I read a lot of the messages there.
I think a lot of people are more "exposed" to Parkinsons because of Michael J. Foxx. At least they know it's a disease that makes you shake uncontrollably.

When I tell people I've got Neuropathy, they either say "What's that?" or, "Oh, you have diabetes?"

Mine is genetic, I don't have diabetes, and to explain to people in three quick sentences is kind of hard. They don't want a big medical explanation. When you're walking in the hallway at work with a cane, they want to hear, "Oh, I sprained my ankle while playing ball", or "I fell while hiking"... not, " I have a genetic neurological disease which is attacking the nerves in my feet, legs, and hands and causing debilitating pain which causes false signals to be sent to my brain thereby causing me to be unable to maintain my balance or walk normally for unpredictible periods of time".

By that time, they are looking for any excuse possible to find the nearest exit and get the hell outa there! Some of the real geeks try to solve it for you, and want to know why there is no cure for it.

As some of the people in the other thread on the Parkinsons thread said, you get their stories of their aches and pains, their families aches and pains, or they ignore you and ask everyone around you how you are.

What are your stories? How do people react when they see you in public?