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At 11:26 AM 2/22/2003 -0500, you wrote: >In a message dated 2/21/2003 11:37:36 PM Eastern Standard Time, > >Laura, I was 45 when I was diagnosed. I was in denial for about a year after that, Then I made a decision that i would try to live my life as normally as possible. i did not tell people at work until they began to notice there was something wrong. Then i told my manager who was very understanding. There have been challenges for sure but after 15 years i am still kicking and i wake up breathing every morning I want to recommend a book : HOPE : Four Keys to a better quality of life for Parkinson's People By Hal Newsom.It is available at: http:www.nwpf.org and you can email Hal at [log in to unmask] >This is my first time replying on the list, but reading your e-mail prompted >me to correspond back to you. I was diagnosed at 48 years old am now 54 and >can understand your feelings. At the time I was diagnosed I had a 19 year old >daughter in her 2nd year of college a 15 year old in private school a young >and growing business and all of a sudden the diagnosis of PD was delivered to >me and I was devastated. I saw my whole world falling apart and as I read >information on the Internet it confirmed some of worst fears. As is true in >anything you read there is good and bad, happy and sad, disturbing and >helpful, truth and untruths, optimistic and pessimistic information to be >assimilated. I tend to take the upper road while still aware of the lower >road. >I then began to tell my family, my wife and kids were concerned, upset and >confused, but my mother was the toughest one as her first comment was "Why >couldn't it be me." That was tough, but she and my entire family are involved >in the APDA in an effort to find better drugs and eventually a cure > >I then told some close friends watching the pity on their faces and then just >quit telling anybody crawling into an emotional black hole. Then one day I >decided I could not change I fact I had the disease and why waste time acting >like a recluse about my PD. Why not share with others that may be starting >down the same road I traveled a few years ago? I told people selectively, >began to get in contact with those new to the disease and have moved my life >forward. When I tell people I have PD and I see that "pity look" I tell them >"don't feel sorry for me, concerned is OK and in your prayers is wonderful," >but never pity. Many people know little or nothing about the disease and each >time we tell someone the number of people with knowledge about PD just >expanded and will never be the same again. > >You will get angry about having the disease and that's OK, but don't let PD >run your life learn to live and compensate with the disease staying active >with a positive attitude and that is tough sometimes. I have found (6) things >that help me get over these bumps (sometimes pot holes) in the road we call >life with PD, attitude, medication, exercise, good medical care, love from >family and friends and prayer. > >Laura, it sounds like you husband is concerned cool guy. As a caregiver he >has a tough job but it is a great deal easier to carry the burden of PD with >a little help along the way. As your best friend. he will tend to see things >in a different light than you do and can help you travel down the road with >confidence. > >Warm regards, > > >Leonard > > >[log in to unmask] writes: > > > Subj: New List Member > > Date: 2/21/2003 11:37:36 PM Eastern Standard Time > > From: <A HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A> > > Reply-to: <A > HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A> > > To: <A > HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A> > > Sent from the Internet > > > > > > > > Hello, > > > > I am Laura, I am a 47 year old accountant with two grown children and a > > beautiful grandson, and I was diagnosed with PD four months ago. I have > > however, had symptoms for five years and I suppose I wanted to be able to > > deny that there was a real problem. > > > > For the last three years my family physician was treating me for essential > > tremor (common among PWP I now read.) This last year I have begun to have > > many symptoms that I did not realize were related. I spent most of the > > year > > thinking "I'm not that old, I can't be having this many problems." My > > husband has been quite distraught about the tremor and then the dragging > > foot and I finally asked the Dr. "I know the two are not related to each > > other, but my husband wanted me to ask?" He then asked if I wanted to go > > to > > a Neuro and I said I guess it would make my husband happy. I was sure > > there > > wasn't anything really wrong, just many little things. > > > > When the Neuro told me she suspected I had PD, I remained very calm. And > > even after her many tests and the confirmation that I have PD I did not > > think much of it. I also didn't tell anyone except by immediate family. > > Finally at New Years we decided to tell our extended family, some friends > > and my co workers. Once I told people it really hit me hard and I guess I > > have finally accepted it. The worst part is that in accepting the reality > > of PD I have become much more stressed and the symptoms are much more > > pronounced. > > > > I am happy to join the list so that I can "hear" what other PWPs have to > > say > > and how you are all dealing with PD. This is probably the most I have > > "spoken" about it. > > > > Thank you for allowing me to be included in the list. > > > > Laura > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > > mailto:[log in to unmask] > > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] >In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn