Lifeafter diagnosis

[olpilot]

I was diagnosed age 59

when I was still flying

for us the diagnosis wasa relief rather than a tragedy we knew something was wrong twe were glad to know what we were fighting against. I had some pretty serious balance issues and started medication right away.

I am so glad I did because you change things in ways I never imagined and fix things and I didn't even realize what part of it.

I too love woodworking, really about 50 years but when I started I just couldn't stop.last year we started selling things at farmers markets and craft fair.and it was slow with the beginning.this year seems to be a different story the wood working for mere has become the form of therapy. with the side benefit of selling some and we have been selling fair amount. the woodworking seems to give me a reason to keep on going reason to get up every morning and something to look forward to. being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease has not been toand to life.it has been a beginning to a new life with lots of changes, plenty of worries and fears,.but it hasn't been all bad.

I understand the fear of medication and being overmedicated but I also realize that I could not be doing what I am doing without the medication. I certainly can't see that this is a good thing or the best thing that ever happened to me, this is by far definitely not the worst thing could have happened. my wife panicduring the day if she can't get ahold of me, and it's usually because I can't hear the phone ring.but she has talked to friends to look and make sure things are ok.we didn't stopliving because of Parkinson's we just live differently than we used to. we just adjusted.

as I write this I do it talking to my smartphone because typing is just too difficult.this with everything else it's an adjustment, typing just takes too long and too many corrections.John Lennon said living is what happens when you're planning. or plan at this point of life was to be living on a sailboat, instead my wife still has to work to provide medical insurance and I do woodworking to sell at craft fairs. not what we plan ned, but for now this is our life. crying and worrying would be easy but that's not who we are. we have come to love going to the fares on the weekends meeting with new people talking to strangers and learning how to sell. one thing we always do is have pamphlets about Parkinson's disease for people to see ask about.I don't use it to promote my woodworking but I certainly tell people about Parkinson's.we also formed a support group for the area and we use the pamphlets to get people who may have the relationship to Parkinson's to come to our meetings.some people ass some don't I don't have a visible tremouer so it's not obvious.

there's nothing funny about it but there certainly is life after it.

[Sedona]

I totally agree that having something that you are passionate about, be it a hobby or business can make all the difference. When one door closes, there has to be another that opens in order to maintain a positive outlook...attitude is everything. If you do not see another door opening, find one, build one...whatever you have to do to create a life worth living. "Life is not about waiting for the rain to stop, but learning to dance in the rain."

[olpilot]

I love your dancing in the rain, it is so true. Thank you

[shall1019 in reply to olpilot]

That's one of my favorite quotes...

[PatV]

Do you sell on Etsy? My daughter after a brain tumor and TBI had to give up being a teacher and now is a fabric artist but lacks patience to sell on Etsy. I have PD 11+ yrs, diagnosed 10 and the honeymoon is wearing off on the sinemet. Still I'm grateful to have the life I have that at 73 can live by myself in an apartment in New York City with a great and diverse support system. I too advocate for PD and promote the exercise programs in my neighborhood and the annual Parkinson's Walk in Central Park. GO TEAM BOLD MOVES!

[Susie01 in reply to PatV]

Those who have significant others in their lives to help fight the battle are so fortunate! Thank your wife every day for standing beside you!