 |
 |
Murray, I hate to differ with you, since I am so very fond of you, BUT...some of us were given very little choice in the matter. My employer used my injury on the job (I am a psychiatric nurse) as an excuse to get rid of me. First my manageable job working with out-patients was "eliminated," and I was transferred to an in-patent position, where I was assaulted by a psychotic patient. When I was ready to come back to "light duty," they informed me they had none, and since even my doctor agreed I could no longer work an eight hour nursing shift, they had no choice but to let me go, Hello, Catch-22. All apparently legal, according to the 2 lawyers, Commissioner of Worker's Comp for my state and my congressman, to whom I complained.(Since royalties from my writing will not even keep me in groceries, let alone PD meds, I am taking on online course with the hopes of employment as a Legal Nurse Consultant.) Sometimes you are so occupied ambling along the road of life, your sights on the horizon, plans for your future filling your head, that you don't see that rock in the road guaranteed to send you sprawling... Carole Hercun 56/?38/51 --- Murray Charters <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > On 28 Mar 2003 at 16:04, Victor P Varsak wrote: > > > Scott, how I can so relate to your feelings. each day I > wonder how affected > > my activities will be because of PD. I was diagnosed > this year and the > > diseases has progressed very quickly. As a matter of > fact, I have totally > > lost my ability to type with my right hand so I now > rely on the computer to > > do the typing for me.the software is not perfect but it > works. > > > > Hi Scott, Victor, Maggie, Bob, and "Others".... > > Over the years I too progressed through altering the > double click > timing, to using the mouse with my left hand, to typing > almost > exclusively with one hand, to typing almost exclusively > with one > digit... but I have not lost the ability to type.... > albeit > slower.... > > > > > They say that the younger you are the quicker the > disease progresses. I'm not > > comforted in knowing that and struggle to deal with the > diagnosis. I am > > forty-eight years old and Parkinson's disease has > affected my entire life. > > > > "They" say lots of things... Sometimes "They" are > correct, but often > "They" don't know what "They" are talkin' about!! > Parkinson's is > very much an individual disorder in that no two > individuals are > alike... Generalities like the above simply do not apply > to > Parkinson's in my view. > > I first visited a neurologist at age 38 after several > years of > unnerving falls, memory losses, localized numbness and > tingling... > > "They" thought I had early stage MS. I didn't... > > Some years later when I was correctly diagnosed > Parkinson's "They" > thought I would have to quit work, give up driving, sell > my car, get > wheelchair accessible housing, etc. I didn't... > > I sought a second opinion and met one of the nicest and > most astute > neurologists, Dr. Barry Snow of Wellington, NZ > > He had a profound influence on my mindset, advising me to > think > positively, and to "manage" my Parkinson's with > considered decisions > on when to start meds, when to stop driving, when to stop > work, etc. > > Parkinson's is not like a broken leg or a stroke in that > immediate > intervention is not paramount. > > That said, Parkinson's IS progressive and managing your > Parkinson's > is a must. > > What I'm attempting to say is that there is time to make > decisions, > time to manage, time to deliberate.... Just because you > have symptoms > for years, and then one day have a name for your symptoms > (dx. > Parkinson's) does not mean you have to instantly turn > your life > upside down. ie. you did not take any meds and managed up > to dx > day... and will possibly manage for some time without > meds... you > drove without incident up to dx. day... and will possibly > continue > without a problem for some time... > > I'm approaching 59 now and I still work, drive, and > manage my > Parkinson's... > > I've been on ever increasing dosages of meds (like Greg > Wasson says I > don my chemical camouflage costume every three or four > hours). > > As others have said this is a designer disease. Approach > disability > cautiously from a very informed position as this > decision is likely > irreversible. > > I've checked and I qualify for disability in every > respect. However, > I find working and keeping very busy to be therapeutic. > My employer > is fully supportive, so I have chosen to continue full > employment. > > I did sell my personal car a few years ago. It was only > used for 2 or > 3 thousand kilometers a year. > > We did move out of the 'burbs and into a low maintenance > downtown > condo several years ago. I like the 5 minute commute, no > rain > gutters to clean, no leaves, no mowing, no major work at > all... > > > > > I have had to make adjustments in all aspects of my > life and I am dealing > > with the depression that follows as a result of limited > capabilities. It > > is very difficult to get a loved one to understand what > impact this disease > > has on one's life. But, to answer your question, yes I > have many ups and > > downs physically and psychologically. The medication > helps but the disease > > rules. > > > > Victor > > > > I too made adjustments, on my own time, my decisions... > The meds > help but attitude rules!! > > regards ........ murray > > * * * > Murray Charters <[log in to unmask]> > http://www.geocities.com/murraycharters/ > * * * > Murray Charters <[log in to unmask]> > http://www.geocities.com/murraycharters/ > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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