[Frenchlaw]

Hello

My name is Steve. I have been diagnosed with PD for close to 2 years, with docs estimating that I had it for 5 years before that. I have been resisting support groups, websites, etc. I don't like to talk about myself, and I'm feeling self-conscious already. I read all of the welcome sites, and notwithstanding their intentions, they thoroughly depressed me. After reading what some of you are going through, and with smiles on your figurative faces, I feel guilty (we Jewish boys have that in our DNA) about complaining - because I don't believe I'd be on this site if I didn't feel like kvetching a little bit.

I'm almost 58 years old, and you'd take me for 45 until recently. I'm married for 26-1/2 years to Sheryl, and we have two boys, Sam who is 18 and a freshman in the College of Fine Arts at the University of Texas (an unusual choice for a New York City kid) where he is studying acting, and Charlie, who will turn 14 next month and is the ubermale.

Because we started our family late, I've got many more years to be working full-time. The Parkinson's diagnosis has scared me into wondering how I'll put the kids through college, otherwise support my family and have something to set aside for retirement. So I've said nothing to anyone in the office, but I can't help but think that they know something is up as I walk down the hall with my right hand shaking.

Maybe I'm in denial, but I can't imagine that this is going to make me really sick. I mean, I have no right to let it do that to me! We joke that there's a role for me in the next Bond movie. My boys think that the next time James says "Shaken, not stirred" , I should appear on the screen holding the martini glass in my right hand. James Bond doesn't know shaken until he gets a martini passed to him by someone with PD!

Professionally I'm a business attorney representing European companies, mostly small and mid-market, and among those, mostly French (hence my handle), having business interests, transactions, etc. in the US. I'm in a small to mid-sized firm, so it's not a fortune, but it's a good upper middle class job, and I'd like to keep at it without interference from PD that will surely scare off the clients.

Most recently I have been in terrible pain for the past 3 months, mostly in one leg. I have now been told that I have a congenital spinal problem, unrelated to the PD, that has caused several discs to pop plus a cyst, and that I need spinal surgery. Oy! I have to go under the knife! I am trying everything to avoid the need to operate. So far not much works. I am getting worse. But at least I have an excuse I can mention at the office for the physical therapy and doctors' appointments.

There's more to tell that can actually turn our lives into a bit of a soap opera; I'm sure it will all come out with time, but I've been long-winded, so much so that I've bored myself.

Just one detail - what led me to this forum was research in coconut oil for PD. I've started taking it for the past week. I'll let you all know if it alleviates the tremor with time.

Good luck to all of you. I hope I'll have something to contribute to the discussions concerning PD.

Steve a/k/a Frenchlaw

[Chemar]

welcome to Neurotalk Steve

here is the link to our PD forum for you
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum34.html

[lou_lou]

I have had Parkinsons for over 15 years and I am age 45, do not be afraid,
sometimes the fear is greater than the diagnosis,

I have learned one thing - live in the day you have, & hope for a resolution for the cure!

here's the link to the PD Forum

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum34.html

Shalom~

[stormy42]

Originally Posted by Frenchlaw

Hello

My name is Steve. I have been diagnosed with PD for close to 2 years, with docs estimating that I had it for 5 years before that. I have been resisting support groups, websites, etc. I don't like to talk about myself, and I'm feeling self-conscious already. I read all of the welcome sites, and notwithstanding their intentions, they thoroughly depressed me. After reading what some of you are going through, and with smiles on your figurative faces, I feel guilty (we Jewish boys have that in our DNA) about complaining - because I don't believe I'd be on this site if I didn't feel like kvetching a little bit.

I'm almost 58 years old, and you'd take me for 45 until recently. I'm married for 26-1/2 years to Sheryl, and we have two boys, Sam who is 18 and a freshman in the College of Fine Arts at the University of Texas (an unusual choice for a New York City kid) where he is studying acting, and Charlie, who will turn 14 next month and is the ubermale.

Because we started our family late, I've got many more years to be working full-time. The Parkinson's diagnosis has scared me into wondering how I'll put the kids through college, otherwise support my family and have something to set aside for retirement. So I've said nothing to anyone in the office, but I can't help but think that they know something is up as I walk down the hall with my right hand shaking.

Maybe I'm in denial, but I can't imagine that this is going to make me really sick. I mean, I have no right to let it do that to me! We joke that there's a role for me in the next Bond movie. My boys think that the next time James says "Shaken, not stirred" , I should appear on the screen holding the martini glass in my right hand. James Bond doesn't know shaken until he gets a martini passed to him by someone with PD!

Professionally I'm a business attorney representing European companies, mostly small and mid-market, and among those, mostly French (hence my handle), having business interests, transactions, etc. in the US. I'm in a small to mid-sized firm, so it's not a fortune, but it's a good upper middle class job, and I'd like to keep at it without interference from PD that will surely scare off the clients.

Most recently I have been in terrible pain for the past 3 months, mostly in one leg. I have now been told that I have a congenital spinal problem, unrelated to the PD, that has caused several discs to pop plus a cyst, and that I need spinal surgery. Oy! I have to go under the knife! I am trying everything to avoid the need to operate. So far not much works. I am getting worse. But at least I have an excuse I can mention at the office for the physical therapy and doctors' appointments.

There's more to tell that can actually turn our lives into a bit of a soap opera; I'm sure it will all come out with time, but I've been long-winded, so much so that I've bored myself.

Just one detail - what led me to this forum was research in coconut oil for PD. I've started taking it for the past week. I'll let you all know if it alleviates the tremor with time.

Good luck to all of you. I hope I'll have something to contribute to the discussions concerning PD.

Steve a/k/a Frenchlaw

Just so you know that having PD does not mean the end of life (and work) as you know it, my primary care doc retired this last year (bummer as he was really great) not because of his PD but because his wife wanted to move to California. I'd go back to him in a heartbeat if he'd return to practice.

[Darlene]

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Great to see you have come to be with us. Just let us know if we can be of any help. We are all here to assist each other as possible.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene

[Kitty]

Hi Steve and welcome to NeuroTalk!!

[FranksAngel]

Hello steve and welcome to neurotalk ... sorry to hear about all that you are currently trying to sort through and come to grips with .... coming to grips with an illness is by far the hardest thing to do .... however, you are not alone ... there are lots of friendly and supportive people here .... again ...

[MelodyL]

Originally Posted by Frenchlaw

Hello

My name is Steve. I have been diagnosed with PD for close to 2 years, with docs estimating that I had it for 5 years before that. I have been resisting support groups, websites, etc. I don't like to talk about myself, and I'm feeling self-conscious already. I read all of the welcome sites, and notwithstanding their intentions, they thoroughly depressed me. After reading what some of you are going through, and with smiles on your figurative faces, I feel guilty (we Jewish boys have that in our DNA) about complaining - because I don't believe I'd be on this site if I didn't feel like kvetching a little bit.

I'm almost 58 years old, and you'd take me for 45 until recently. I'm married for 26-1/2 years to Sheryl, and we have two boys, Sam who is 18 and a freshman in the College of Fine Arts at the University of Texas (an unusual choice for a New York City kid) where he is studying acting, and Charlie, who will turn 14 next month and is the ubermale.

Because we started our family late, I've got many more years to be working full-time. The Parkinson's diagnosis has scared me into wondering how I'll put the kids through college, otherwise support my family and have something to set aside for retirement. So I've said nothing to anyone in the office, but I can't help but think that they know something is up as I walk down the hall with my right hand shaking.

Maybe I'm in denial, but I can't imagine that this is going to make me really sick. I mean, I have no right to let it do that to me! We joke that there's a role for me in the next Bond movie. My boys think that the next time James says "Shaken, not stirred" , I should appear on the screen holding the martini glass in my right hand. James Bond doesn't know shaken until he gets a martini passed to him by someone with PD!

Professionally I'm a business attorney representing European companies, mostly small and mid-market, and among those, mostly French (hence my handle), having business interests, transactions, etc. in the US. I'm in a small to mid-sized firm, so it's not a fortune, but it's a good upper middle class job, and I'd like to keep at it without interference from PD that will surely scare off the clients.

Most recently I have been in terrible pain for the past 3 months, mostly in one leg. I have now been told that I have a congenital spinal problem, unrelated to the PD, that has caused several discs to pop plus a cyst, and that I need spinal surgery. Oy! I have to go under the knife! I am trying everything to avoid the need to operate. So far not much works. I am getting worse. But at least I have an excuse I can mention at the office for the physical therapy and doctors' appointments.

There's more to tell that can actually turn our lives into a bit of a soap opera; I'm sure it will all come out with time, but I've been long-winded, so much so that I've bored myself.

Just one detail - what led me to this forum was research in coconut oil for PD. I've started taking it for the past week. I'll let you all know if it alleviates the tremor with time.

Good luck to all of you. I hope I'll have something to contribute to the discussions concerning PD.

Steve a/k/a Frenchlaw

Hi Steve:

I have a very good friend with PD. She got it YEARS AGO. It has not progressed from her pinky shaking. When I see her, well one would never know. She takes her presribed meds. (sorry, don't know what she is on), but in her case, she's doing just fine.

Of course she's scared that, well, no one knows how it will progress, but she's almost 70 now, very busy with grandkids, and nothing stops her.

So be advised, it doesn't have to be the end of the world, when you get that PD diagnosis. Everyone is different.

Keep yourself as fit as possible, Two sons!!! Teenagers?? Now THAT should keep you busy.

And one of your son's is an actor?? How cool!!

You sound like you have one heck of a sense of humor.

I wish you well.

Melody