Linda, I can identify with you totally.  I am 54 and was diagnosed with PD
4-5 years ago.  Unlike you, I have never been much of an exerciser but have
always kept busy.  I'm also in the school business - a high school counselor
in Hallsville, Texas.
    I went through a real depression when I first was diagnosed and lost 25
lbs.  Fortunately, or unfortunately, I have come to some peace with my
disease.  Evidence of that is a regain of the 25 lbs. + some.  My husband
has taken over the cooking since I lost all interest in food during that
period.  He is really wonderful, saying I cooked the first 30 years and
he'll cook the last 30.  My meds are Permax 3 times a day.  I take 1 1/2 mg
and also Sinamet 4 times a day.  My routine is 6 a.m.- hormone, 1 1/2
Permax, 1 sinamet.  At 10 I take another sinamet and take 1 1/2 permax about
11:30.  At 3, another sinamet and at 6 p.m. the last pills of the day - 1
1/2 permax and 1 sinamet.   I've found a really terrific movement disorder
and parkinson's specialist in Dallas.  Have you found a good doctor?  That
makes all the difference.  My pills work well enough that many people still
don't know I have Parkinson's.  I seemed to be hearing you say it was
beginning to interfere with your job.  The stress certainly does turn on the
tremors, doesn't it.  Do you sometimes get "behind" the medicine and have a
hard time "getting ahead" of it again?  I do, and it seems to sometimes
affect the whole day.  There have been a few days during the Christmas
holidays when I forgot to take my pills for 5 or 6 hours and suffered no ill
effects - until it dawned on me that I haven't taken them and there come the
symptoms.
    Tell me more about yourself and your version of Parkinson's.  Do you
have kids? Our daughter has chosen to ignore my disease.  She is something
of a hypocondriac so I guess that's the only way she can handle it.  I
haven't pushed it with her.
     It really does help to hear of others in a similar place.  I look
forward to hearing from you.
Anne Orr
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----- Original Message -----
From: Linda Kenney <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, December 30, 1999 3:38 PM
Subject: Re: RIGHT SIDE/LEFT SIDE


> I have just signed onto this listing.  I am 54 years old and was
disagnosed
> with PD approximately 4 years ago.  I was devastated.  I have always been
> very healthy - no colds or flus and was very fit.  I have exercised and
> jogged for as long as I can remember and there is no history of PD in my
> family.  I am an Executive Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools
which
> has been a very stressful position at times.  Always under deadlines with
> long days and 10 things going at one time.  I first noticed a tremor in my
> left hand and then my left foot.  I do not have tremors on my right side.
> I have tried several different medications and have had difficult with all
> of them - some that caused heart palpitations, etc.  I am now taking
> levodopa and permax.  It has taken me approx. two months to adjust to this
> with nausea, cramps, headaches, etc. etc.  I do not like this new form of
> living, but I must get used to it.  Fatique is a major factor.  I still
> want to work as I find it fulfilling, but some days I can barely
> concentrate on what I am doing.
>
> Depression seems to want to take over at times.  That is why I have
decided
> to become part of this Exchange Network.  I am interested in corresponding
> with Young Onset (I still consider myself young to have this disease)
> parkinson's patients.  I would be happy to hear from anybody though.  To
be
> honest - the future frightens me.  I have had a hard time accepting what
> has been dealt me.
>
> So long for now.
>
> Linda
>
> At 03:08 PM 30/12/99 -0800, you wrote:
> >I have recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's. I have a very obvious
right
> >side body tremor. I am being sent to yet another neurologist due to the
fact
> >that my left side seems to have little to no tremor as yet. I have had a
few
> >full body tremors recently that resulted in my cutting my thumb and
needing
> >stitches. My question is does this happen to others any? Can on have
> >Parkinson's on one side predominately and not yet show signs on the other
> >side? My possible origin of this may have come from a defective pulse
> >generator implant that threw me into aprox. six weeks of seizures and
falls.
> >I have no memory of this time, only of what has been told to me. If
anyone
> >knows of how I could have one side very active and the other not, I would
> >appreciate information. Thank You
> >
> >Kathie and Dave
> >
> ________________________________________________
> Linda Kenney, Executive Assistant
> Lethbridge School District No. 51
> 433 - 15 Street South
> Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1J 2Z5
> Ph. (403) 380-5301
> FAX (403) 327-4387
> ________________________________________________