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Dear Mr. Highfield: The National Parkinson Foundatin has established a group that specifically deals with the needs of the young on-set PD patient. It's called YOPPERS (Young Onset Parkinson's Patients for Educationa and Research). If you're interested in becoming a member of YOPPERS and would like to receive the newsletter, please call our West Coast Office at (800) 522-8855. To receive the vast array of educational literature published by NPF, please call our international headquarters located in Miami, Florida at 1(800) 327-4545. Best Regards, Melinda Brown Director of Public Relations, NPF (305)243-2235 At 12:57 PM 9/5/97 -0400, W.Carol Gray wrote: >Boyd Highfield wrote: >> >> In a message dated 97-09-04 22:29:46 EDT, you write: >> >> << to talk with any persons who have recently been diagnosed with >> early onset Parkinson's. I'm >> >> >> Hi, >> >> My name is Boyd. I am 55 and diagonosed at 51, although early symptoms >> started at around 46. At that age, my short term memory fell apart. This fact >> and the horrible stress that my job was causing, sent me over the edge into >> full blown PD. >> >> Early PD has many social and economical problems that older patients do not >> have to deal with, such as a job and, maybe raising children. I am into >> grandchildren so that wasn't the problem for me, the job was. At any rate, I >> left a high paying job for disability and Social Security. >> >> As for drugs, my Dr. is keeping me on Sinement for now. I take four tablets >> per day and this keeps me in control, sort of. >> >> Here in Memphis, TN., a new support group is starting for early PD patients. >> Much better than going to the 65 and over group. >> >> The good news is that with new types of medications, life can still be good >> for us PD's. >> >> Boyd >> >> [log in to unmask] >> 55/3yrs. > >Hi Boyd, >Although I was diagnosed almost 20 years ago (at the age of 37) >I agree that there are social and economic situations that young onset >patients experience that may be somewhat different than all PWD >experience. I was overwhelmed about how I would support myself >for the rest of my life. I strongly believe that support groups >are the best place to seek help. I also believe you can get >extremely valuable information and advice on this list. So >hang in there! >Carol Gray >[log in to unmask] >(currently living in Pittsburgh) > >