DEAR LEANNE, HI! I AM NOT NEW TO THE LIST, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN A BROWSER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT I WAS PROMPTED TO WRITE TO YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR REQUEST TO TALK TO OTHER CAREGIVERS. I ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN CONTEM- PLATING TRYING TO SET UP A CAREGIVERS GROUP ON THIS EXCHANGE, SO I THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE. MY HUSBAND IS A VERY YOUNG 60 AND HAS HAD PD FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS. THE DISEASE IS QUITE ADVANCED IN SOME WAYS, BUT HE DOES NOT HAVE A LOT OF THE VERY BAD SIDE EFFECTS THAT OTHERS GET, EXCEPT HE DOES EXPERIENCE A LOT OF DYSKINESIAS AND OFTEN USES A WHEEL CHAIR. HOWEVER, WE ARE ON THE GO A LOT AND TRY NOT TO LET PD CONTROL OUR LIVES. WE STILL TAKE MANY TRIPS, ATTEND CONCERTS, GO OUT TO EAT, AND HAVE MANY FRIENDS WHO WE SEE REGULARLY. WE TAKE THE WHEELCHAIR WITH US MOST OF THE TIME, EVEN TO ORIOLES GAMES, AND IF IT'S NEEDED WE HAVE IT AVAILABLE. WE LIVE OUR LIVES AS NORMAL PEOPLE WHO MUST DEAL WITH A DIFFICULT DISEASE, NOT AS VICTIMS OF THE DISEASE, NOT AS 'PARKIES', OR AS 'PARKINSONIANS'. THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS IN ATTITUDE, AND MY HUSBAND IS WILLING TO DO WHAT EVER WE CAN TO MAINTAIN A NORMAL LIFE. THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME GOING AND ALLOWS US TO STILL FEEL THAT WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE PEOPLE NOT TO BE DEALING WITH SOME OF THE OTHER DEVASTATING ILLNESSES WE HEAR ABOUT. I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO TALK TO ANY CAREGIVERS BECAUSE I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO SEE SOMEONE YOU LOVE VERY MUCH DETERIORATE FROM THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE. I THINK THAT TIME HAS TAUGHT US SOME POSITIVE WAYS TO DEAL WITH IT AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR HOW OTHER CAREGIVERS MANAGE TO MAINTAIN AS NORMAL A LIFE AS POSSIBLE. I CAN BE REACHED THROUGH THIS EXCHANGE OR BY E-MAIL AT MY WORK. ([log in to unmask]). SUE HAMBURGER CHEVY CHASE, MD.