 |
 |
Please let me introduce myself. I am a pharmacist, working ( until recently) in a retail setting in Chicago. I am 43 years old, married and have two teenage sons. My aunt (Cyberstella) has been a trememdous help in getting me hooked-up to the internet. Susan Reese (ADPA Chicagoland info person) helped me find this this listserv. Last year, in June, I was diagnosed as having PD. The last year has been real roller coaster ride. My first symptoms appeared in my right hand and wrist and now my right upper extremity (RUE) is affected. When my wife's Mom passed away in March, I started to notice rigidity in my right foot and toes and a wierd feeling in my leg. I have a postural tremor in my right hand and arm, and also a tremor at rest. Currently, I am taking Eldepryl 5mg. (twice a day) and Permax (twice a day, total daily = 1.5 mg and increasing) I am waiting impatiently for the Permax to improve my fine motor skills (handwriting and typing), as now I can sign my name but it sure takes awhile. I will have to consider Sinemet as the next drug if the Permax doesn't help more than it has so far. I know there must be alot of other PD patients on the same meds? Bird watching (birding) is my stress reducer. Pharmacists, as you know, recieve lots of pressure and stress daily. I try to get out birding at least twice a week, year round. I strongly believe that there are cures for many diseases in the natural world. The oceans ( coral reefs ) and rainforests ( poison arrow frogs ), among others, still contain these products. Our immune systems may hold the key to the cure for PD, but much research is still needed. That is just another reason to spend all the time that you are able, to see the Udall bill become law. Compared to many of you, my symptoms/problems are nothing, but they have affected my ability to perform as a RPh. As of May 19th, 1996, I have been replaced in my position as staff pharmacist at the store where I had been working. So now, I am in the undistributed pool (floating) until a staff RPh. position becomes available for which I may be eligible. Your disability input here would mean a great deal to me. Do you think that if I was PG (pregnant) instead of having PD, my employer would still have held my staff RPh position? Now I realize that my wife and I are not alone in pondering all these PD issues. We are in the same boat and I hope we will get to know each other. GO Bulls :) Ralph G. Herbst ^^v^^ [log in to unmask] ^^v^^