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At 03:31 AM 1/16/97 -0500, you wrote: >Bernard Joly wrote enquiring about my diagnosis... > >Bernard, > >Thanks for your helpful response. As to diagnosis - I've seen one >Parkinson's specialist, who says he's 80% certain I have PD, and one >Parkinson's nurse (highly experienced), who says she'd put it rather higher >than that. But I'll take your advice, and seek another opinion. > >Funnily enough, the slight uncertainty is part of my own psychological >armoury against PD: I have an inner determination to show these medical guys >that they were wrong all along, and I think this helps me keep a fighting >spirit. Intellectually I think I've accepted that they are probably right, >but emotionally there's a stubborn part of me that wants to prove that they >don't know what the hell they're talking about. ME?! HOW COULD I POSSIBLY >HAVE PARKINSON'S? DON'T BE RIDICULOUS! I'LL SHOW YOU! > >A few months ago I was offered a PET scan (Positron emission tomography, with >doped 18F DOPA), which is one of the only ways to get a positive diagnosis >(and very expensive - but health care is free in the UK!). I declined, as >the ray of hope that it's all a silly mistake helps keep me optimistic and >carrying on doing things which as a confirmed Parkie I might think were >beyond me. > >I'd be interested to know more about your own psychological techniques. > >Best wishes. > >Tim Sanderson ([log in to unmask]) Well Tim, you are not alone as I too think that one morning this disease will disappear and the tremor will have vanished. Faithful to vitamin C only only for now. Do keep in touch. Diagnosed officially Oct. 95. Fell