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Joe, In the coming time, you will find out a lot about your friends as well as yourself. Your true friends will stick by you as if you were the same Joe they always knew, because underneath the 'mask', you are the same person. The rest of them will fall away, one by one. Let them go. They are baggage that will weigh you down on your journey. You've got to pack light, and keep it simple. I am 52. My symptoms started in 2000, and now, my tremor is obvious when I'm in public. As a musician, style and image are important, and I'm beginning to find that my phone isn't ringing as often, even tho, in this little border town (Buffalo), nobody out-rocks Rick. Tho I haven't made any public announcements, I have not kept my PD a secret. And I have been wondering just how people view me, what they say when I'm not around. I'm sure many of them would like to avoid the complication, the extra explanations, the "How come your piano player's hand keeps shakin' like that?" And yea, verily, I would rather avoid these complications myself. But my focus is slowly changing. I am still dealing with depression, which can be both a symptom and a result of PD. But I'm beginning to turn outwards from myself and to try to think of how I can help myself and all the other fine people afflicted as we are. And I think it would be good to confront my colleagues, to challenge them to support my new cause, and I think they'd do it for me. I have found that lending a little support to those on this list makes me feel good, so if I do more of it, I'll feel better, right? Being involved with the issues and legislation and lobbying and writing to my local publications has also helped me focus on the fight, rather than my own limitations. Do your own research, draw your own conclusions, and bounce them off of your PD consultant (neurologist or whatever), but be aware that even today, even doctors are shooting in the dark, and don't be bashful about obtaining second opinions. Do the best things you can do for your health, and you will benefit in the long run. And keep in touch. Let us know how you're doing. We're here for you. Enjoy life! Rick McGirr Email: [log in to unmask] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Ryan" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2005 8:25 PM Subject: Newby > Thanks for the welcomes , I'm glad I found all of you on this list. > To answer some of the questions: I'm 61yo and have lived in Port > Townsend WA for 25 yrs. My diagnosis "evolved" over several months > when a friend who is a neurologist noticed how slowly I was moving. > He thought I might be having Parkinson like side effects to Celexa > which I had been taking for about a year to help me get over my > depression following the death of my wife Lori. She died almost 3 > years ago after a long battle with breast cancer. > Stopping the Celexa however did nothing to improve the bradykinesia, > and about a month later another friend noticed a very slight tremor > in my left hand. To make a long story short I recognized more PD > symptoms which I had been ignoring or attributing to "old age" or > depression. They were not getting any better months after stopping > the Celexa. > My attending physician noted my gait and lack of expression and > made the referral for a neurological work up. > In the meantime I was all over the internet in a not very organized > search for information and asking questions of my neurologist. By > the time he was offering to prescribe meds I was wanting to wait > because I was concerned about side effects. That was fine with him. > Days later I saw my reflection in a large window and I was shocked. > My arms were just hanging by my sides as I walked and my face looked > disconnected from "me". For maybe a second I thought "I'm not here". > I started Requip 2 days later which was a little more than a week > ago. > I found this list because it was mentioned in an article on a US > government website which had high praise for it. > I am bewildered by the number of associations, foundations, networks > etc. Why so many? > I haven't told family members about the PD yet (they are back in New > York and Michigan) and I anticipate depending on my friends for > support. I wonder how that has worked out for other single list > members? > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > Joe ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn