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Hi Chris, Progression of this illness is quite variable. I was diagnosed and started medications including l-dopa at age 44 (I am now almost 54). I was able to practice medicine (psychiatry) until about 1 1/2 years ago. I did relatively well through about the first 5 years including traipsing around Europe in 1992 and again in 1995. Dyskinesia- a side effect of l-dopa- gradually became more debilitating and limited the dose of l-dopa I could take. I now however am pretty much confined to a wheel chair. I think there has been a lot of complaining about the Michael J. Fox reporting because of the desire to paint a rosy picture for fans and people in the early stages of the disease. It is hard enough to face having a chronic disease without facing all the details immediately. I think the press is also wanting to paint a portrait of a disease that is treatable. People in the public eye understandably want to show themselves as capable- just as I did when I was practicing. Fox didn't want to get out of his limo tremulous and off any more than the Pope wants to celebrate a mass in that condition, or Janet Reno wants to give a press conference or Arafat would choose to meet with Netenyahu. Most of us try to keep those bad times private. And we can function leading that kind of double life for a time. The problem that develops is that the press gets the idea that PD is not a severely debilitating illness. It is important that we get the word out that PD is a severe illness but we can and do live with it. and that new treatments are extending our functional years. (ie RESEARCH PAYS OFF) There have been some good interviews with nationally recognized PD experts- Lieberman(CNN), Olanow(NBC), and Fahn(CBS) to name a few who are getting the message out. Yes let's correct mistakes but lets not push the press into painting too bleak a picture of PD. Charlie Peter Carras wrote: > I would appreciate some advice as to what to expect from my husband's > PD. He is 73 and has been on medication for six months. > > He has tremendous energy - like a 33 year old man- lifts weights- good > attitude - maintains and landscapes yard - and seems to be in good > spirits except for short periods of fatigue. > > It is hard to comprehend this is not going to continue - please advise. > > Thank you, > Chris -- ****************************************************************************************** Charles T. Meyer, M.D. Middleton (Madison), Wisconsin [log in to unmask] ******************************************************************************************