Dear Linda,
Hi. I am Paula from Pennsylvania. I had been diagnosed with PD on
5/27/9l at age 37. I am "slowly" edging towards acceptance....after almost
three years of therapy with a neuropsychologist. She helped me so much. I
felt so guilty about having to sell our business. Then my mother died.
Then I had DBS on 10/30/00 in Phila..I should write a book like Michael J.
Fox. But it would still be called "Unlucky Woman or What? I just hope and
pray everyday for a cure....and I really need to knew how I got it. Why me?
Why us?
I'll try to be a tad more positive next writing. All the best to you.
Paula
----- Original Message -----
From: "Linda K. Hatfield" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 8:53 PM
Subject: Introduction
> Hi. My name is Linda Hatfield. I'm currently 36 years of age but that
will
> change next month. My official diagnosis of parkinsonism, coupled with
> chronic myofacial pain, occured on July 12, 2001 by a specialist at the
USF
> Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Center in Tampa, Florida. I had
> actually gone to the center to have a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease
that
> had been made by a different neurologist refuted by them. However, it was
> decided that given my symptoms at the time and the negative results of
> numerous other tests, that a trial of Carbidopa/Levodopa was warranted.
The
> main symptom I was experiencing was a tremor in my right arm, shoulder,
and
> leg. I also had a gait disturbance, some rigidity, and was experiencing
> periods of not being able to control my body movements. The tremor
started
> in November of 2000 during a time when I was recuperating from 2
automobile
> accidents in May and July of 2000. They were not sure if the tremor was
> related to the trauma experienced from the accidents or if there was a
> connection to my occupation in which I have been exposed to many toxic
> substances. However, it was determined after marked improvement while
taking
> the Carbidopa/Levodopa that what most likely had occurred was a triggering
of
> an underlying Parkinson's Disease that had just not shown any symptoms
> before. After meeting with the specialist at USF over the next few
months,
> he diagnosed me with Young-Onset Parkinson's Disease in November of 2001.
> The neurologist also referred me to the USF Pain Management Clinic and
they
> have also diagnosed me with Chronic Myofacial Pain as a result of the
> accidents. Unfortunately the two diseases sort of feed off of one another
so
> I continue to be treated by the team at USF for both. After a year and a
> half of not knowing what was happening to me I at least was relieved to
have
> a diagnosis. I, however, was not prepared or willing to accept it as I'm
> sure no one truly is when confronted with this news. This is why, I
imagine,
> that I am finally making my introduction.
>
> I learned of the Parkinson's Information Exchange Network after purchasing
my
> second book on PD. "When Parkinson's Strikes Early", by Barbara
Blake-Krebs,
> M.A. and Linda Herman, M.L.S., was just the book I needed to get me out of
> the whole I had dug for myself and on the road to accepting and dealing
with
> the fact that I have Parkinson's Disease. The many stories, insights, and
> loads of information offered throughout the book have been very helpful.
I
> was amazed to learn of so many people out there dealing on a day to day
basis
> with this disease. I was also encouraged to find that so many are willing
to
> share their personal experiences with virtual "strangers".
>
> I am a typically shy person who does not like to draw any attention to
> myself. I would prefer it if no one noticed me. Since that is pretty
> difficult to acheive when you are visibly shaking and have difficulty
> walking, I figured it would be best to learn as much as I possibly can
about
> this disease from those who are living with it too. So, I've finally
gotten
> up the courage to sit and write out this introduction to you all. To let
you
> know who I am, to let you know that I'm scared to death, and to let you
know
> that I so appreciate you taking the time out of your day to read this and
> possibly reply with any thoughts, comments, or words of wisdom that you
might
> have to share with a fellow PWP.
>
> Thank you so much for providing this very much needed service and for
helping
> me find the courage to say "I have Parkinson's Disease".
>
> Sincerely,
> Linda K. Hatfield
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
>
>
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