I am a 49 year old man who has had PD for about 18 years . For
many of those years I was able to remain quite active and it was not
really a major problem . I enjoyed many outside activities including
golf,snow skiing, fishing, swimming etc. and was able to keep[ myself
in reasonably good condition. The PD was confined to a tremor in my
right arm and hand. THe disease has, of course, progressed and now I
have tremor in both arms and sometimes my head and legs, I also have
become friends with fatigue and depression who have become a bigger part
of my life with each passing year. My outside activities are now
golfing and activities that are not too strenuous so as to cause
excessive fatigue. ( I used to be able to run 10 miles but now Idon't
run at all.) I am still able to work but it is becoming increasingly
difficult. I am a furniture salesman . Where as I used to have the
energy to be enthusiastic and helpful I now find it harder and harder to
keep up with my jobs requirements. Oftentimes my tremors keep me from
filling out the paperwork without the help from the customer or another
salesman. This I find embarassing though most people are accomodating.
I have been on Synemet for many years and am becoming hypersensitive to
it . I also take Requip and Prozac.
I am wondering when it is time to go on disability. I also would
like to know just how bad you must be. It seems to me that to wait
until I am totally disabled would deprive me of time I still have left
to enjoy reasonable normalcy. I would appreciate some help on this
subject regarding your personal experiences and any advice that you may
have to offer.
