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STEVEN EVANS wrote: > > 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. PD people on SSI Disability that I have met applied for it because of financial need- and they had to 'prove' that they were unable to work. But for some of us, meaningful work (paid service to others) can be more rewarding than a life of leisure and play. So if you enjoy selling furniture, maybe you should keep on as long as you can. If you don't enjoy the job, or if your employer won't support you any more, then you need a lawyer who specializes in SSI Disability claims (and if successful, you'll be limited in any other gainful employment). Cheers, Joe -- J. R. Bruman (818) 789-3694 3527 Cody Road Sherman Oaks, CA 91403-5013