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I am 45 years old and was diagnosed as having Parkinsons in 1989 . At the time I was living in Switzerland and went to see my local doctor after my family had brought to my attention that I was holding my right a= rm in an unusual fashion . My doctor sent me to a neurologist for tests and = a scan and the specialist thought that it might be a very early stage of Parkinsons . As I was just in the process of moving with my family back t= o Edinburgh, Scotland , he suggested that I wait 6 months and then go to a specialist in Edinburgh to see what he thinks - this I did and the diagnosis was confirmed . Since then there have been various stages on the path of a steady but fortunately slow deterioration - the ability to write slowly drying up which led to the question of medication which I resisted as long as possible but then began with a small dose of Sinemet , - the symptoms gradually becoming more and more noticeable to others and the realisation that this was not something that could be kept hidden, - the coming to terms with the fact that there were things I could not do anymore ( drivi= ng a car !) . I worked full time as an administrator at a school up until October 1996 when I gave up my job as it was agreed that my family and I would move ba= ck to Switzerland . I was however greatly relieved not to be working full ti= me anymore as towards the end I was only just managing the load . Now I woul= d like to work part time but regretably I have not been able to find suitab= le employment since we moved back to Switzerland. My medication has meanwhile increased to 5x Sinemet 25=A6100 and 2x Artan= e 2 mg . For a while I took Selegeline as well but have now stopped that . My specialist here would also like me to stop the Artane as he does not see what benefit they can give me but I think that they give me a considerabl= e boost in my freedom of movement . The "on" "off" effect is becoming more of a problem for me and we are looking to the soon to be released dopamine agonists as being a possible help ? I have also - and still do - made use of various "alternative" therapies from curative eurythmy, Alexander technique , Colour therapy , Anthroposophic medicine, and anything else that sounds interesting . I have recently joined a local self-help group of "young" Parkinsons patients and would also like to hear from the younger members of this Parkinsn list - especialy people with young families and how they deal wi= th that situation. I would of course be happy to hear from anyone else who has something to share and I hope that I too can pass something on that may be useful to someone else . I look forward to hearing from you . Mike Lumsden([log in to unmask])