I'm 60 years old and work in a high school. I planned on working longer but now I'm exhausted. I'm thinking of going on disability. I'm looking for words of wisdom. How long have people fought this before retiring?
I feel like I try to tough it out but I'm very tired.
I am 64 and was diagnosed 15 years ago. I went on SSD around 2000, my symptoms got better in 2004 with some medication changes and I went back to work until 2007 when they got worse. I have been on disability since. I worked as a safety consultant on offshore oil rigs in West Africa and it was a fairly physically stressful job.
thank you
i worked for five years after I was diagnosed with PD. I was also a school teacher.
It just got to be too stressful for me. I really think it depends on how you feel. I think if I had it to do over i would have retired earlier. I'm also 60 years old. It's a difficult decision to make. I also thought that I had to push myself,but now I can stay active doing the things I want and need to do. I can also rest when I need to rest. I hope this helps. Blessings.
I retired in 1990 after spending 30 years in local law enforcement. In less than a year I was rehired by the same agency and was working on my 21st additional year (age 76) when PD struck. Trembling was a minor embarassment. Correcting keyboard mis-strikes was an inconvenience which could be made up for by working harder and longer. The worst problems came in areas requiring communication. My job included interviewing prospective candidates. I found that the loss of short-term memory included an inability to call up even the most familiar words to make a proper sentence. Then too, I seemed to have developed, early on, the problem which we discreetly refer to as "excess saliva", causing the answer to a question to come out garbled and unintelligible. My writing and printing were unreadable.
To put a quick end to this interminable story, I re-retired to avoid becoming an embarassment to the department that had treated me so well. I have no words of wisdom for you except maybe that you can judge by your symptoms whether or not to hang it up.
Wishing you well.
I left full time work before I was diagnosed (I still coach part time). My symptoms left me unable to perform at the level I needed to well before I knew what was wrong, and I couldn't give what was needed, so I had to give it up. If you do retire, be sure to find something to at least partially replace it with (not necesarily work) that isn't too tiring. Good luck.
I was diagnosed at 64. Worked until 67. Retired because of injury, and my cash flow improved thanks to pension. I keep busy.
I too must come to some kind of conclusion to this matter. Just do not know what conclusion. Dennis
I was working in a College and at the stage of fatigue that you are experiencing now when I was diagnosed at 59 - I had just returned from a long summer of traveling and recruiting for the College and was totally exhausted and suffering from great stiffness and tremors. My neurologist diagnosed me immediately and suggested I try short-term disability to get my body "back." I took six weeks of physical therapy, began PD meds and he told me the Parkinsons would only progress and that the stress of working would aggravate all symptoms. So I retired at 60. I rest much more, exercise more, eat better, and enjoy each and every day. The disability was granted the first time I applied. And, yes, I thought I had six or seven more good years to work when I was diagnosed. But life is good.
Thanks very much. That is how I lean but I am hesitant. My Dr. is telling me the same, that fighting parkinson's is my job.
Good luck! ... How well I understand your hesitance. All the way to work the morning I decided to turn in my resignation, I was balking and undecided. But my body won out, and at this point, I'm very glad it did. After working full-time for 33+ years, I had a terrible fear that I wouldn't be able to "adjust" to retirement. After a year and a-half, I have to tell you that each day is a brand new adventure. Yes, the tremors progress and exercise is a MUST for the stiffness, but the meds help! And there's something going on every day - I don't miss the stress & challenge of a 60+ hour work week at all.
thank you. This is very helpful. I keep thinking I could tough out a year or two more but then I wonder why?
Hello! I have been in the same uncertainty. Should I stop or should I continue working? Worked 31 years at my workplace. I am a business professional. The work means that you should keep a lot of knowledge to date and in many areas. Maybe my standards are higher than they need be, but know that I can only concentrate on one thing at a time. To cope with the job, I take extra Madopark. But I will not do. Now I have told my employer that I quit. Nine days left. Feels very good. I am fully aware that it is important to have other things to do. Meet friends and continue to engage in society. It's all in myself what I do with my life. But already, I sleep better and feel more calm. I am convinced that for me it's a good decision.
thanks moniqa. I appreciate the thoughts. I think I'm going to make the move to retire. I feel like I have half the energy to do the same job, and then don't sleep well. Your experience helps.
Wish more would reply to Grayland's post... After 45 years in administration and public service I expected to keep going until 75 years of service. I am 67
now and Mayo found PD April/May 2009. I am working but it gets more difficult and I never know what day will be difficult and what day won't. What a mess.
thanks for your reply dennis. I have to say I did plan on working and had not even considered stopping when I was first diagnosed. I just feel now like my symptoms are progressing quickly and that maybe slowing down the stress would slow down the symptoms. Sometimes I feel like I'm caving but then I think how good I feel when I rest, exercise and eat right. I guess I'm looking at quality of life issues now.
Grayland - best wishes to you and may your plans work out for you. I am not sure what positive direction I shall take. Did you said you received "retirement?" Like SS or SIIS or Workman's Comp? I do not understand how all that works.
Thank you for your answer to my question. Best wishes, Dennis
I was diagnosed 5 yrs. ago. Had DBS 2 yrs ago. My movement is pretty good, but I have CONSTANT anxiety issues. On sinemet and requip.
I've had PD for 15+ years and can barely walk. Does anyone else have that problem?
My husband was told he had PD 2 years ago! Is it just me or is he going downhill fast?
So I am new to this forum..I am 59 and was diagnosed in 2011 with PD. I am now on disability from a 30+ years as an oncology RN. 
I was just diagnosed with PD on Wednesday and am going to a movement disorder specialist on Monday.
