Well, I have typed my story twice and lost it both times! So this is going to be the really short and sweet version. I am a 33 year old woman living in Washington State. Over the last year I have developed many strange symptoms that left my family practice doctor scratching his head. All tests he has run have come back normal. My symptoms began within months of a hysterectomy. The first things I noticed were: shakiness in my legs when climbing stairs, muscles feel like tight rubberbands that just just won't stretch, no stamina, severe physical fatigue, and jerky movements of my forearms when I bend at the elbow, and shakiness in my hands. My doctor suggested that I see a Rheumatologist and a Neurologist.

The Rheumatologist diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, tendonitis in my left elbow, carpal tunnel in my right hand and something called cogwheel rigidity. He said that cogwheel is most commonly associated with Parkinson's disease. He referred me to a Neurologist.

After the Neurologist examined me, he agreed that I do have cogwheel rigidity. He sent me for an MRI that came back perfectly normal. At that time he said that there was about a 50% chance that I had Young Onset Parkinson's. He asked if I was open to trying medication. He explained that If I respond to the medication, then it is more like 90% that I do have Parkinson's disease. First, I tried Requip. After three weeks I developed a rash and had to stop. He asked if I had noticed any improvements while I was on the medication. I told him that I didn't feel as stiff and achy and that I was able to bend my elbow that I hadn't been able to bend for quite some time. He switched me to Mirapex. I am not as stiff and achy and my elbow can bend. My cogwheel rigidity is starting to smooth out a little and the shakiness in my hands has improved. Long story short, the meds are working. So, I guess it is more like 90% that I do have Parkinson's disease. I have yet to hear the words, "You have Parkinson's disease." It doesn't seem real to me. Last week, they started me on Zelapar for the neuroprotective benefits. It might be possible that I can decrease my Mirapex in about a week. I wouldn't mind that at all. I feel very tired and sick to my stomach, especially the first few days of a new dose. I have resorted to taking a nap every day because otherwise I couldn't function.
I feel bad for my kids who are eight and eleven. It is summer time and they are home and I have to take a nap.

I feel like I have to look at my life differently now. I have been a stay at home mom/child care provider since my kids were born. I always thought that someday I would go back to school and get some sort of job in the medical field. I figured there was always plenty of time for me to do it all. I am not a doom and gloom kind of person, so forgive me for this...I can't help but wonder how long I will be able to function well, and what I should do with my life while I have the time. Don't get me wrong...I know it could be worse. I could have been told that I had a brain tumor and was going to die. I know that I will not DIE of Parkinson's disease. It does, however, steal your physical abilities from you a little bit at a time. That is really hard for me to deal with.

Thanks for letting me share my story. If you have any suggestions on books to read that would be helpful to me, I would love to hear about them.