At 11:26 AM 2/22/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>In a message dated 2/21/2003 11:37:36 PM Eastern Standard Time,
>
>Laura,

I was 45 when I was diagnosed. I was in denial  for about a year after
that, Then I made a decision that i would try to live my life as normally
as possible. i did not tell people at work until they began to notice there
was something wrong. Then i told my manager who was very understanding.
There have been challenges for sure but after 15 years i am still kicking
and i wake up breathing every morning
I want to  recommend a book :  HOPE : Four Keys to a better quality of life
for Parkinson's People By Hal Newsom.It is available
at:  http:www.nwpf.org  and you can email Hal at  [log in to unmask]

>This is my first time replying on the list, but reading your e-mail prompted
>me to correspond back to you. I was diagnosed at 48 years old am now 54 and
>can understand your feelings. At the time I was diagnosed I had a 19 year old
>daughter in her 2nd year of college a 15 year old in private school a young
>and growing business and all of a sudden the diagnosis of PD was delivered to
>me and I was devastated. I saw my whole world falling apart and as I read
>information on the Internet it confirmed some of worst fears. As is true in
>anything you read there is good and bad, happy and sad, disturbing and
>helpful, truth and untruths, optimistic and pessimistic information to be
>assimilated. I tend to take the upper road while still aware of the lower
>road.
>I then began to tell my family, my wife and kids were concerned, upset and
>confused, but my mother was the toughest one as her first comment was "Why
>couldn't it be me." That was tough, but she and my entire family are involved
>in the APDA in an effort to find better drugs and eventually a cure
>
>I then told some close friends watching the pity on their faces and then just
>quit telling anybody crawling into an emotional black hole. Then one day I
>decided I could not change I fact I had the disease and why waste time acting
>like a recluse about my PD. Why not share with others that may be starting
>down the same road I traveled a few years ago? I told people selectively,
>began to get in contact with those new to the disease and have moved my life
>forward. When I tell people I have PD and I see that "pity look" I tell them
>"don't feel sorry for me, concerned is OK and in your prayers is wonderful,"
>but never pity. Many people know little or nothing about the disease and each
>time we tell someone the number of people with knowledge about PD just
>expanded and will never be the same again.
>
>You will get angry about having the disease and that's OK, but don't let PD
>run your life learn to live and compensate with the disease staying active
>with a positive attitude and that is tough sometimes. I have found (6) things
>that help me get over these bumps (sometimes pot holes) in the road we call
>life with PD, attitude, medication, exercise, good medical care, love from
>family and friends and prayer.
>
>Laura, it sounds like you husband is concerned cool guy. As a caregiver he
>has a tough job but it is a great deal easier to carry the burden of PD with
>a little help along the way. As your best friend. he will tend to see things
>in a different light than you do and can help you travel down the road with
>confidence.
>
>Warm regards,
>
>
>Leonard
>
>
>[log in to unmask] writes:
>
> > Subj: New List Member
> >  Date: 2/21/2003 11:37:36 PM Eastern Standard Time
> >  From: <A HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A>
> >  Reply-to: <A
> HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A>
> >  To: <A
> HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A>
> >  Sent from the Internet
> >
> >
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > I am Laura, I am a 47 year old accountant with two grown children and a
> > beautiful grandson, and I was diagnosed with PD four months ago.  I have
> > however, had symptoms for five years and I suppose I wanted to be able to
> > deny that there was a real problem.
> >
> > For the last three years my family physician was treating me for essential
> > tremor (common among PWP I now read.)  This last year I have begun to have
> > many symptoms that I did not realize were related.  I spent most of the
> > year
> > thinking "I'm not that old, I can't be having this many problems."  My
> > husband has been quite distraught about the tremor and then the dragging
> > foot and I finally asked the Dr. "I know the two are not related to each
> > other, but my husband wanted me to ask?"  He then asked if I wanted to go
> > to
> > a Neuro and I said I guess it would make my husband happy.  I was sure
> > there
> > wasn't anything really wrong, just many little things.
> >
> > When the Neuro told me she suspected I had PD, I remained very calm.  And
> > even after her many tests and the confirmation that I have PD I did not
> > think much of it.  I also didn't tell anyone except by immediate family.
> > Finally at New Years we decided to tell our extended family, some friends
> > and my co workers.  Once I told people it really hit me hard  and I guess I
> > have finally accepted it.  The worst part is that in accepting the reality
> > of PD I have become much more stressed and the symptoms are much more
> > pronounced.
> >
> > I am happy to join the list so that I can "hear" what other PWPs have to
> > say
> > and how you are all dealing with PD.  This is probably the most I have
> > "spoken" about it.
> >
> > Thank you for allowing me to be included in the list.
> >
> > Laura
> >
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>
>
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