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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