Hello,
My name is David Moxley and my wife is Brenda. I'm 51 years old and have
just been diagnosed as having Parkinson's (11/17/95). My early symptoms
were dragging my left foot and not swinging my left arm. My left hand
sometimes froze reaching for my billfold. (I've found I can "sneak up on
my billfold" before my arm freezes.)
The medication I'm on is Sinemet 25cr/100 3X per day. Right now it's
helping my symptoms. I also take Buspar 1/2 10mg tablet 1X per day.
I went to a neurosurgeon in October who diagnosed me as having new bone
growth pressing against nerves in my spine. He wanted to operate on my
back. My wife
and I felt uncomfortable with the doctor and his manner. We went to a
neurologist who had treated my father-in-law. He diagnosed Parkinson's.
With two diagnoses so very different, we felt uncertain and went to another
neurologist who specializes in diagnosing Parkinson's. He agreed that I
have Parkinson's, not back problems.
While we felt relief that I didn't have to have surgery, it's frightening
to think about how close I came to apparantly unnecessary surgery.
We would like to know what steps we should begin thinking about. It's too
late to tell me not to disclose at work...I did that the day of the
diagnosis. We want to sell our house-it's too large and 3 story. What
considerations do we need to think about for the future (house and
otherwise)?
The only thing the doctor told me I could do is eat a well-balanced diet
and walk.
Are there other things known to help delay symptoms or to keep movements
normal?
Are there legal steps I need to think about to protect us in the future?
Thanks for the information
David Moxley
Brenda Moxley, media specialist "Kids who read succeed"
[log in to unmask]
or Inglenook Elementay Library
[log in to unmask] 4120 Inglenook Street
Birmingham, Alabama 35217
fax/voice: 205-849-3537
