Sorry to hear your about diagnosis, Elaine, but welcome to NT.

The process of telling family and friends is very individual and needs to fit yours and your family's needs. The best advice I can offer is that you keep in mind, as soccertese said, that PD is not a death sentence. You can have many many years of otherwise healthy living ahead of you. If you try to maintain a positive attitude, exercise and keep active, find the right doctor and get on the right drug regime when needed, then you should be able to have an active and productive life for a long time.

With that in mind, your family and friends will react to the way you present yourself. If you are positive and present your diagnosis with some knowledge and insight, then they will be ok. When I told my family, my children were upset initially, but when they saw that I was upbeat and motivated to do my best, they quickly got on board. In fact, my youngest daughter was a big help to me in finding the right MDS (which is crucial).

I have chosen to be fully open about having PD because I've become very active in the PD support and research community. Others, have chosen to tell only a few and remain more quiet about the disease as they go along with their life. There is no right or wrong. Just do what feels best for your situation. The most important thing is to always remember to not let PD control your life. Do what you have to do to keep it under control and then go on and live your life and enjoy your family and friends.

Good luck,

Gary