So sorry - please give yourself plenty of time to deal with this new way of life. We will help you and 2nd and 3rd opinions are ok. Take care!

Forgive my being blunt, but it's his job to tell you about the drugs, give you his outlook and then let you decide because a l l of the drugs have drawbacks that only YOU can weigh. That aside, you have come to the right place here, and there are herbs you may want to read up on as well....you are the boss not the other way around.

HI Sue, Sorry to hear your news. Knowledge is power! and staying active is best....ropinirole is generis for requip. Which work well for me but after a couple months my ankles swell up with fluid that he had to ween me off it. Stay strong..... Brian

Sorry that you have it, it takes time to accept the diagnosis and we are here for you all the way. Many of us are way beyond the ten year mark and still enjoying life. With meds, exercise and a few adjustments we, and you, are defeating this disease one day at a time.

Welcome Sue, Sorry about your diagnosis but let us know if it is the meds you are on now or really PD. I'm hoping for you!!! I thought it was meds I was taking too although the drs. didn't think so. But I stopped the osteo meds for a year and I still had the PD symptoms - no luck for me. Maybe it will be for you. Have a good day.

Sorry to hear about your conformation of your dx of PD. Wish it had been different for you. Just remember we are all here for you and that we understand and will help you in any way we can. And, I say don't think that you will be "really bad in 8 to 10 years" like your doctor said because I'm at 15 years now and yes I have problems and issues but I'm still going. You just have to take it a day at a time and keep fighting. You just can't give in to the disease. And just remember we are here to help whenever you need it. It is tough sometimes , but you can handle it.

Thanks everyone..I'm glad I have you guys to talk to. awhen I listed all my symptoms to my dr yesterday he didn't tell me if yhet were all pqrt of pd. Maybe you guys can tell me.. Blurry eyes seeing up close (I had my eyes examined a couple of months ago.. stiff neck..getting tired easy..walking slow..
He asked me questions, but didn't answer mine. Drs are always in such a rush
Anyway, I will make a new list and try again when I go back to him in August. Does anybody know if pd is hereditary..
Thanks again fpor all your help and caring

I soooo understand the is it PD / is it a reaction from meds diagnosis. My neuro held off on being convinced I was dealing with PD - thinking maybe it was a side affect from going off one of my meds just before I saw her. She was leaning more toward PD (at least that's what my husband & I thought after my 1st visit with her). So - that leaves you feeling a bit up in the air. I would say you are in the home stretch now on getting the correct dx.

I agree with bcbid68 - knowledge is power!

Hang in there! Stay with this group! You will find PD is amazingly individualized. I'm surprised your neuro gave you 8-10 yr scenario. Personally - I wouldn't keep that thought in my head. For me the dx opened up & changed my life in many ways. (I was dx Feb 2011.) I feel I participate more in life. I know me & my body more - so I make adjustments on my "bad" days (no excuses or long explanations to others). And, I am doing those "some day" things NOW.

So - welcome to the group! Keep us posted on how you are doing. And, ask away!!

Sue b. welcome to our group. Find yourself a neurologist who specializes in movement disorders and pd. If rhw dr qho gave you 8-10 has a crystal ball I want to borrow it. From my experience there is no schedual or rate at which pd progresses. We all have good days and bad ones. We all have differing symtoms and differing responses to the available meds. understanding the potential side effects of the different meds avaialable and how they effect you is key to managing your symptoms. It mwy help to keep a journal of symtoms, medication, reactions, stressors, timing, diet, excercise. good luck and good health Alex

After diagnosis, Requip (ropiirole) was the second med I was put on. Azilect was the first. I sought a second opinion on the PD diagnosis. My first dianosis was ET, second was PD so i needed a tie breaker. Second opinion confirmed PD. He started by increasing my Requip from 6mg per day to 9 mg per day to 12mg per day. At 15mg per day I had strange things start to happen. Each dosage change was done on a 10 day schedule. Short term memory was he first to go, by shortterm I mean remembering what I had done before lunch. I have a 24 hour period that I have no recollection of to this day. Had my wife (caregiver) not noticed a change I would probably still be out in the nether world.

Bottom line for me is tread lightly and have others monitor you in everyday mode.

At this point I am completely off Requip but i also suspect that I'll have to go back on it. My advice to anyone starting Requip is have your care partner watch you very closely for change. From my experience PWP taking Requip need to be watched as the dosage is changed.