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Marco~ Thank you for taking the time to share your expereinces with me. Your insights tend to echo those of others who has responded to my request for advice. I know that my dad will have a lot of adjustments to make (as will my mom, sister, and myself) but it sounds like it sort of pushes people into a new phase of life. Everyone who has responded sounds happy which is really good to hear. I really appreciate your willingness to give me your advice...I may be seeking more of it in the near future. Best Wishes, Jen "Parkinson's Information Exchange Network" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > Jen, > > I will be 52 this July and was diagnosed April 93. The symptoms you describe > are exactly what made me go to see my GP - writing was esp. difficult. My > first thoughts were MS having seen a friend with it. > > My immediate thoughts on the day I was told, as I left the Hospital building > was to look up to the sky and say, "Dear God, you're going to really have to > help me with this one". How would my family take the news and would it cause > us to breakup, for i had read that many partners had left the one with PD > unable to face dealing with it, or they simply went into denial. I have 4 > children: 3 daughters (23, 20 and 18) and a son(15). At the time (93) each > weekend we would go somewhere and do something (visit zoo's, london parks, > have a pizza etc. I esp. liked showing them around london). I was esp. worried > about how much time i would have with my son because my father died when i was > 15. > > I decided to not let PD beat me, to carry on working for as long as possible, > to not read any books on PD (esp. latter stages) and to delay medication for > as long as possible. My job, IT Project Mgr with GE Info. svcs, was very > demanding and stressful, I managed to keep going until 8/96 when i took early > retirement. > I continued wrapping up projects and writing procedures thru to 1/97. The rest > of 97 i didn't do much and 98 was a very bad year for i couldn't do anything > for myself. > > In 99 i started medication, pergolide. By the July I was almost my old self. > I'll never forget the day,2nd July, when i drove myself to church - i cried > with joy all the way there and thru mass. I contnued to imp. and started > taking my english springer for long walks, on my own. I do a lot of cooking > and help friends and neighbours with their PC requirements(sourcing, > installation and support). I also apply my consultancy skills in advising > people on various matters, jobs etc. My main project this year is to finish > landscaping my garden, with a view to offer landscaping services. > > PD is not an end, it is a begining of a new phase. Your Dad will be amazed at > how much time he will have to do all the things he may never had time for > before. > > What can you do for him? Love him, hug him, treat him no differently and tell > him you love him; which i can tell you do very much. > > My family, with the exception of my youngest daughter, show indifference esp. > my wife, who i feel wants to leave me. > > The benefits of pergolide are begining to wear off and i will soon start > either madopar or sinemet. > > I would be happy to talk to you or your dad. > > Kind regards, > > Marco > London, England > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > -- Doctoral Student/Evaluation Consultant University of Pittsburgh 741 LRDC __________________________________________________________________ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Webmail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn