question

[charlton]

diagnosed two and a half years ago just deal with it on daily basis without to much thinking and soul searching wife is only one that knows anybody else agree?

[carolineb211]

I told my whole family and work colleagues on the day I was diagnosed. It was easier for me to 'get it out there' than to try to hide my symptoms.

They have all been absolutely supportive but treat me no differently than before, I even had a promotion at work!! . I have been lucky that my boss has implemented all the recommendations of the 'Access to Work' assessment which had been an enormous help.

I guess everyone has their own way of dealing with this but this approach really worked for me!!

I am still me but I have Parkinson's, It is part of who I am so why should I hide it?.

[tmhiggs]

i also told my boss right after i got out of my dr appt., bec i had to leave work early and they were concerned. i went home after that i was really upset. my boss said she wasn't going to tell anyone else at work, i told her to go head. it was much easier for her than me. besides all my co-workers knew something was wrong with me by the way i was walking. i didn't want to go back and face it. and not only that if i hadn't said anything they all would have noticed me popping pills every few hours and i didn't want them to think i was becoming a drug addict and think i was just weird for walking the way i was and doing some of the things i was doing. my family was also told, mostly by my parents and again some of my family members could tell something was wrong with me, i must say it was kinda nice to have my parents and boss help spread the word bec for a lil while i couldn't talk about it without crying, plus i wasn't ready to be bombarded with questions......boy i was a mess! just another thought, it really isn't fair to your loved ones to keep such a secret. i'm sure they will understand and be there for you to love and care for you. good luck with everything!

[kavanman]

Hi Charlton, i was dx two years ago too and i kept it between myself and my wife initially as you are doing but if you have close family and friends my advice is to tell them it worked out great for us.Just ask them to treat you no differently than before but just knowing that you have there support is amassivve help and you might be suprised that some may have already suspected that something was happening to you. I dont know what country ure in but do contact the local parkinsons association i found them very helpfull. good luck

[larry33b]

Depends on your age. I was fired soon as my boss found out I had PD.

[CJ49 in reply to larry33b]

Isn't that "discriminatory?" It seems like that must be against some kind of law.....at least that's the way it sounds like to me.

[CJ49]

I didn't go that route......I just felt that Parkinson was a part of my life, so why try to hide it. It's nothing to be ashamed of, and in fact letting others know may help in the "awareness" of this neurological disorder....hence more awareness may equal more "research."

[lmbanni]

I am wondering why you don't want to tell anyone? If you don't want to share that's fine.

[charlton in reply to lmbanni]

dont want them to worry family in particular

[Court]

I think we all deal with this diagnosis in our own way, but I agree with the people who found it easier to tell people right away. I think my family would have worried more if I had not told them. I do not make a big deal out of it and find that people do not tend to treat me differently. I am still ME, but I have Parkinsons.

[debbie66]

my husband was married to someone else when he was diagnosed and she didn't want anything to do with him after the diagnosis.she threw him out and divorced him.

He found it very difficult to come to terms with pd so when i met him he was in denial.We hit it off straight away but it took him a while to tell me he had pd.when he told me ,i sat and talked with him for ages ,we made arrangements to see his consultant and it rollercoasted from there.We got his meds sorted out and i questioned the consultant about the different trials and tests that were going on.

He thought if I told my family that they would say leave him,I told him I had a unique family.I told them and he couldn't believe that they didn't treat him any differently,we are a family that has grown up with different types of disabilities ,so my husband having pd was just normal for us.

It tends to be people who pass you in the street that seem to judge by sight.When i was working my work colleagues asked questions about pd and they seemed genuinely interested in the answers and they knew if my husband was having a bad day.

[wifeofparky]

Larry, I'd consult an attorney. In the US the ADA states an employer must make reasonable accommodations for you.

My husband didn't want anyone to know at first. Now he tells everyone so they understand he is not drunk or demented when he has trouble getting his point across.

[PatV]

I was so relieved to find out wHat was causing my draggy foot I told everyone with glee. Then I started having bad reactions to dif meds and injuries. But I still tell everyone. They say you look so well! Retired 4 yrs ago at 67.

[olpilot]

Long before I was dx with PD I was showing and having symptoms, things like a frozen face, loww voice and trouble talking and writing. I think my grown kids thought I was just pulling away from them, and I couldn't tell them anything else, I didn't know. After the dx I told them, explained to them what was happening to me, and they understood it wasn't me, and when the meds started to work they could tell over the phone how much better I was. It made so much more sense to them.

[Precious44]

Hi Charlton and welcome. It's a personal matter I believe. I am 68 and retired have had PD noticeable anyway for about 6 years. I have hand tremors so badly that I can't write, I have to tell people, like at the bank, I can't fill out a deposit slip, I can't write a check. I went to the post office today and needed the address label written., It was a sort of long line so I turned to lady behind me, whom look friendly, and simply asked her if she could address it for me. I explained that I have Parkinson's and can't write. She was more than happy to do it, very,very gracious lady. I have had nothing but understanding, compassionate and kind people respond, to my requests.

I say honesty is the best policy and you can met new people and make new friends.

Hugs,Hugs,Hugs

Precious44 (Kathy)

[shetawk in reply to Precious44]

Yes, I've found people can be very helpful, especially when I try to get out of a chair in a public place.

I carry return address labels and stick them where my info is needed.

To fill in forms -- I scan forms into Word and insert text boxes to type my answers on the scanned form and....print. Text boxes should be transparent and no border.

Checks - there are checks on sheets that can be typed, then you just have to do a signature, which can be a mark you can make. Fill in a new signature card at your bank.