Hi. I can honestly tell u PD is not the end of a world. You could be diagnosed with Cancer , or lung problem ,like Emphysema or some other dreadful condition which are far worse , then what you have. Believe me I have PD for 6 years, am at the end stage now. I had DBS put in 2 x. First time it infected and had to be taken out. The second is still in but infected also. Got MRSA. On antibiotics for 6 wks , trough pick line IV at home. well that is enough scary stuff, there is enough people here , who had DBS with out major problem and I have no doubt you will hear from them. I would say delay taking medication as long as u can stand it. But when u decide to take them , take it on empty stomach it works better and acts faster. it likes protein if u eat to close to your dose it will bind with the protein and you do not get the desired relieve . You will have to wait until tour next dose. Which is to long of a wait and to long to suffer. Then there is the exercise, that slows down progression of PD. Do as much as u can . Walking , stationary bike, dancing for endurance,weight training for muscle strength , Thai chi and yoga before u go to bed for relaxation and coordination . Pick the one which suits u best . Swimming is also good. You may decide join a fitness club. You may exercise more now then when u were younger. The meds. may make you nauseated. That will go away. No 2 people with PD are alike , some progress slowly . So help your self exercise , eat right and do not stress and you be OK. Zlatica

hi sueb... i know how you feel. i was dianosed over a year ago. I know all about the symptoms of this disease, but i have chosen to not worry about tomorrow. sufficient enough are the problems for a day. I refuse to think about what might be and choose to do my best today. i am sure i am probably speaking for many here in this forum. we cannot choose what happens to us in this lifetime but we can choose how we will react. this forum gives me tremendous strength and they seem to have more knowledge than many of our doctors.

The idiot that wrote the book is the dummy not you my dear. I will try to write more on Monday but just forget that stupid book....

Funny how the different strokes for different folks thing works,eh? When I was first diagnosed, I read PD for Dummies and loved it!

Hi Sue, there's no set course for a life with PD, it's very much an individual thing, which can be the case with other illnessess. PD is not the worse illness around but it can be sooo trying,tiring & exhausting both mentally & physically. It can be a much worse if you have other health issues to cope with too and my heart goes out to those who are in that situation.
I've read the "PD for Dummies" book, but it states the obvious mostly, but it also gives great advice & information... I find that it's best use is that you can 'Cherry Pick' the parts that are relevant to you.
The course PD that takes is so different from person to person regarding reaction to meds & treatments. Over time you'll learn how to adjust to certain things... some may only be slight or minor. I think that living with PD is a vast learning curve...
From the start I've wanted to know what I could possible come up against regarding PD..... some family tried to stop me doing this but I was determined to know so I can be as ready as I can be should that happen... but some things do catch you off guard, but that I think adds to strenghten your resolve & personal ressistance to fight it whatever way you can.

Please don't hesitate Sue, this group has some lovely members who I'm sure, me included are willing to help.

I wish you well...

Yours Sincerely ~ Dirky ?;O))x

Sue,
In my oppinion PD for dummies is a good place to start... there is a lot of information in there and it's writtin in an easy to understand manner... I do think no matter what book you started out with you will be overwhelmed because this is a very overwhelming situation... There are all sorts of symptoms that may or may not happen to you and the time they do can not be predicted... there are many meds and many combos and just reading the side effects is enough to scare anyone... My best advice is first of all don't be afraid you will be overwhelmed initially... then just do more reading the more informed you are the better (i have several books i can suggest) and take it all with a grain of salt... if there are things you read that concern you write them down... talk to your neuro about them.. read... ask questions... exercise your mind and body and keep pushing yourself... oh and vent here any time you want we understand... hugs ... paula

Sue,

Check the publication date. Probably 2007 or 2009. A lot of things have changed..... and of course, some things haven't. What is important is that a lot more things ARE changing and WILL change. Stick around.

Beekeeper

Hi,

I really feel for you.
I was diagnosed 18 months ago and thought my world had ended.
I bought a couple of books and haven't read any of them yet. I have worked in libraries for 20 year and I know they will be there if and when I need them.
What I needed was to touch base with other people like me. People who are on this journey too but in a different place. I needed to know I wasn't alone and I know I'm not anymore.
Yes all that crappy stuff is there but it can be in anyone's life.

For my birthday this year I gave myself a motto to try to live by - I am not going to live a life that has limitations but that has modifications.
Hang in there and keep smiling.
Darls :)

My reaction was similar to PhilGS. I loved it even though it had some pretty scary stuff. I take it with me because I use it as a reference. I have it on my Kindle for when I travel. Layman's words make a lot of the stuff we are going though more understandable and it has a great glossary.

It must have been frightening to fall down the stairs with your granddaughter! I took a few scary pre-diagnosis falls, too - one in the classroom & scared the kids half to death.

As for the book, your energy is too dear to waste on anticipatory anxiety about symptoms you may never get. So now that you've read some worst case scenarios, put the book aside & do what you can to care for yourself & your current symptoms.

It's hard to let go of certain responsibilities that have helped define us over the years - for me it was teaching. I continue to strive to be at peace with compromise, & an ever-evolving me. I think it's important to informed & proactive, but also to be gentle & patient with ourselves.