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• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 5-7 years >> David - Interview 43 >> David explains what it feels like when people address his wife instead of to him when they reply to something he has said.

When David was diagnosed with PD he was put on Requip (ropinirole). When he realized that he had a problem with hypersexuality he was changed onto Mirapaxin. He then got disastrously involved in gambling. Now he no longer takes dopamine agonists and no longer experiences any compulsive tendencies.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 5-7 years >> Fred - Interview 30 >> Fred who was still driving found that having a disabled badge had advantages; there was a lot of help for people with walking difficulties.

Diagnosed with Parkinsonian syndrome 5 years ago. This condition is only partially responsive to Dopamine and is therefore difficult to treat. In spite of a steady deterioration in his condition Fred remains active and cheerful.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 8-12 years >> Judie - Interview 20 >> Judie found that her disabled person’s railcard, did not just cut the cost of travel but helped her get into shows and cinemas.

Although having Parkinson’s meant that Judie had to give up work, she has found herself doing all sorts of adventurous things she might never have done otherwise.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 5-7 years >> Karen - Interview 12 >> Karen warns the travel agents in case she needs some help during the journey.

Karen was 34 when she first started having symptoms down the right side of her body. She experiences a lot of freezing and festination and some dyskinesia.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> DBS >> Khadim - Interview 38 >> Khadim explains how he tried to deal with his embarrassment when he felt his symptoms were being observed.

Khadim’s Parkinsons disease was diagnosed in 2002. Although he was tried on many different treatments none of them helped. In January 2008 he was given Deep Brain Stimulation. This has been very successful.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 8-12 years >> Sharon - Interview 31 >> Sharon realised that once people knew they would see her in a different light and she wanted to avoid this.

Forced by her Parkinsons symptoms to retire from a career she loved as a teacher Sharon turned things round by becoming a business woman creating the very successful Cake Bake Company.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 5-7 years >> Rachel - Interview 39 >> Rachel was given a stair rail and a contraption to help her pull herself up in bed.

Rachel was diagnosed 6 years ago when she was 70. She takes Madopar which allows her to function pretty normally. She is not sure whether things take longer to do is because of her age or because of her Parkinsons disease.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> Over 12 years >> Alan - Interview 03 >> Alan has a chair-lift, a wet-room and has bought himself an automatic chair.

Diagnosed in 1992, Alan can’t walk until he has taken his morning medication. He has ballroom dancing lessons once a week which keeps him fit and mobile.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> Over 12 years >> Geraldine - Interview 28 >> Geraldine is determined not to give in.

Geraldine was diagnosed in 1990. She was a single parent with three teenage children. She never-the-less succeeded in holding increasingly demanding executive jobs in the voluntary sector and was finally chief executive of the Charities Commission before retiring recently. And she is still working on many projects and committees.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> DBS >> Khadim - Interview 38 >> Khadim explains how he tried to deal with his embarrassment when he felt his symptoms were being observed.

Khadim’s Parkinsons disease was diagnosed in 2002. Although he was tried on many different treatments none of them helped. In January 2008 he was given Deep Brain Stimulation. This has been very successful.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> Over 12 years >> Geraldine - Interview 28 >> Geraldine needed help when she would freeze while out walking and describes how some people responded.

Geraldine was diagnosed in 1990. She was a single parent with three teenage children. She never-the-less succeeded in holding increasingly demanding executive jobs in the voluntary sector and was finally chief executive of the Charities Commission before retiring recently. And she is still working on many projects and committees.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 3-4 years >> Helen - Interview 40 >> Helen has learnt not to be upset when people seem to be commenting on her staggering.

Helen was 33 when she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. 6 years later her symptoms were well controlled and she was on Rotigotine patches she began secretly gambling on line. When she admitted this and was taken off the patches she quickly lost the urge to gamble.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> DBS >> Neil - Interview 21 >> Neil describes two incidents when his slurred speech led to accusations of drunkenness.

Diagnosed 13 years ago, Neil has had GDNF and deep brain stimulation which improved his symptoms. Now he has stiffness, slow walking, and sometimes his speech is affected.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> DBS >> Stephen - Interview 44 >> Stephen's friends treated him differently, although he wanted to be treated normally and as who he was.

Stephen was diagnosed with PD when he was 33. After several years when no medication proved successful this was redefined as Parkinsonism and he was offered the DBS operation, This was carried out in 2005 with very good results.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 8-12 years >> Sharon - Interview 31 >> Sharon realised that once people knew they would see her in a different light and she wanted to avoid this.

Forced by her Parkinsons symptoms to retire from a career she loved as a teacher Sharon turned things round by becoming a business woman creating the very successful Cake Bake Company.