Burckle,
Good question, each of us notices small effects, and assumes it is just ourselves who are affected, but we probably all experience similar effects.
One such effect that my wife commented on only today, was that I am better in the morning before I take my meds, than when I have taken my meds and they have worn off. In other words, the "off" experienced when my meds have stopped working, is worse than the morning off, when I have not taken any meds. Anyone else noticed this?
Another one is I can always tell when my meds are about to kick in, by my legs becoming "restless". It is an uncomfortable feeling, but soon passes and I am fully "on".
After 16 years of PD, it is difficult to remember whether some things like my perception of time has altered. Now, I find time is passing very rapidly, much faster than before I was diagnosed. But life when you are retired and having a good time, after the stresses of a demanding job, is bound to seem to go faster. (We are just back after 16 days in Tahiti, very enjoyable except for the total of 40 hours in a plane, and the massive security arrangements in the USA, even though I was only in transit in LA.
They even took my fingerprints!! I had to take my shoes off and have them carefully examined, all this, and I was only passing through)
An increase in interest in gambling is often attributed to PD meds, and there I have to plead guilty. However, I seem to win more often than I lose, but I can't put that down to PD meds. LOL.
Ron

Glad to have you back. Did your lowered stress and/or increased vitamin D continue to have positive effects?

My relationship with my meds is similar to that you describe. Definite difference between unmedicated and off, the latter being far worse.

My apologies to you and Margaret for the madmen ruining my country.

-Rick

Hi Birte:

I've been trying to think if anything big happened some 40,000 years ago and have come up with nothing. There was a major warming some 1.05 million years ago which compromised the stability of the West Antarctic and Greenland Ice Sheets. Some 74,000 years ago, the great volcano, Toba, exploded; it was the largest eruption since Yellowstone went off around 700,000 years ago and occurred at the beginning of glacial stage 4. Some have suggested that this eruption may have drastically reduced Earth's human population and greated a genetic bottleneck. At about 420,000 years ago we had a major warming event which probably compromised the stability of the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets; sea level may have gone up by about 20 meters. There were other warm and cold events but I can't point to anything specific and say that this started our species on the road to civilization. If I had to guess I would say that it was probably Stage 11 (which began about 420,000 years ago). It was characterized by a warm climate, longer then any interglacial since, high sea level and some technological innovations.

All the best,

Lloyd

...or what I mean is...we all handle our illness differently and therefore I extend my respect to everyone on this forum however you choose to deal with it.Needless to say I wouldn`t rule out the possibility of your /my attitudes and strategies changing as the disease progresses.
However,I must say...with regard to Chris`s post and the reply by Aftermathman...these two attitudes towards handling the disease are probably just about at opposite ends of the scale as you can get.And both are justifiable for different reasons.
I don`t know how long you have been diagnosed Aftermathman,but if I can ask....is there a difference between "obsessing" about your condition,and "accepting" it .
Personally,I "accepted " my condition from day 1 but was too heavily caught up in grief from my mums sudden death [3 weeks prior to my diagnosis] to think or even care how my llife would pan out with it.
I didn`t take drugs immediately,I didn`t read articles with a vengeance...I didn`t join a society or support group.I just lived day too day.
Had I have done as Chris is doing,kept a record,albeit not as intensive,[but that is probably because I am an air head and not too organised] I would have avoided losing 3 years of my life wherupon I muddied through with the wrong drugs,poor support from the hospital [NOT my GP who was brilliant] and my personal life was rock bottom.
I could barely function. I just thought this was the norm.And I went along with it...smiling still,but so very ill.
It wasn`t until my GP said enough is enough and intervened with the hospital that my drugs were changed and hey presto..I got my llife back.
Had I have been more vigilant,had other follks to talk to and discuss issues with,that I realised a whole heap of vital and soul saving stuff about this disease.
I agree wholeheartedly,it is not good to obsess ...but there lies the difference.To invest some time in logging changes both of physical and a mental/mood swing nature,I feel there is great value to both yourself and others.Information imparted can only be a good thing.

Incidentally,as much as I empathise with those who have felt it necessary for whatever reason,to hide their illness,and truly my heart goes out to you,I have only ever reaped the good by wearing my heart on my sleeve.
For example,if struggling to fumble for change in my purse at a queued up checkout,I have found that irritated mumblings and frustrated "coughs" have quickly given way to "can I be of some assistance? " when I have quietly turned and simply said "I am so sorry to keep you waiting.I have Parkinsons Disease"

In my village,is a fund which goes back to the year "dot" ...and the money is awarded each year to a person who the commmittee feel warrant it.
I am absolutely humbled and thrilled to discover that this year I am to be the recipient,the money of course will be handed over to Parkinsons research.But had no-one have known I had this condition...then this opportunity would have been passed up.

Although I don`t do as Chris does so very admirably,I amfast becoming more aware of changes and trying to keep a mental flooat on what is happening in my life.

After all....if I hadn`t got this disease I wouldn`t have stuffed stupid candles in my ears...[see thread ..Time for a laugh]

And don`t anyone yell at me!!! The last time I posted serious I was bashed.
If you do that again I`ll just have to go back to writing my goofy stuff.
And then you`ll be sorry.

Love
Me
x

that if I personally tracked my PD that intensively then I would be in danger of obsessing. I have been dx'ed for 4 years.

Actually when I was first given a pre dx, (you know, the "it looks like PD but as you're 40 we don't know so wait 6 months and see what happens"), I used to test myself every day. This made me depressed and my Doctor told me to stop these tests.

Personally I feel better when I try and forget PD, of course this is made difficult by the disease. I don't have the mental fortitude that Chris obviously has, to test myself and measure my undoubted decline.

Interestingly, I do try to hide my PD a lot.

Perhaps acceptance and obsession are relative terms and we each arrive at our own definition of each of these terms.

Neil, (aka Aftermathman).

<Count now stands at 13 threads since I droned on about Spheramine. Damn that just ruined the streak>

Thank God you`ve changed your name.Do you realise how much concentration it took just to write After...etc etc let alone SAY it!!!
I have developed a lisp.

I know you didn`t mean any disrespect..which is why I opened up my reply as I did...to put any thought of that to rest.I value your attitude and indeed you have a very good point.We can all get caught up with our condition to the point that it becomes dreary..not just for us,but for those around us
Even to the point of making it an excuse to behave in the way some folks do.Imagine,taking in all the facts that have been likened to pD that have been brought to light here...

Police officer..."And why were you going aroound the island for the 360th time in your vehicle sir?"
"Well..it`s like this.I have Parkinson`s disease and my right foot sort of FROZE on the accelerator"

Wife to husband..."And why were you chasing that TART down the street when you have a classy broad like me waiting at home?" BASH!!!
"Er....well dear...blink blink I ..er...have Parkinsons Disease."

You get the picture.

Hope you are hanging in there...and you are enjoying a plateau at the minute.

x

Thank you again, Lloyd for bothering to answer my question with so much information. I knew you would know. Too bad Toba erupted 30.000 years too early. There goes my neat little theory. Thank you for letting me pick your brain. I've been the rude patient who consults the doctor at a party, and you have been very generous.
Wouldn't it have been neat if I'd been right........

All the best,

birte

Birte:

Thanks for pickimg my brain, scattered though it may be. I love speculating and your questions occupied my mind during the long bus ride from home to the gambling den and back. I'm now going to spend today (Monday) thinking about your post

All the best,

Lloyd

I was just wondering, Lloyd, if in your Monday's thoughts you found any new and exciting answers or came to any interesting conclusions?

All the best,

birte

Hi Birte:

I have been spending some time thinking about the causes of global warming; not the present day warming but warmings that occurred at about 400,000 years ago and a more severe one that occurred about one million years ago. In both cases, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and the Greenland Ice Sheet melted in whole or in part and raised sea level.

How's that for keeping your mind off PD