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Hi Alf..... While I'm not a caregiver, I've had PD for almost 26 years. Also, I've got 7 years on ya and do NOT consider myself as "old." <smile> I suspect your wife's reference to any symptoms you've mentioned in her presence as being AGE related instead of possibly being PD related is HER way of showing her denial of your diagnosis. It sounds like you've got a healthy curiosity about what's happening to your body, and that will benefit you in the future. Just remember when it comes to a major illness such as we have, your wife is entitled to her own thoughts, feelings, and fears about what YOU'RE going thru as well as what SHE is going thru because of the sudden intrusion into her life, and her marriage of this steeeeeenkin' disease. Hang in there.... Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Alf Cousins <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Wednesday, July 12, 2000 12:02 AM Subject: doubting Thomas >I know caregivers must have a difficult time, finding their lives turned >upside down, especially after years of effort, but how do I deal with my >wife (I'm not modern enough to call her a 'significant other') who responds >to every report of my condition with a "that's probably just because of your >age". I'm 50, I've had the symptoms for nearly two years, got a firm >diagnosis from a Neurologist about two months ago. OK, so it's early days >and I don't need meds, and the tremor etc doesn't get in the way of doing >things. But I notice changes which I also read about in forums like this >one, like vivid dreams, blurred vision, loss of smell, and so on. I have to >say, I'm acutely aware of becoming a hypochondriac (-you know, the best way >to make your family ill? Buy them a medical book for Xmas!) So, I kinda note >the new symptoms with the same interest as, I imagine, a pregnant woman >notes the subtle changes in her body. One day the bump is going to be >obvious to everyone. But for now, when I report some new observation I'd >like the conversation to be about the possibility that it may be related to >PD, not have it dismissed as "Look you're getting older, you might have >expected this to happen anyway..." Am I being unfair, am I missing >something.... any caregivers out there who want to fire an opinion my way. >Alf >50/<1/2