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She asks tough questions. I personally think she should let her close friends know about her Parkinson's Disease BEFORE her symptoms become obvious. Her friends can see how well she is doing now. Her friends will be able to understand her illness later when "people would wonder if she's lost it." PD is about the best of the worst diseases. The small town gossip fear she has sounds good. She apparently is well known -people don't gossip much about unknown people. She will still fit in the community. People today generally understand that PD isn't contagious, and, if they don't, ought to learn. The problem comes with employment for many. Does she work? Has she a husband? A significant other? Will Johnnston A.P.D.A. DelMarVA Chapter Pres. 4049 Oakland School Road Salisbury MD 21804 USA 410-543-0110 ---------- From: John Levin <[log in to unmask]> To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]> Subject: When to tell Date: Sunday, December 20, 1998 3:52 AM I have a patient who has come to me for advice and I am not sure what to tell her. I would be grateful if I could get some suggestions from the list. She is a 63 year old grandmother diagnosed 5 years ago.She has asked me when she should tell some of her close friends. She has some dyskinesia which is probably noticeable to some untrained eyes. She is concerned about people making a fuss or being pitied. Also she is concerned about gossip in a small community. John Levin MD