Originally Posted by Ronhutton

I was diagnosed 20 years ago at the age of 54.
(Paula, I have never said "had it up to 25 years before a motor symptom appears".)
My PD has developed slowly, my symptoms were very mild, cogwheel rigidity in my arms, dragging left foot, tremor when I got annoyed with a bad driver.
It was mild enough to continue my very stressful job for 5 years after diagnosis. I was in charge of a large chemical factory making the same explosive chemicals that the London bombers used.(organic peroxides). I retired at the age of 60 in 1997. not because of PD, I had always planned to retire at 60.
I did not study the disease much in the early stages, it was so mild. During my subsequent retirement, we were able to travel the world.
After about 10 years from diagnosis, the symptoms were starting to get more bothersome, and by then I had increased my sinermet from 150mg per day to 800mg. I started to study the disease and experiment. I think my decision to take 1,000mg curcumin per day from about 12 years from Dx, slowed progression considerably. My symptoms were still mld enough to continue demanding holidays right up to last year. such as 40 hours total flying time to Tahiti and back.
In the last few years, I have had helicobacter Pilori erradicated, and have taken care to avoid constipation by taking a fibre supplement and a polyethylene glycol lubricant. I continued to maintain a half acre garden for exercise. I take Manuka honey to avoid infection and fish oil also.
During this period, I was able to reduce my Sinemet steadily to only 150 mg per day. I also take Azilect, (1mg) Mirapex (1.4mg) and trihexyphenidyl
(4 mg) daily.
My major problem at the current stage is dyskinesia (uncontrolled movement. It means I have to go to the dentist or barber totally unmedicated.
Possible causes for my PD are
1. I started my career as a research chemist and made and handled some very toxic products, such as very unstable organomercury products, toxic anti fungicides such as organoarsenic products.
2. I have always had a very stressful job. Before I ran the chemical factory, I was in charge of 3 research centres 2 in the UK and one inthe USA..
3. In my younger days, I suffered from constipation.
4. I had been infected with helicobacter pilori.
What has slowed progression?
I suspect long term use of curcumin has had a major effect, and erradication of helicobcter P. avoidance of constipation have all contributed.
Unmedicated, I can still shower and dress myself, and as I mentioned, I can go to the dentist unmedicated. At 20 years my main problems are difficulty walking and dyskinesia.
Ron