We made our way to The Cromwell Hospital, a walk along a long stretch of road, a right turn down a street and we were looking at the entrance to the hospital. Now you can call us country folk but I’ve never seen so many Rolls Royces, Mercedes etc in one place, I’ve also never seen so many chauffeurs hanging around outside having a smoke. We walked through the entrance and i thought we were in the wrong place, not a nurse or doctor in sight, the place looked like a hotel with a large reception desk and plush seating everywhere (our local hospital has those horrid plastic chairs) we approached the reception desk and while waiting to be served (LOL) i overheard the receptionist tell the gentleman in front that his blood test came to £397, my chin must have connected with the floor on hearing the price we knew we would have to pay to see this specialist but now my mind was whirling with thoughts of just how much this was going to cost us. The receptionist confirmed our booking and asked us to take a seat and the specialist would come and get us when it was time, a specialist would come and get us LOL we were used to a buzzer going off and our number being displayed telling us we could now see a doctor at our local.
At 3pm Dr Bains duly greeted us and took us into a consultation room, he listened to my story making notes all the while, he asked me to draw some shapes on a sheet of paper, to write a couple of sentences then got me to stand up and proceeded to get me to perform loads of physical tests, index finger to nose to straight in front and then the other hand etc etc. After performing these tests he sat me back down and wrote on his notes for nearly 5 minutes all the while i kept glancing at my wife and we both wondered when he would speak. He eventually put down his pen, looked straight at me and said “I`m afraid i have to tell you that you have PD” talk about the carpet being pulled from beneath you..we had done some research on the internet and knew it was a possibility the diagnosis could be PD but to actually be told it was PD was devastating! He said he would arrange some scans and that we need not worry about paying just yet as they would send a bill.
We walked out of the hospital, neither of us speaking, i felt my wife’s hand grasp mine in a steel like grip and we made our way along the main road. We were walking along a main road in London and i can honestly say there wasn’t a person on the pavement and only the odd car go past us which is just as well as i could feel the tears rolling down my cheeks and if it wasn’t for the vice like grip on my hand i think i would have sat down on the spot and just blubbed away. How women are so strong in exceptional circumstances i will never know but i thank my lucky stars i married such a strong person.
We made our way back to the station and finally in a packed station we discussed how we both felt, why do women always know the right things to say?
Our train was late arriving (someone had a heart attack on the train) we sat on the train discussing various things, whether to tell the children straight away etc, we were due to swap trains 22 miles from our home but due to the delay the train was cancelled so we sat in silence the last 22 miles in a taxi eventually arriving home at midnight.
A long day that will not be forgotten in a hurry!.
Ripley
Monday, 4 May 2009
I'm a doctor, I can cope !!
I have read the other blogs and can identify with much of what has been written.
Where my story differs is that I knew what was wrong but tried over many months to ignore it as being the usual vivid imagination of a medic. At the age of 42 I had been qualified as a doctor for 20 years and had been a GP for major part of that time.
I told no one of my fears. Eventually I could stand it no longer and went to my GP and told her I wanted referring to a neurologist because I had PD. I don’t think she really believed me but referred me anyway.
When the consultant received the letter he rang me at home to come to his clinic that day (I know how lucky I am to have had such a professional courtesy). My husband was at home when I took the call and this was the first time he knew anything was wrong!
He was devastated as he learnt in under 2 hours what I had been denying to myself for 6 months-I had PD and he knew what that meant-the internet “enlightened” him more when he got home –unfortunately completely wrong –he thought Id be dead by 7-8 years post diagnosis and that is complete rubbish-stressful for both of us to say the least. Perhaps others can begin to understand my hatred of misinformation on the internet; it devastated our lives for many months.
The people who were let in on the news were but a handful. I didn’t want my kids to know and was worried that someone would let slip some comment. They were approaching GCSE’s and Alevels. They were not told for over 4 years and they have told me that they are glad they didn’t know but feel guilty at not being there for me.
I was used to getting on with things by myself and not needing outside help, not letting my guard down, I was the helper, supporter, carer and I could cope. And I was a GP so I knew about illness, why would I need a support group! And to admit to the thought of not being in control was terrifying.
Realising that you can talk to others who understand and that you actually cope better by sharing with them is quite a new experience for me.
Finding PDUK through PDS forum transformed my life and I have met some remarkable people who have helped me in practical and psychological terms. The 2 way support -being able to help and be helped in return has been such a positive feature in my life.
The sense of isolation has diminished so much and also I have found it easier to discuss with "old" friends after learning to be more open with "new" PD friends. A very major step for a control freak.
I have always been a glass half full sort of person, and having lost several friends in their 40’s who will never see their kids graduate, marry, have kids etc, I still see my present and future positively-prefer to be cured like everyone-but I have discovered that there are lots of opportunities and activities I never knew about or had the time for to explore whilst waiting for the cure-but if the cure happened tomorrow that would not be a day too soon!
Karen
Where my story differs is that I knew what was wrong but tried over many months to ignore it as being the usual vivid imagination of a medic. At the age of 42 I had been qualified as a doctor for 20 years and had been a GP for major part of that time.
I told no one of my fears. Eventually I could stand it no longer and went to my GP and told her I wanted referring to a neurologist because I had PD. I don’t think she really believed me but referred me anyway.
When the consultant received the letter he rang me at home to come to his clinic that day (I know how lucky I am to have had such a professional courtesy). My husband was at home when I took the call and this was the first time he knew anything was wrong!
He was devastated as he learnt in under 2 hours what I had been denying to myself for 6 months-I had PD and he knew what that meant-the internet “enlightened” him more when he got home –unfortunately completely wrong –he thought Id be dead by 7-8 years post diagnosis and that is complete rubbish-stressful for both of us to say the least. Perhaps others can begin to understand my hatred of misinformation on the internet; it devastated our lives for many months.
The people who were let in on the news were but a handful. I didn’t want my kids to know and was worried that someone would let slip some comment. They were approaching GCSE’s and Alevels. They were not told for over 4 years and they have told me that they are glad they didn’t know but feel guilty at not being there for me.
I was used to getting on with things by myself and not needing outside help, not letting my guard down, I was the helper, supporter, carer and I could cope. And I was a GP so I knew about illness, why would I need a support group! And to admit to the thought of not being in control was terrifying.
Realising that you can talk to others who understand and that you actually cope better by sharing with them is quite a new experience for me.
Finding PDUK through PDS forum transformed my life and I have met some remarkable people who have helped me in practical and psychological terms. The 2 way support -being able to help and be helped in return has been such a positive feature in my life.
The sense of isolation has diminished so much and also I have found it easier to discuss with "old" friends after learning to be more open with "new" PD friends. A very major step for a control freak.
I have always been a glass half full sort of person, and having lost several friends in their 40’s who will never see their kids graduate, marry, have kids etc, I still see my present and future positively-prefer to be cured like everyone-but I have discovered that there are lots of opportunities and activities I never knew about or had the time for to explore whilst waiting for the cure-but if the cure happened tomorrow that would not be a day too soon!
Karen
Sam - Fighting PD
I have Parkinson's disease and im here to share my story and fight this disease with everything I have got!!
I first noticed a tremor in the little finger of my left hand when I was 19. I ignored it at first thinking it was probably a sports injury or trapped nerve, as at the time I was going to the gym and swimming 5 days a week. I also trained in martial arts 6 days a week for at least 4 hours every day. I started feeling really stiff and tired after training, a lot more than normal; I just thought this was due to the amount of sport I was doing every week, and that I was just overdoing it a bit. About 2 months later, my mum asked me if I was OK. 'What do you mean?' I replied. She told me she had noticed that my walking was not so much a walk but a shuffle and I was hunched over. I looked like an old lady walking down the road, not a 19 year old just starting out in life. She had also noticed that all my movements were slow and that I was dragging my left leg. Eventually, after I had completely worn out the side of my trainers, and the fact that I could not stop tremoring or even move normally, I decided to go and see the doctor. The fact that my mum had been nagging me for the last 5 months to go to the doctors, also probably had something to do with it.
So off I go to the doctor. After lots of poking, prodding and blood tests, I was referred to a neurologist, who said two little words that were to have a massive impact on the rest of my life. Those words were 'Parkinson's Disease'. By this time the tremor had spread to my hand and not only was I shuffling, but I was also very stiff and moving very slowly. The neurologist did all the poking, prodding and blood tests that my doctor had done, plus a few more and a million questions to get a full medical history. I also had MRI scans and tests to rule out just about everything you can imagine. This happened over the course of 2 years.
By the time I was 21, I had 2 neurologists. One doctor said I definitely had PD, but the second doctor did not believe that someone as young as I was at the time, could possibly have PD. Eventually I went to a third neurologist who also thought it was PD. My doctor started me on Parkinson’s medication to ultimately confirm the diagnosis. The drugs worked.
Since then I have gone on to complete and gain a PhD in chemistry and a 1st class LLB law degree. So here I am, its 2009, im now 28 years old and have been living with Parkinson’s for over 9 years. Without medication I cannot function, but with the meds comes the side-effects. It's a raw deal, but I decided it was time to stand up and fight. So look out PD, because here I come!!
"You can give Parkinson's all the room it needs, but never give it all the room it wants!" -
Sam Clarke 2009
I first noticed a tremor in the little finger of my left hand when I was 19. I ignored it at first thinking it was probably a sports injury or trapped nerve, as at the time I was going to the gym and swimming 5 days a week. I also trained in martial arts 6 days a week for at least 4 hours every day. I started feeling really stiff and tired after training, a lot more than normal; I just thought this was due to the amount of sport I was doing every week, and that I was just overdoing it a bit. About 2 months later, my mum asked me if I was OK. 'What do you mean?' I replied. She told me she had noticed that my walking was not so much a walk but a shuffle and I was hunched over. I looked like an old lady walking down the road, not a 19 year old just starting out in life. She had also noticed that all my movements were slow and that I was dragging my left leg. Eventually, after I had completely worn out the side of my trainers, and the fact that I could not stop tremoring or even move normally, I decided to go and see the doctor. The fact that my mum had been nagging me for the last 5 months to go to the doctors, also probably had something to do with it.
So off I go to the doctor. After lots of poking, prodding and blood tests, I was referred to a neurologist, who said two little words that were to have a massive impact on the rest of my life. Those words were 'Parkinson's Disease'. By this time the tremor had spread to my hand and not only was I shuffling, but I was also very stiff and moving very slowly. The neurologist did all the poking, prodding and blood tests that my doctor had done, plus a few more and a million questions to get a full medical history. I also had MRI scans and tests to rule out just about everything you can imagine. This happened over the course of 2 years.
By the time I was 21, I had 2 neurologists. One doctor said I definitely had PD, but the second doctor did not believe that someone as young as I was at the time, could possibly have PD. Eventually I went to a third neurologist who also thought it was PD. My doctor started me on Parkinson’s medication to ultimately confirm the diagnosis. The drugs worked.
Since then I have gone on to complete and gain a PhD in chemistry and a 1st class LLB law degree. So here I am, its 2009, im now 28 years old and have been living with Parkinson’s for over 9 years. Without medication I cannot function, but with the meds comes the side-effects. It's a raw deal, but I decided it was time to stand up and fight. So look out PD, because here I come!!
"You can give Parkinson's all the room it needs, but never give it all the room it wants!" -
Sam Clarke 2009
Saturday, 25 April 2009
An Optimistic View by Annie
Winston Churchill said “I am an optimist - it does not seem to be much use being anything else. ” Which is very much how I feel in relation to Parkinson's. There is no point in being anything else, there is nothing I can do about it. There is no point in fighting it. There is no point in railing against it. Why me? Becomes, Why not me?
Was it always thus? No, it wasn't. It has taken nearly four years to reach this plateau.
It started with a tremor in my arm. I ignored it, a trapped nerve I thought. My GP reassured me it was not Parkinson's; not much of a reassurance since if it wasn't, what was it? MS, a tumour, motor neurone disease? He referred me to a neurologist who watched me walk in. a few tests and “I'm afraid you have Parkinson's,” he said.
The world, for a split second, stopped turning for me. I retreated into a silent dark place where fear and panic attacked my soul like black birds of prey. “Are you all right?” his voice echoed from far away. “I'm fine,” I lied.
Such emotions did not last, they could not, I would not permit them. I'd deal with this.
Without the medication I was put on I wonder if I would have dealt with this in the way I have – how fortunate we are. Without the support of my loving family and friends I doubt I would have coped – how lucky I am. It could have been worse is my chosen mantra. It won't kill me. Some days it hurts like hell. Some days I cry.
But I am an optimist. Something will turn up, a cure will come. For I remind myself that optimism and hope are kissing cousins.
Annie B
Was it always thus? No, it wasn't. It has taken nearly four years to reach this plateau.
It started with a tremor in my arm. I ignored it, a trapped nerve I thought. My GP reassured me it was not Parkinson's; not much of a reassurance since if it wasn't, what was it? MS, a tumour, motor neurone disease? He referred me to a neurologist who watched me walk in. a few tests and “I'm afraid you have Parkinson's,” he said.
The world, for a split second, stopped turning for me. I retreated into a silent dark place where fear and panic attacked my soul like black birds of prey. “Are you all right?” his voice echoed from far away. “I'm fine,” I lied.
Such emotions did not last, they could not, I would not permit them. I'd deal with this.
Without the medication I was put on I wonder if I would have dealt with this in the way I have – how fortunate we are. Without the support of my loving family and friends I doubt I would have coped – how lucky I am. It could have been worse is my chosen mantra. It won't kill me. Some days it hurts like hell. Some days I cry.
But I am an optimist. Something will turn up, a cure will come. For I remind myself that optimism and hope are kissing cousins.
Annie B
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
My journey with Parkinson's
It was in the fall of 1999 and I was frantically making appointment after appointment with my doctor to as certain what was wrong with me. My husband had just been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and I was trying to accept that and was just learning what I was to confront with that horrible monster. I was sure something was very physically wrong. However, at this time, I was diagnosed with a deep depressive illness and was put on antidepressant. I couldn't accept the fact that my tremor in the left hand was psychological as the psychiatrist said. After a few months, I made an appointment with a neurologist and was subsequently diagnosed with Parkinson's. The Requip was begun , however I had a very difficult time adjusting to the medication. The neurologist persevered and eventually I had no more adverse side effects.
It is now 2009 and my condition has progressed very slowly ( or so my doctor tells me). I now have added carbodopa/levadopa to the Requip and still am able to live alone, drive my car, and generally be independent. I do have difficulty getting around in the morning, have my housework done by someone I hire, .
My friends are wonderful with me and are very helpful and patient. They do not understand though the inward pain and anxiety I have. I suppose no one but another PD sufferer can empathize with me properly. I suffer from insomnia and suppose always will. I am determined to live my life as fully as possible and sometimes I go when I have to use a cane to lean on for strength. I am so thankful that we have this forum to share our victories and defeats.
Posted by Bunny
It is now 2009 and my condition has progressed very slowly ( or so my doctor tells me). I now have added carbodopa/levadopa to the Requip and still am able to live alone, drive my car, and generally be independent. I do have difficulty getting around in the morning, have my housework done by someone I hire, .
My friends are wonderful with me and are very helpful and patient. They do not understand though the inward pain and anxiety I have. I suppose no one but another PD sufferer can empathize with me properly. I suffer from insomnia and suppose always will. I am determined to live my life as fully as possible and sometimes I go when I have to use a cane to lean on for strength. I am so thankful that we have this forum to share our victories and defeats.
Posted by Bunny
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Smurf - Down Under
Hi I am a new member. I became member of the Parkinsons Club 7yr ago, but others had noticed little things earlier but had not said anything. A year prior to diagnosis I had just started teaching, and was still new, keen and enthusiatic. One of my student would often ask if I had a big weekend, not being a drinker, it took me a long time to realise he must have seen my tremours.
I also started to learn to horse ride, I was told it takes 100 falls to make a good rider, I was going to be fantastic at the rate I was having unplanned dismounts. I went to GP who referred me to neurologist with maybe a touch of Parkinson's. In the intervening 4 weeks I was riding my wifes horse and came off at a canter onto a rock wall, breaking my arm.
The neuro suggested i dont ride anymore, I didn't listen to that bit, and with the aid of some good drugs, I have come of my horse less in the last 7 yr than that year before diagnosis, I certainly have not gone any slower riding, in fact I am jumping. The neuro said riding was good exercise, but didn't like the jumping.
I will never look elegant riding, but it has given me a lot of pleasure through some very difficult years. My horse Zac is a very naughty boy when I am on the ground, he has bitten me and many others and he can be just plain difficult, pulling back etc. But when I am riding he looks after me, like when I slip to the left he will often bounce me back to the center of the saddle. If I m not sitting correct coming t a jump he will just slow to a walk and not go over.But for an old Appy he has a turn of speed and has been clocked by GPS doing 44 kmh.
As with many of the men with early onset Parkinson's my wife left me, but after a couple of years she has become a good friend. I have remarried a lovely lady from Thailand.
I finnished teaching a year ago, teaching electronics became very difficult, fine soldering and everything had to be typed, which was taking me forever, plus by te afternoon I was so tired I felt like I was a zombie, finding it hard to lift one foot in front of another.
I am still involved on the board of DattaVic, Design and Technology Teachers Assoc. And provide some professional development. I also tinker about my house, it just takes lot longer these days.
I live in Geelong, Victoria,Australia
Smurf
I also started to learn to horse ride, I was told it takes 100 falls to make a good rider, I was going to be fantastic at the rate I was having unplanned dismounts. I went to GP who referred me to neurologist with maybe a touch of Parkinson's. In the intervening 4 weeks I was riding my wifes horse and came off at a canter onto a rock wall, breaking my arm.
The neuro suggested i dont ride anymore, I didn't listen to that bit, and with the aid of some good drugs, I have come of my horse less in the last 7 yr than that year before diagnosis, I certainly have not gone any slower riding, in fact I am jumping. The neuro said riding was good exercise, but didn't like the jumping.
I will never look elegant riding, but it has given me a lot of pleasure through some very difficult years. My horse Zac is a very naughty boy when I am on the ground, he has bitten me and many others and he can be just plain difficult, pulling back etc. But when I am riding he looks after me, like when I slip to the left he will often bounce me back to the center of the saddle. If I m not sitting correct coming t a jump he will just slow to a walk and not go over.But for an old Appy he has a turn of speed and has been clocked by GPS doing 44 kmh.
As with many of the men with early onset Parkinson's my wife left me, but after a couple of years she has become a good friend. I have remarried a lovely lady from Thailand.
I finnished teaching a year ago, teaching electronics became very difficult, fine soldering and everything had to be typed, which was taking me forever, plus by te afternoon I was so tired I felt like I was a zombie, finding it hard to lift one foot in front of another.
I am still involved on the board of DattaVic, Design and Technology Teachers Assoc. And provide some professional development. I also tinker about my house, it just takes lot longer these days.
I live in Geelong, Victoria,Australia
Smurf
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