At 01:02 PM 4/6/2002 -0400, you wrote:
>Hi Linda,

HI Jenn, I was diagnosed when i was 45 but I knew i had PD at least 6
months prior. When I got the diagnosis from the Neuro i walked down to the
check in counter because my wife worked there. I told her
That I had PD and as i was telling her i could  not believe what was coming
from my mouth. There was a kind of unreal sense that i had. IT was at least
a year before i told my employer. in fact it was about a year before i told
almost anyone. I was pretty much in denial for that first year. By 1989 I
was telling every one, including my employer. My employer was the Oregon
Department of Revenue. I continued working for the department until April
of  1001  by then I'd had PD for 14 years and it was affecting the quality
of my job.

>I too am just recently diagnosed (Jan. 2002 - just turned 35) but really I
>knew for a year or so before that and suspected for another 6 months or so
>before that as my father also has early-onset PD so I was very familiar with
>the symptoms. I think my way of denying it was to avoid a diagnosis - not
>hard as my GP at the time felt I was too young for PD and so in the 2 or 3
>fairly long conversations I had with her, we always managed to convine
>ourselves that it must be something else.
>
>Then we moved. I had to find a new job and I didn't want a diagnosis which I
>felt had the potential to mess me up with all the practical needs of my
>life. Once somewhat settled I finally went to my new GP and basically told
>him what I had and that I needed to see a neurologist. Things went pretty
>quickly after that.
>
>The first couple of visits were filled with emotion and tears. I think the
>neuro thought that was a bit strange but even though I had known in my heart
>I had never really faced the reality. My husband was very supportive and
>came to all the early visits so I'd have his moral support.
>
>I'm still dealing with the issue of acceptance. I pick and choose quite
>carefully who I tell and I'm still too scared to tell my new boss. I also
>worry about potential difficulties with banks, insurance companies, etc. as
>we're just in the process of buying a house. So many things to think and
>worry about!
>
>Take care,
>
>Jenn
>
>
>
>
>
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