Geoff, you will find this listserv an invaluable resource.  First,
many people post links to all kinds of info, in research, alternative
approaches, and calls for action.  Second, we are all in the same
boat, and we'll be able to at least comiserate, if not help you,
through the tough times.

I've found that an effective way for me to handle depression is to try
to help someone through their own.

I'm 51, had symptoms since 2000.  I'm on Sinemet, Requip, and
Selegeline, and handling things well.  Like you, I have a lot of
tightness and soreness in my upper right arm, the result of constant
misfiring in the nervous system.  And like you, I have had some tough
battles with depression.  We have maintained the constant dose of
Sinemet while steadily increasing the Requip (ropinerole), from 2mg to
8mg 3 times a day.

I intend to have a serious talk with my PD Dr. about the wisdom of
putting me on Sinemet right from the start.  The combo that I'm on
seems to help, but I keep hearing that I should avoid Sinemet as long
as I can.

It sounds like you feel a lot like I do.  First thing: stop paying any
attention when anyone, even your larned physician, tries to tell you
how much time you have left.  The full discovery of the comprehensive
nature of this disease comes slowly, as you learn more, and you will
have some grim realities to face.  Do not let your fate rule you.  Get
some determination, and refuse to give in.  I've taken some sage
advice from a friend who suffered through a lot, following a serious
accident.  He told me not to waste any time feeling sorry for myself,
and to fight on in my own best way.  I did not immediately take his
advice.  Depression and inaction pinned me down for years.  But I
continued to cling to his example, and that of his brother, who
suffers with MS and refuses to be defeated.

I've also come to really appreciate my personal circumstances; my
beautiful family and friends, the suburban ease of my existence, my
li'l Canadian fishing hole, and the fact that I am a musician
respected by my peers in this little border town of Buffalo, NY.  We
spend too much time scrambling, not enough appreciating.

And one more thing that lifts me up is to see the great people on this
list, like Rayilyn Brown, fight everything from their symptoms to the
powers that be.  They are truly inspiring.  I've learned that my own
capacity to fight and persevere are well beyond what I had first
thought.

Grab onto something and run with it, man.  Now's your chance.

Well, on reading this letter, it occurs to me that I might be feeling
a bit depressed!  Don't worry about me.  I'm alright.

Welcome to paradise!

Enjoy!
Rick McGirr
Email: [log in to unmask]


----- Original Message -----
From: "MyFirstname Mylastname" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2005 1:25 PM
Subject: (no subject)


> Hello to all you lovely PWPs!!
>
> My name is Geoff (Geoffrey) Wade, I am 57 years young, and live in a
> picturesque village called Barley, near Cambridge, in England.
>
> About four years ago, I was forced to take two months off my work
for
> Cambridge University Press, through severe depression.
>
> It was shortly after my return to work that I thought I was
experiencing
> R.S.I.
> (Repetitive Strain Injury) in my upper left arm.
>
> Over the next three years, the flexibility decreased so that I could
no
> longer touch-type with my left hand, which had become very swollen
along with
> tight, aching and unrelaxed forearm. My left leg was also aching a
lot too,
> difficult to relax, and dragging on the ground when I walked (weird,
because in
> order to clear the ground, it felt as though I was trying to bring
my knee  up
> to my chest, which I wasn't!)
>
> When my yearly "depression" check-up came round, my doctor was
perplexed to
> see my hand, and hear about my symptoms. He arranged for me to see a
> specialist  neurologist, who immediately suspected, and confirmed
after a scan, that I
> had  mild Parkinson's Disease.
>
> He prescribed Sinemet, and said that I should have another five to
10 good
> years left!!!
>
> After reading about the bad side effects of Sinemet, and how often
PWPs
> found these side effects worse than the PD symptoms themselves, I
have decided  to
> delay taking this medication, and hang on to my five to 10 years, as
long as
> possible.
>
> I definitely find exercise to be a benefit, once the body's natural
> painkillers
> (endorphins) kick in. Mornings are always the worst, and I  become
more and
> more positive as the day goes along. But then I wake up next  day,
and the
> tiring, painful and bloody-minded, concentrated and stubborn  effort
has to be
> made yet again, knowing things will never improve for  long.
>
> My wife Ann is a tower of strength, and tries to help all she can.
Ann  found
> out about some special properties said to be contained in broad
beans. Now
> whether these will help any of you, I don't know, but I certainly
seem to be
> getting at least some short-term help from eating some of these
every day. Ann
> found out about these on _www.wholisticresearch.com_
> (http://www.wholisticresearch.com)
>
> A friend recently gave me the book by Barbara Blake-Krebs and Linda
Herman,
> entitled When Parkinson's Strikes Early. A wonderfully helpful book,
which
> made me feel a part of a world-wide family, and not just a single
unique  and
> isolated sufferer of PD. This is where learned about Barbara
Patterson's  PIEN
> brilliant support group.
>
> Thank You in anticipation of being fully accepted into PIEN.
>
> Love and Best Wishes to You ALL.
>
> Geoff
> xoxo
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
--
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mailto:[log in to unmask]
> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn

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