At 10:51 AM 9/5/96 -0400, you wrote:
> I am sending this to the list as it seems to be an item of general
>interest:
>
> 1. time since diagnosis? 14 years
> 2. time since first symptom? 16 years
> 3. age when diagnosed? 52 years (now 66)
> 4. early symptoms? tremor , left hand , first noticed when
>I yawned. Lost power to left leg on jogging track; and had cramps in left
>foot instep at this time also. The tremor appeared first, and could have
>begun as much as 18 years ago.
>Topeka,KS 913-267-6916[unlisted] Asst Area Veterinarian in Chg.,USDA,
>Kansas. Ret.
>66, Dx1982, pallidal stimulation surgery at KU Med Center,
>K.C. Kansas; 1st side 1/4/96; other side 3\14\96
>Results still being evaluated, but we are encouraged at this point.
>Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
>
I became a subscriber to the list on 8/27/96. I've waited to reply to
anyone or ask a question until I've had some time to see what type of
dialogue is carried on.
I am 54 years old and retired from teaching after 23 years, the last nine as
a Language Arts Coordinator. The stress of the job and the symptoms of pd
forced the retirement.
In answer to the survey: 1. time since diagnosis? 14 years
2. time since first symptom 16 years
3. age when diagnosed? 37 years
4. early symptoms? Mild tremor in the left
hand. First noticed it when a students would challenge a grade/comment on
their papers. I was being treated by a nueroligist two years prior to my
diagnosis. He was treating me for a bad case of nerves.
having observed a the movements of a relative of my wife's who had pd. I
told my doctor what I thought I had, so he gave me the old bending the elbow
trick, and said,"You're right! You do. You're smarter than you doctor." He
thought that I was too young to have it. Needless to say, I changed
nuerologist in a hurry. I've been to the Mayo Clinic, the Parkinsons Center
in Minneapolis, and am now at the Milwaukee Center.
I have been going to a specialist, but he said that his back is against the
wall and he can't do much else. I am not so sure that a specialist is the
answer either. In my case at least, my wife and I have to drive for four
hours to get to the pd center, we see the dr for 15-20 minutes, go through
the arm bending, leg bending, finger tapping, foot tapping, walking etc.,
and drive back home to await the next visit in another six months.
/At this point, I am battling the "on and off" problem. Can't tell when I
will walk or freeze. The situation makes for a real nice social life.
Hope this helps, Brian.
I think that this is a great forum. I enjoyed the PD Village. It's a good
thing that we can laugh at ourselves. I have a lot of money invested in
Shake and Bake.
Keith
