 |
 |
Actually this is my 2nd time on the list. The first time I was with a service that was extremely slow and difficult to operate (for me). I finally gave up in frustration and signed off. Since then I have taken a class on working the internet and am with a very speedy and cost efficient service. So.... I was diagnosed with PD in January 1992. My father and an uncle, on his side of the family, both died with PD. I will be 64 later this month, I was diagnosed at a much younger age than my father and uncle, but my symptoms are not as bad as theirs. I have no tremor -- except very minimally sometimes. My problems are rigidity and slowness. I am on eldepryl and sinemet, 25/100 and CR. I try to maintain on CR but sometimes I need a kick in the pants to get going, especially in the morning. I exercise fairly regularyly but I really cramp up when I overdo. The PD has affected me in two other ways: 1) I have an awful time recalling names of things or people -- common things or people. I joke about not recalling the word for that woman who gave birth to me, for example. But sometimes it is that bad. This problem is particularly pronounced when I am the speaker, whether one on one or before a group of people. 2) When under any pressure or stress I become rattled and confused. When I am going to do something, like go to town, I make preparations way before time and get ready long before I am going, otherwise I end up not going because I am almost reduced to tears. What is interesting about these two problems is that I have been affected in what was my greatest strength. I am a retired Ph.D. social worker who taught at universities for more than ten years and before I retired, I was constantly in court as an expert witness and acting as a guardian ad litem for abused and neglected children. I had always been praised and rewarded for my ability as a public speaker, my clarity of thought under pressure, etc. But no more. Now I spend my time working on a book and doing genealogical research. My great-grandfather left a detailed diary of his experience in the Civil War and I have been putting this together to hopefully get it published. But to do this, I have had to study the Civil War, something about which I had previously had no interest and little knowledge. Then to better understand this man -- he was a Yankee who fought for the Confederacy -- I had to delve into genealogical research. Again, another area in which I had no interest nor knowledge. But now I am hooked. What a marvelous pasttime for me. However, it has taken on the aspects of a grand obsession, but I guess that gives me my interest in living. Thank you all for being there and I do enjoy all the comments, articles, and responses from the experts. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Helen Ormsby : [log in to unmask] "No matter where you go, there you are." Eagle River, Alaska 99577 Buckeroo Banzai @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@