Phil,
Great advice and information rolled into one.  Others should take this post as a model of what this List should be.

Greg
48/35/35

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phil Tompkins" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, December 15, 2000 7:10 AM
Subject: Re: I am afraid and feel as though I am losing control.


> Dear Doug,
> 
> As you recognize, you are now near or at a big "bridge". You are
> under a lot of stress, from your job, from having to cope when
> you're not feeling up to par, from having PD itself, and from anxiety
> about the future. Stress makes your symptoms worse. Depression
> is often PD related.
> 
> Perhaps your meds are not optimum and some improvements can
> be made. But you will have to stop working sooner than you want
> to, perhaps sooner than you think, and when you go out you want
> to do it on your terms as much as possible (your decision and
> reason, not theirs).
> 
> You work for a large corporation, SW Bell, and hopefully you have
> signed on for their employee short and long term disability
> insurance plans.  First thing to do is find out about and apply for
> short term disability and at the same time find out about long term.
> 
> Don't try to keep working as long as physically possible, because
> you may overestimate what you can do. ASAP identify yourself to
> your personnel department as a person with a disability, as a
> protection measure. It's better they know you have PD than
> mistakenly believe you have a drug or drinking problem. If you think
> you can work a little longer, you may need to negotiate
> "reasonable accommodations" (work schedule or assignment
> changes) with your employer under the Americans with Disability
> act.  See Americans with Disabilities Act Document Center,
> http://janweb.icdi.wvu.edu/kinder/.
> 
> You need also to find out more about PD related medical and
> support resources in your area. For medical call
> 
> University of Kansas Medical Center, Department of Neurology in
> Kansas City (913) 588-6970 or
> 
> University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita
> Faculty Physician Exchange, (262-6262).
> 
> For support groups (if these numbers are still current) call
> 
> APDA Southwest Kansas Chapter referral center
> 2322 Brent Drive
> Dodge City, KS 67801
> Mrs. Johnson, President
> 316-225-7438
> 
> Sedgwick County Early Onset support group
> 316-584-6449
> Gene Melton
> 
> Sedgwick County Parkinson Support Group
> Joan Huffman
> (316) 529-3926
> 
> Your wife may benefit from talking with other spouses of PWPs.
> 
> Best of luck.
> 
> Phil Tompkins
> Amherst Mass.
> Age 62/dx 1990
> 
> 
> On 15 Dec 2000, at 3:06, Doug Brown wrote:
> 
> > I subscribed to this list looking for answers maybe to see
> > if anyone else is dealing with the same issues as I am. I have
> > been lurking for a while so if I may I would like to introduce
> > myself. My name is Doug Brown, 42 years old "birthday today"
> > I live in Wichita Kansas, marred to a wonderful loving lady Debby.
> > I have 4 children and 3 grand children.  I have been diagnosed
> > with PD for 10 years. I am afraid and feel as though I am losing
> > control. I may be losing my job because of my illness. I am a
> > Computer Technician and have had several of my customers
> > complain that they no longer feel confident in my ability to support
> > them. One of them called and complained about my apparent DTs.
> > My employer has told me to take 3 weeks medical leave to get things
> > under control before I come back to work. I have been passing out
> > "not good when you drive 1000 miles a week" get confused easily
> > and forget important information. I have been freezing lately and have
> > fell a few times. I have lost 30 pounds in the last month and seem to
> > be in a deep depression. My children and my wife ask me why I am
> > upset and when I say I'm not they say that I always look like I am mad
> > or upset and that I never smile any more. I have talked with my Doc
> > about this and have started taking anti-depressants and made appt to
> > see mental heath consoler. Will see a new Neurologist next month but I
> > am afraid that I may lose my job before I get things under control. How
> > do I talk with my wife about this she is very supportive, but she seems
> > to tune out when ever I talk about Parkinson's I feel as though she is
> > afraid to face the fact that my PD has progressed to this point. We
> > have talked in the past "years ago" and she has said we will cross
> > that bridge when we come to it. Well I think we have reached that
> > bridge but we are both afraid to set foot on it. Any suggestions,
> > advise would be appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks
> > Doug
>