Thank you for the welcome Barbara. As promised in an earlier e-mail,
here is an introduction. =20
=20
I am a Brit (49) who is currently living and working in Indonesia. By=20
training I am a geologist, and at present working as a manager. I am
married and we have a daughter who is three weeks old. By a previous
marriage I have two other children who are 16 and 20. (quite something
to have a new child at my age !). When we leave Indonesia (3-6 months)
we will return to Oslo, Norway where I work for a Norwegian company.=20
=20
I was first diagnosed with Parkinson's some 20 months ago by a
neurologist in Singapore. The symptoms at that time were a slight
shaking of the right hand, difficulty in writing, stiffness in the right
arm, lack of swing and a bout of nervous shaking. The  problems with my
right arm started some three years ago and were put down to computer
mouse syndrome. Looking back I can remember first symptoms some seven
years ago. =20
=20
The first neurologist started me on Selegiline (Eldepryl) and afterwards
included Zoloft because of poor sleeping pattern. About half a  year
later another consultant neurologist in London stopped the Eldepryl on
the grounds that the Eldepryl was not making a significant difference,
evidence of slowing down the advance of the disease is ambiguous and
there were suggestions of  long term detrimental effects.   The Zoloft
was also stopped. =20
=20
In January this year I started on Pergolide.  I have not been happy with
this drug  as there were significant side effects. The worst
side-effects were a feeling of drowsiness, loss of concentration and an
impairment of the ability to focus with my eyes about one and a half
hours after taking the tablets.  The side-effects are still there but to
a lesser extent. I was advised to reach a dosage of 500 micrograms three
times  a day.  I have never consistently reached the  advised dosage
(always knocking off 125 here and there). =20
=20
The medication is probably my most significant worry at the moment. I am
not sure how to use it. I try 8 hour intervals to give three times a
day, but this is rarely consistent because I modify the time of taking
the Pergolide so that any drowsiness does not affect meetings etc at
work. My wife notices that at the end of a medication period I seem much
better!  I do not even know if it is meant to be taken every 8 hours or
breakfast, lunch and dinner (asked my local doctor and he thought the
former was ok but see below).
=20
Advice is a problem here. The local medical service is unwilling to give
advice or take any real responsibility. Their attitude was "only the
specialist can help you". I tried to raise their level of interest
(talked to them about what should we do, provided a summary medical
paper etc), and they will see me, but I have no confidence in them
(their attitude being now "well what do you expect us to do").I,
therefore, feel somewhat isolated.   =20
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A few closing bullet points: =20
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=B7 The last two years have been the toughest in terms of work for my
whole career. I    do not wish to give up work and this is a high
priority (my immediate General   Manager knows and is sympathetic having
a relative who suffers, several friends and   colleagues know, I will
tell my Head Office bosses when back in Norway) =20
=B7 So far the impact of the disease has been limited, and I have largely
ignored it =20
=B7 However, I cannot help but think about it many times a day and this i=
s
wearing. =20
=B7 I sympathise with a recent correspondent concerning physical
activity,  my ability   to jog and play squash has declined very
quickly, much more than just growing old.=20
=B7 I have no intention of giving up, my goal is to have a wheelchair tha=
t
does 100 mph=20
=B7 On the practical side I am trying IBM voice-type software, and
recommend anyone who   can speak to try the cheap version that is
available (this is voice-typed, hard      going but ultimately worth it=20
- you may find some glaring errors though!)=20
=B7 Belonging to the  News Group is both enlightening and frightening, th=
e
strength of   participants is obvious and very encouraging but the
letters also give a view of     the future
=20
Well, I hope this letter is not too long, but there are reams waiting to
come out. The bottom line is we love our new daughter and would not have
it any other way. =20
=20
I look forward to becoming an active participant in this News Group. Any
comments would be more than welcome. If anyone wishes to correspond
direct, please feel free.

With very best wishes

David