1. My symptoms started in August of 2005. First symptom was tremor and lack of right arm swing, and bad handwriting. What made me seek help was the effect the tremor was having on my job performance.

2. I went on Sinemet in February of 2006, immedietaly upon diagnosis. For me it was a question of not being able to continue working without the meds.

3. I don't want to scare you as everyone will progress differently, but I feel that my PD is very aggressive. In fact I am getting ready to quit working and apply for SSDI. I am now not only on a high dosage of Sinemet, but I also take Azilect, and a very high dose of Mirapex. And, no the medications are not controlling my symptoms adequately for me to continue working.

4. I can not believe that your neuro gave you a timeframe statement! He/she should know better! As I said earlier everyone will progress differently and have a different set of symptoms and experiences. I know many people who have had PD for 20+ years and are still doing quite well. You may want to check out the other support group that I am a member of www.patientslikeme.com to see some of the symptoms, progression rates, and medications that fellow PD'ers are logging.

5. There is some schools of thought that Azilect has shown promise in slowing the progression rate, but I do not have any statistics on that. And, of course there are many others who do not feel that Azilect is any better at slowing progression than any other PD drug.

As a closing, please do not let anyone tell you that in 15 years it will be all over for you. I truly believe that trying to maintain a positive attitude, eating right, trying to get an adequate amount of rest, exercising as much as possible and drinking lots and lots of water, will benefit you as much as anything. And of course I subscribe to relying on my Heavenly Father as I believe that He is the only physician that truly knows what is going on in my body. Without Him I could not get through one single day.

I will pray that your experience with PD is a slow progression rate and very minor symptoms.

Be blessed!

1) Some years ago I had a rarely occasional tremor in my right arm, three years ago, I had difficulty writing : Sm print, having to push right handd with left hand. went to a new primary care physician he diagnosed me in the first visit

2) senemet right away

3) initially it seemed I was falling apart, balance, trmor, less use in using right arm, brain freezze, softness in speaking, muscle spasms

4) told 15-20 years beforeend

5)exercise

boy I'm tired

I was diagnosed with PD in 1996 at age 47. I was having difficulty writing ( cramping in rt. hand and small handwriting ) . My job at that time required a lot of writing to rebuild client files that had been destroyed in a fire. I thought I may have done damage through overuse, and repetitive movements. Imagine my shock when I was diagnosed with PD!
That was 12 yrs. ago and I am doing great ( for the most part)
I started on Sinemet CR 200/50 a couple of years after diagnosis - choosing to go for the best quality life in the present. Within 4-5 years , I developed severe dyskinesia and my dose was reduced by half. This certainly helped the dyskinesia but didnt effectively control the PD symptoms.
I was fortunate to get a referral to the mobility clinic a the University of BC where my meds where fine tuned. Im now on Sinemet 100/25 - one and a half tablets six times a day plus Mirapex 75 mg. four times daily. When I take my meds on time - I function very well. I use a vibrating alarm to alert me. Unfortunately - even with the alarm - I am often late taking them. I can get so focused on any project that I dont remember the meds till my body has difficulty functioning. Also, I function better if I get enough rest. I'm supposed to half a daily rest or nap.
My neurologist is amazed at how slowly the disease is progressing. ( He should see me trying to get out of bed at night )
I keep busy -- enjoy grandkids, sewing, crocheting slowly, using the computer and doing volunteer work. I try to keep a positive attitude and plan to live my life to the fullest . My faith in Christ sustains me and encourages me.

I've been watching this topic with interest because I need to know myself, being a relatively new Parkinson's patient.

My Neurologist told me what others have said that everyone progresses differently and I could go 20 years before it became serious.

So my answers are:

1. I consulted the doctor in May this year with a tremor in my right leg.

2. It was September before I got any medication.

3. Haven't significantly progressed so far although my upper body now feels a bit shaky at times. Requip has helped but not controlled the tremor but I can live with it at its present level.

Like 2 of the other posters, I try to keep positive and my husband prays with me daily for healing. I get enough rest, take Co-Enzyme Q10, go to the gym and walk. Like everybody else too I expect I have days when I panic and worry sometimes and good days other times.

Hugs

my first symptoms - around 31. my daughter said i have been shaking since my 30's. i waitressed for a lot of years, carried heavy trays, i've done a lot of heavy work, etc. maybe nerves??? living with an acholic and bring up two children??? i had pain at 31 all over my body--diagnosed with fibro. my father started with pain at 26. started exercising, still had a little pain but felt better.

then it hit me at 48. got up from bed, my pillow was soaked with saliva, went to the bathroom--had wrinkles all over my face, went to exercise-terrific pain in my right bicept, went to work, and was talking with my employee, and he said to me Donna, what's wrong with you) whatever do you mean??? my whole rightside was shaking. this was october, 2005. i made an appointment with my gp, and i said to her--i think i have pd. my father had pd. she said i think your right. she referred me to a ner, she put me on sinemet (it worked).

i've been on sinemet since feb, 2006. tried others with too many side effects. i have pain all over. going to a pain management clinic next week. i'm sure my pain is from the central nervous system. my movement disorder special and gp will only give me antidepressents--which make me crazy. i've been on all of them. not taking anything for pain at present.

my pd has progressed quite quickly. i only drive within a mile of my house. i have tremors all day, not able to write too well, don't socialize--too tired from meds, memory loss, have high blood pressure, i do go to me monthly pd group.

if i can get rid of some of the pain, i will feel better. i haven't been on meds for (3) years yet. everybody progresses differently. three quarters of the people with pd have pain. i had to retire 2 mos ago from my job and go on SSDI. i never thought in a million years i would have my father's disease. he died 13 yrs ago.

i also (i exercise everyday) am not able to walk the walk anymore or talk the talk, shop with husband-not by myself. it has ruined my life (as it one was).

I will be 2 on dec 8.

thank you all so much for sharing with me... I pray not for me,,, for all of us that their will be a cure.

I asked the question, sort of trying to rate myself off others

My symptoms were similar to most of you, resting tremor becoming worse, and cant write to well.Actually if you looked at my writing, you would say,,, mmm what 2 year old did that, and i used to have beautiful fluent flowing writing.

I will myself and concentrate so hard to write easily, and to walk with out a limp, and to not shake,,, but it just doesnt happen, when the meds havent kicked in

and you know what, no-one really notices , so i hide it well

after researching, Mine started in 1999, after a colonospy, they removed 12 inches of my colon, from that time on I remmber having trembling at night-night sweats I kept feeling so tired and my legs hurt, but I thought it was depression.so did my fam. until a lady that works with my daughter noticed a differance in my walk and the way i felt she thouht it was thyroid, I lost alot of weight like from a hundred twenty eight to now I am down to 100 and 9 lbs. I was diagnosed it 2003 - 2004. Now I have terrible leg and back pn. nothing seems to help. cn3

My wife was diagnosed early 2004. Everything was great until 6 months ago. I guess the disease was progressing and was being covered by the meds. Now it is really bad. I remember the Doctors saying something about having 10 to 15 years on average. We only had about 4 years. She is now having to take lots of medicines to control not only the movement and tremors, but the terrible off times which we have to deal with.