I am a single, white male, 48 years young this year. I was first diagnosed
with PD in 1982 or 1983. Take 3 meds daily:
1.. Carbidopa 50/Levadopa 200 mg sa tabs 1/day
2. Sinemet 25-100 4-6 / day
3. trihexyphenidyl hcl 2 mg 4 / day
I have serious tremor in right arm and hand, also on left hand/arm but not as
bad. Every now and then I forget something, usually something simple elike
how to tie my shoes, but I also forgot where I was one night while I was
driving. Thank God theree was no opposing traffic.
I have voluntarily stopped driving after dark except for short tsrips to buy
groceries or to visit friends nearby. I do not make long drives cross town
at night unless absolutely neceessary. If nothing changes I will stop
drivving during the daya.
These decisions are voluntary. I wll deciide when I am no longer safe on the
roads. This way I will be able to start driving when things change for the
better iwhen I can have one of the surgeries.
When I was first diagnosed I was drinking heavily. My neurologist at the
time told me that I could drrink moderately and actually show some
improvement. Unfortunately, I am an alcoholic and the drinking progressed to
the point where the doctor decided that he was wrong in his diagnosis.
In September 1990 I finally entered a treatment program to deal with the
drinking. (_My drug use stopped several years earlier.) Once I got sober I
had to convince the doctor that the shakes I had were probably from PD. He
put me on Sinemet 50/250 (I think) and the shaking slowed down.
I am now about 5 1/2 years sober and an active member of Alcoholics
Anonymous. Thanks to AA I was able to accept my PD and deal with it a day
at a time, the same way I treat my alcoholism. I can laugh about both
diseases and deal with them in a healthy manner.
Let me make one thing clear. I DO NOT recommend that anybody use alcohol to
treat the PD, nor do I suggeast that any others stop drimking. This is a
personal decision for everyone. But I now believe that after a few years the
alcohol no longer covered the symptoms. It had progressed to the point that
I no longer cared about the shaking except that I needed another drink (just
one more, please) to stop the shaking.
I learned that any form of stress caused mysymptoms to increase. Physical,
mental, emotional stress made no difference. Loud music, more specifically,
a loud base line, caused a very serious physical stress.
Three years ago I had to quit work and apply for Social Security Disability.
My case was approved inonly a few months. I also receive a small monthly
pension from my old union. I am also covered under MediCare and will soon
apply for MediCaid.
Until 6 weeks ago my dosage of all three meds were preetty well balanced.
Then I had surgery to repair a hernia. The gas passer decided that a spinal
block would be best bexause of all the meds I was taking. He would not
listen to my protests. Now I am still trying to find a new balance in my
dosage. It is difficult, but I am working on it.
I live alone at this time. That is not a problem since several friends call
me regularly to check up on me.
I have to travel from Las Vegas to San Diego to see a VA neurologist. There
are people willing to drive me there out of friendship.
My life is full today. I get frustrated at times when a can't even operate
the computer, but those feelings go away quickly and I move on. I have no
regrets. I do not despair my afflictions more than a couple minutes a day.
No apologies for going on and on like this. I want you to know me from the
start. You now know who and what I am. No I don't have to tell this again
and can move on to more important matters.
As for my acceptance of this disease? I will always be Shakey Jay to most of
my friends in AA.
Thanks for your patience.
[log in to unmask] (James Myrick)
