Hi, I'm 41 years old and was diagnosed in December with Parkinson's disease. As I look back I see some early signs going back a long way, like slowed movements. But I didn't really start to notice troubling symptoms until about 9 months ago. It started with an involuntary lifting of my left index finger and has progressed to weakness in my hands and arms, trouble with coordination (like buttoning buttons and brushing my teeth!) My symptoms are more annoying than disabling right now. I'm still able to work and to drive and to cook dinner for my family and all the other things I could do before my diagnosis. From what I hear I am pretty lucky with my diagnosis. It took about 6 months and 6 doctors--I've heard it can take a lot more to pin this thing down. I'm glad there is an online community like this one available because the day I was diagnosed, my wife (YogaLife on this forum) and I felt pretty alone with this. I'm looking for advice along the way and for friends who can share this experience with me. As it stands there are no Young Onset PD groups in the Dallas area and I am feeling alone. My wife and I hope to start a group but that could take a while. In the meantime I want to make friends with people that know what it is like to be in fear of early retirement and losing their youth prematurely. I look forward to meeting you ALL but if you were diagnosed with PD under 50 please add me as a friend or PM me.

I was diagnosed at 55. Now I'm 60. I haven't worked since I was 48. Now I wish I had continued as long as I could. My husband is out of work but looking. It's tough trying to find work when you are that close to retirement age. DH is 60 also. I'm not on medication yet.

As for brushing my teeth, I had to get en electric toothbrush. It really helps. Also for flossing I started using those picks that hold the floss and look like a two prong pitchfork.

Good luck starting a group.

just think in terms of premature aging.
like with any chronic disease or life in general, hope for the best but prepare for the worst. stay informed on clinical trials, exercise, exercise, exercise. realize that you may become disabled - old - sooner than you planned and plan accordingly financially, insurance wise, etc.

google pd news everyday.
there are no simple alternatives to dopamine replacement imho or any supplements you can take that have been proven to significantly slow down the progression, others will disagree. i watch this website and others for anecdotal stories.

here's a good web site.
http://www.nwpf.org/wellness/Physica...dications.aspx

http://www.recentlydiagnosedwithpd.org/

You might find this blog useful too.

Debi

your story sounds very much like my own, I was dx'ed at 40, took around six months to confirm due to age, finally confirmed with a DAT scan.

I worked post dx for around four years, I had a very stressful job and just couldn't last any longer, your job may be different and you may last longer. Financial planning is everything now, you have a relatively slow progressive disease (not like other conditions where you are working one day and unable to the next), you have a few years to plan and these are the most important years of your life to date. Forget the romantics, money planning for post work is vital, one thing you learn about PD, love and fresh air do not get you far. One thing is pretty sure, you will be giving up work earlier than you planned so be realistic.

Now is a very difficult time for you, as the years roll on you will accept PD and not look every day at the interweb hoping for a silver bullet. There is a lot of good stuff out there but the time to market is tortuous.

I agree with Soccer, exercise is as proven as anything in the crazy world of PD to have benefits, remember if you don't use it you will lose it so get to the gym and on the treadmill and lifting weights. You may shake but at least you will be in shape when you explain you have PD and are not an alcoholic. That is another point, despite MJF people still think only your grandad or the Pope get PD, you are too young, so any shakes in (for example) a shopping queue will not be viewed sympathetically. You have to ignore this.

Avoid stress, read this forum, it is the best on the web, and live your life. I am now 48, 8 years into my PD, I still drive, exercise, and if someone had offered me where I am today, 8 years ago at dx, I would have snapped their hand off.

Take care,
Neil.

Thanks to all for your valuable opinions. I am learning quickly about the value of education, exercise and listening to the experience of others. (The three 'E's' of PD?) I can see already that this forum and it's members are going to be an important resource for me.

I was diagnosed at 49 and am 58 now, probably had symptoms for three or four years before that. The first couple of years were tough, figuring out what medication to be on (wish I hadn't started that soon, but didn't know enough to argue with my neuro at the time) and trying to hide PD from everyone.

Now I work my usual four days a week but a slightly shorter day at a physically and mentally demanding job. I walk about three miles a day, and go on at least one long hike in the mountains every summer. My friends are still my friends in spite of the times I tried to be a hermit for awhile, and my family thankfully takes me for granted. My husband does try to baby me sometimes and I try to appreciate the good intentions!

My advice would be stay fit, stretch, lift weights, do some kind of aerobics and have fun while you do it - a partner or a class? Eat really well, do whatever it takes to get a good sleep, keep in touch with people. I feel like I'm kind of high maintenance sometimes but it pays off.

Good luck to you!