I was diagnosed with PD when I was 53 years old. I don't have the conventional PD that makes you shake...rather I have the stiffness, masked face, shuffle walk, and extreme loss of balance.
I currently take Stalevo 100 three times daily; Requip .5mg three times daily; and Azalect once daily. It took about five years to get the right dodges of medications that work for me. It gets changed from time to time, but right now I am stable on these meds.
I don't know how or why I have PD. there is no-one in my family that has it. I've gone from a very active life (hiking down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon) to a more sedentary lifestyle. That is not to say that I just sit around...I don't. What I have done is to change my hobbies to things I enjoy and can do physically. I've been bird watching for about six years and I love it. When I sit out on my deck and hear the birds chirping and watch them on the feeders, I get a serene, relaxing feeling. I've joined the choir at my church, and when I am singing praises to my Lord, it is the best feeling in the world.
For the most time, I am happy and thankful for the things I CAN do. There are many in this world so much worse off than I am. So that is where I am on my journey.
I am hoping to learn from this group. I look forward to hearing from you And your journeys.
Written by
Gloria1952
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Hi Gloria, the bummer about PD is of course no one knows what causes it and there is, at the moment, no cure. There are a lot of long time "Parkers" on here. I was diagnosed 13 years ago. Just do the best you can - do not worry or stress yourself out - it only makes things worse. We are all different in the meds we take and the symptons we have but advice is readily available re meds, side effects and general info. Just ask, anytime. I have contributed to other forums but this is the best by far. Welcome to "Parkers" land.
I've had PD for 15 years and am going through your symtoms with you. This site is a great place for making friends as well as getting to know everything and more about PD.
hello gloria - i too have the 'other' type of pd - no trembling just the awful stumbling walk and the soft voice and other things like pain in my legs and toe curling - but i am so grateful not to have a worse desease - and like you spend my time doing different stuff - though thats not to say i dont miss the active person i was just 2 years ago it seems -
You and I have very similar symptoms. I do miss the "old me", but am adjusting to the "new me". Have a wonderful day, Shasha. Have fun doing what makes you happiest!
Welcome, Gloria.
I have found this to be the best place to find answers, learn and make friends.
Hi, I am the wife and caregiver of PD person. His symptoms are very similar to yours but he also has very early dementia. One thing I've noticed since I joined this group, women and men take a very different stance on their PD. Women seem to be more proactive and seek things they can do while many men gripe and complain. Has anyone else noticed this trend?
Whoa, that is a sweeping generalisation! It isn't something I've noticed. I am a man who has just got on with doing what I want to do and not allow my condition to interfere with that. I am happy to share my experiences but I am not complaining. I suspect that Drew is the same.
After all, there are plenty of people worse off than me, many of them on this site.
I based my comment on some of the comments I've read here and it seems men give the "Oh woe is me" more often than women. As Starndt states women are more open and will discuss things with their friends. Men tend to keep it to themselves and not seek outside activties as much or to socialize as freely. I often have to push my husband to go out with friends. He feels cheated because he has difficulty with most things. He will start a project and I end up finishing it because he can't remember how to or is too tired to continue. We had to sell our business because he couldn't participate on a reliable level and i couldn't do it alone.
Do you mean just in this group or for life in general? I feel it is more the latte and the methods of dealing with PD just puts a spotlight on our primary character differences ... my take on which includes that we guys spend a lot of time and energy on feelings of denial and disappointment and anger of being let down by our body/brain.
Most men, it seems, have a best friend they call their brain and/or body. Most women, conversely seem to have real friends and will likely find their measurement of success more by the relationships they have in life and by the support they find in those relationships
We guys seem to live a life much more measured by the type of work we do and by the type of accomplishments we've achieved. (For me it looked like: there I was at age 50 and at the prime of life and the top of my professional game when i got diagnosed and felt horribly cheated and damn angry!) And not at all comfortable on looking for help or assistance from others.
Mine is the same and always has been but when he was in the forces he had to be social and was able to switch it on when required. Now he doesn't bother, but if he is with other people etc it animates him and he seems better for it.
My husband has about the same symtoms, and yes "wife of parky" I have found the difference in PD in men and women. My husband has about the same as Gloria1952, except he can't get around. His balance is shot. The things he loved doing, getting out and about, he can't do. He spends all of his time at home, lying of the floor, he says that helps, or in bed. That is when he can sleep. Right now he's back on the no sleeping. And I do mean no sleep. Has tried every pill there is no help. But it passes, then he can't seem to wake up. I hate that he doesn't seem to want to do anything. He says he can't, and who am I to say different. I don't have the PD so I don't know what he is going through. Everyone seems to be different. Now he speech is going and we both get anoyed with each other for no understanding. Although some days are better than others. If I could just get him intererested in something maybe he wouldn't be so depressed. Yeah he takes medicine for that too. We laugh about it. Have to. But we're both in it for the long haul.
Thank you all for the warm welcome. I look forward to sharing a d caring for each other. I can tell that this is going to be a lifelong friendship. Have a great day my "parky" friends. Life is good, we just need to find something we love to do and move forward.
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