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Work and Parkinson Today I would like to introduce myself in this network of PD patients, since I think it is most important to learn from each other - and I hope to get some advice from people in similar situations. Let me start by introducing myself and "my case". Well, I am 41 years old and was diagnosed with PD in 1990, i. e. 6 years ago. I live in Germany, in a small town near Frankfurt. I am married 20 years and have two children (16 and 13). I went through the same cycle as most other patients, particularly those of my age. When I was diagnosed, I thought "so what?". "To swallow a drug per day, that will keep everything under control." My job was very demanding at that time. I worked in international project financing in a bank and traveled a lot to many countries. Protracted negotiations, time pressure, long working hours...the usual life..I was 35 years old and ambitious.. Then in 1992 I realized that my physical strength was not as before. I moved to another department with less traveling, 3 times a year to Northern Africa for one week each time. I still could do it, negotiations, traveling...But the symptoms got more obvious. I was a bit stiff, my voice lacking the strength, a bit limping. This was the hardest time, to realize that the disease was progressing. I did not tell anybody in my office about the disease. Only early 1995 I realized on a mission to Morocco that I became afraid...scared to do field trips, scared to sit for hours in conference rooms and to talk.. I decided to go public. I applied for the official status as handicapped person which gives me some special rights and job security here in Germany. Then I informed people in the bank. It was not easy to admit that I was a "social case", that I could not perform as before. I needed more rest and less stress. I could choose to travel as long as I felt capable to do it. A few trips until the end of 1995 in the company of a colleague (for support), then I gave up. I went to a special clinic for PD and got new drugs. The break of 4 weeks, the physiotherapy and the talks with other PD patients helped me a lot to cope with my situation. Although, my problem is, that I feel alone in my special circumstances. So far I have not met anyone who is still working full-time after 6 years of PD and is in my age group. Most people I met resigned and lived on the pension system. When I came back from the clinic I decided that I could no longer work as a responsible project manager with all the traveling and stress related to it. I could stay in my old department and do some research and back office work. I have the privilege to work as intense and as much as I can do. I cannot complain. I have good social contacts and I am active in the council of employees representatives in our bank. Twice a day I can have a rest on a bed. I go by car to the office and hope that I can do this job for some years to come. Here now comes my question to other PD patients. What is the experience with work and PD? How many years can one expect to do a full time office job? Is it advisable to go early on a parttime job? What about telework at home? How do others cope with their role as father and mother when they have PD? I'm interested to learn from other younger PD patients. I am in a local support group, but out of 60 members only 4 are working, the next youngest one is 15 years older than me and his professional life is almost at it's natural end. I think younger, working PD patients are in a special situation. They cannot fully concentrate on their well-being and their disease. The job and the family is a help, but also an additional responsibility. Dietmar Wessel [log in to unmask]