i agree with you sentiment entirely greg
i am as yet undiagnosed but feel that there are only a few people to whom i
want to divulge the possibility
one dear friend with whom i shared then regaled me with a story about
someone she had read about in a book blah blah blah ya de ya ya de ya
chamber of horrors story which, from my connection with the net i feel was
not pd
i didnt need that input
i am still struggling with the possible loss of my physical self as i know
it
i also feel that many people dont understand the syndrome
as i am older and was ready to retire there was no issue about work but had
i been younger i feel i would have kept my *secret* for as long as possible
we are gloriously different and our response to pd is as diverse
judy


>From: Greg and/or Diane Sterling <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: hiding awareness?
>Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 13:12:16 -0400
>
>It's all well and good to be willing to reveal your PD or any other
>illness to the world and relieve yourself of the heavy burden that you
>are carrying, but in reality it's not so cut and dry.  There are many
>variables to consider before you divulge something as personal and
>devastating as your deteriorating health.  Especially if your income,
>health insurance, and your families' standard of living depends on your
>earning potential.  I would advise anyone to consider the pros and cons
>as they pertain to their particular situation before jumping into any
>decision.  It's a very personal matter and no two cases are alike.
>
>Do what's right for you and your family then worry about the broader
>dilemma of public awareness for PD.  There are enough of us that are
>beyond that point in our lives to take up the cause.
>
>Greg
>47/35/35
>
>janet paterson wrote:
>
> > hi all
> >
> > applying some of the benefit of 20-20 hindsight
> > it seems to me
> > that our current problems with 'awareness' of pd
> > on all sorts of levels
> > work medical home self
> > have some pretty strong roots in the concept of 'hiding' pd
> > on all sorts of levels
> > work medical home self
> > not the least of which
> > might be part and parcel
> > of personal acknowledgment and acceptance
> > of a profound change in our individual physical health
> > not
> > a matter of giving in and rolling over and playing dead
> > but
> > a matter of acknowledging and grieving the perceived losses
> > and then moving forward with it all
> >
> > in terms of my work identity
> > i thought the very worst thing that could happen to me was to
> > 'go bankrupt'
> > but that turned out to be the right thing to do
> >
> > in terms of my youthful exuberance
> > i thought that the very worst thing that could happen to me was to
> > 'have an illegitimate child'
> > but that turned out to be a joy
> >
> > in terms of my physical health
> > i thought that the very worst thing that could happen to me was to
> > 'lose my independence'
> > i'm still working on this one, but the illusions are fading here too
> >
> > hiding anything out of perceived fear shame embarassment
> > only allows it to fester and strengthen
> > in the dark
> >
> > brought out into the light of day
> > [sometimes kicking and screaming, granted]
> > it fizzles and fogs
> > and is gone
> >
> > janet
> >
> > janet paterson
> > 53 now / 41 dx / 37 onset
> > 613 256 8340 / PO Box 171 Almonte Ontario K0A 1A0 Canada
> > visit my website "a new voice" at: http://www.geocities.com/janet313/

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