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Murray, I guess you and I are a few of the "lucky ones". While I do not yet see my self as particularly disabled, I am aware of being increasingly LESS able by small increments over a period of 6 months to a year. I am slower in all things. I must be more aware and cautious and must find alternate routes and methods to manage my life and my work. It seems a shame that the word "progressive" is applied to PD. There is certainly NO "progress" involved in the course of the disorder. I also object to referring to PD as a disease. Dr. Parkinson should have named it "Parkinson's Disorder". Nancy K. Porter Ps,. Welcome back to nancy degrazia. I think there are maybe 5 of us Nancys on board now. NKP On Saturday, March 29, 2003, at 11:16 PM, Murray Charters 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] > ca > 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