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At 06:48 PM 1/26/97 -0500, Jack wrote: > I tell myself there is no reason to cause them needless worry, they can't >help me, and I don't want sympathy or pity from anyone, although eventually >they will all know, of course. What I think I will need, when the time comes, >is their tolerance and understanding, maybe even empathy, but before they have >a need to know ? > I would appreciate hearing from any listserv members who have struggled with >this issue, and to know how, when and why they have resolved to disclose or >not to disclose. Jack, I cannot speak for my mother, who has PD, but when she was finally diagnosed, she agreed that she probably had the disease for a long time. Was she too scared to face it, thought she was going crazy, felt it was her fault? Anyway, for the sake of your family and friends, and yourself, I would let them know. There's a lot to understand about Parkinson's and still much more that is unknown. But information, and the sharing of information, is crucial to everyone's well being. In our family, we have been EXTREMELY busy dealing with Mom's declining health in the last few months. Perhaps, if we had known sooner, we might be able to do things a little smarter now....just my thoughts as a family member. Lena Holmes parttime caregiver for Ilmi 74/2 Oakville, Ontario, Canada [log in to unmask]