Thank you for your kind words.

I wish you good luck too.

Elaine
----- Original Message -----
From: "Emily and Julian Brinac" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 6:49 AM
Subject: Re: Forgetfulness


> Elaine,
> Do not blame yourself too much. In my opinion there are many reasons for
> forgetfulness, such as too much medication, not enough medication,
> pressure from job, surrounding, relationship, etc. In my particular
> case, although my husband has been just diagnosed and he is not on any
> medication as yet, his cognitive function is progressively impaired,
> partly due to the anxiety itself. We discussed certain things and when
> we go back to them sometimes the matter is new to him 100% and he says
> he does not remember previous discussion or he never herd me talking
> about it. Regardless of the circumstances, I hope you will develop a
> meaningful relationship with your boyfriend. By you knowing and
> understanding PD will help you to challenge the life ahead with what
> appears to be a person that you greatly care about. I congratulate you
> that you came out on open with your feelings. There are not many people
> that can do that as openly as you did. GOOD LUCK!
> Emily
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Elaine War" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2002 7:47 PM
> Subject: Re: Forgetfulness
>
>
> > THANK YOU SO MUCH!! You didn't tell me anything I didn't already know.
> I
> > just chose not to see it!!
> > I appreciate your bluntness. Yes, I have imposed stress and I should
> have
> > known better.
> >
> > All I can say is "thank you, thank you" for a HUGE wake up call!
> >
> > Elaine
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2002 4:13 PM
> > Subject: Re: Forgetfulness
> >
> >
> > > > My boyfriend is in a high stress job which requires a tremendous
> amount
> > of
> > > detailed concentration. As long as I have known him - about a year
> (he has
> > > been diagnosed with Parkinson's for about 8 years) he has been
> forgetful
> > and
> > > I have no way of knowing how much was just him and how much can be
> > > attributed to Parkinson's.
> > > >
> > > > At the moment he is under extreme pressure as he is winding down
> his
> > job -
> > > thankfully! I have begged him for the last few weeks to go and see
> his PD
> > > doc but he insists on waiting until he finishes the final project he
> is
> > > working on which will be next week (but that seems a lifetime away).
> There
> > > has been a definite deterioration in his condition recently but I
> was
> > > horrified today to find that he has no recollection of a fairly
> indepth
> > > conversation we had yesterday. He said if he thought hard enough it
> might
> > > come back to him.
> > > >
> > > > Does anyone have experience of this and if so do you think it is
> stress
> > > related or purely PD related and
> > >
> > >        Elaine,
> > >
> > >              I think it is inappropriate and unfair for me to
> speculate
> > about
> > > the psychological and cognitive state of your boyfriend and the
> dynamics
> > of
> > > your relationship with your boyfriend.  But most PWP experience
> > > "deterioration," greater difficulties and aggravation of symptoms
> when
> > under
> > > stress.  Here your boyfriend has stress from his job, which,
> although this
> > > stress is apparently a considerable amount of stress, it will end in
> a
> > week.
> > > He also has stress imposed by you,  described as you as pressure to
> see a
> > > doctor about his deterioration and pressure to recall a specific,
> lengthy
> > > conversation with you.
> > >
> > >        I was evaluated by a neuropsychologist because I was
> experiencing
> > > cognitive problems after I was diagnosed with PD.  I was concerned
> about
> > the
> > > change in my memory,. but the psychologist said that my memory
> seemed to
> > be
> > > functioning at a rather high level (although he had no prior testing
> and
> > > evaluation to establish a baseline for functioning of my memory
> prior to
> > the
> > > diagnosis for PD).  He said a problem, which was characteristic of
> PWPs,
> > was
> > > with "attention and concentration."  The problems with attention and
> > > concentration could block information from getting into the memory.
> Also,
> > if
> > > pressured or under stress, when expected to recall information from
> > memory, I
> > > might not be able to intentionally recall information from my
> memory.
> > >
> > >        When I was first diagnosed with PD, I was given the standard
> > > information that PD was a movement disorder with specific physical
> > symptoms.
> > > I was later given, or found, information that PD does effect
> cognitive
> > > functioning--everything for that matter!  My employment disability
> was
> > based
> > > upon the neuropsychologist's evaluation and my problems with
> cognitive
> > > functioning.   I have a medical textbook which is devoted entirely
> to the
> > > cognitive effects of PD.  Apparently many, many PWP have,
> particularly in
> > the
> > > later stages of the disease, problems with cognitive functioning
> and/or
> > > dementia.  And these problems, as well as physical symptoms, are
> clearly
> > > aggravated by stress.
> > >
> > >        You think your boyfriend needs to see his PD doctor about his
> > recent
> > > "deterioration."  You are probably correct.  I would just suggest,
> since
> > his
> > > major stress from his job will end in one week and he seems
> unwilling
> > anyway
> > > to see his doctor until the job is finished, that you consider
> reducing
> > the
> > > stress you put on him about your relationship and about seeing the
> doctor
> > > until after his job stress ends.  This suggestion is not meant to be
> > > flippant, or insensitive to your needs or your stress and discomfort
> in
> > the
> > > past several weeks, and it does not foreclose the possiblity of
> emergency,
> > or
> > > more immediate, intervention if you deem it necessary.  His response
> to
> > you
> > > that he might be able to recall your conversation later after he
> thinks
> > about
> > > it, when he is no longer under stress, and stress  from you to
> recall that
> > > specific information, indicates to me that it is possible he may
> have the
> > > combination of cognitive problems and stress which I and many other
> PWPs
> > > have.  You are the only person who can know if his comments are due
> to his
> > > personality or "Mr. P.D. talking."
> > >
> > >        Hopefully, once your boyfriend's stress is removed, or
> becomes more
> > > manageable, his condition will also improve.  And, then, the burdens
> and
> > > stresses on you, and the relationship, should also be improve.  Just
> some
> > > armchair psychologizing from a PWP.       Katie
> > >
> >
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