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• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> Support and support groups >> Support and support groups

Support and support groups

• >> Parkinson's disease >> Support and support groups >> Support and support groups

Support and support groups

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• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> DBS >> Joe - Interview 32 >> Joe had found the PDS very helpful, if a bit unrealistically upbeat, when things were very difficult for him before he had Deep Brain Stimulation.

Joe developed Parkinson’s disease while in his 40’s. Deep Brain Stimulation when he was 60 produced a dramatic improvement in his symptoms.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 5-7 years >> Rex - Interview 04 >> Rex found something very reassuring about being with people who understood what PD was about.

Rex was diagnosed six years ago. His main symptom now is tremor in his right hand and he is still active and mobile.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 3-4 years >> Peter - Interview 11 >> Peter describes why he became enthusiastic supporter of the local branch of the Parkinson’s disease society.

Peter was diagnosed six years ago. He experiences tremor, freezing and rigidity and considerable problems sleeping at night. He takes slow release Sinemet and Amitriptyline.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> Carers >> Mari - Interview 45 >> Mari felt that at each stage she had to decide whether or not to offer to help.

Mari describes what it’s like seeing and, herself, dealing with the symptoms of her husband’s Parkinson’s Disease.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 8-12 years >> Judie - Interview 20 >> Judie described the unfeeling attitude of the neurologist she had gone to see privately and suggests some of the things that might have made the consu

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 >> 8-12 years >> Ruth - Interview 26 >> Ruth described the brutality of the original delivery of her diagnosis, her immediate reaction, ways in which people have been able to help and how th

Ruth was diagnosed 9 years ago. She has tremor, stiffness, difficulty sleeping and tiredness. She has to pace herself. Some days are easier to cope with than others.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 2 years or under >> Elaine - Interview 34 >> Elaine's partner was perhaps too inclined to feel that she should not do things.

Elaine was diagnosed abut 6 months ago though some of her symptoms had been coming on for several years. Many of the problems she had had have improved since she began on medication.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> Carers >> Anna - Interview 29 >> Anna would have liked to be able to discuss her concerns but was reticent about approaching their GP

Her partner was diagnosed with PD 18 months ago. So far he doesn’t need medication and they have told very few people about the diagnosis

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 3-4 years >> Helen - Interview 40 >> Helen, aged 40 finds support from a friend whose situation resembles hers but doesn't want to meet many other young people with PD.

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 >> 8-12 years >> Sharon - Interview 31 >> Sharon had gone to a support group but decided that though she was normally quite sociable this was a nightmare.

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 >> DBS >> Elisabet - Interview 08 >> Elisabet was shocked to see people who had become dependent on someone else and preferred to remain in denial about her future.

Elisabet was diagnosed in 1990. In 2006, she had deep brain stimulation which was successful and has improved her symptoms considerably.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 2 years or under >> Penny - Interview 17 >> The occupational health department at her work provided counselling which helped Penny deal with her practical and her emotional needs.

Although she was advised not to mention her newly diagnosed Parkinson’s disease when she had to change her job she has found that disclosure was necessary. As a divorced woman she can’t help worrying about who will care for her in future if her condition deteriorates.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 5-7 years >> Fiona and John - Interview 09 >> Fiona and her husband had not wanted to join a group but he met someone on a charity stall and had such a useful conversation that he changed his mind

Fiona’s husband was diagnosed in 2003 at the age of 42 with early onset Parkinson’s Disease. He has continued to work full time.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 2 years or under >> Kevin - Interview 16 >> Kevin resisted joining the local group because he thought it would be full of old people. He found he couldn’t tell who were the carers and who had PD

Kevin was diagnosed 2 years ago. Although he still experiences stiffness, particularly in his shoulder and neck, most of his symptoms were managed well by Ropinirole but it caused nausea and has os now on Rogitotine 4mg vvpatches.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 5-7 years >> Karen - Interview 12 >> Karen gets support from being able to get together with other young people with Parkinson’s disease.

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 >> 3-4 years >> Humphrey - Interview 01 >> Humphrey was curious about other people’s experiences of Parkinson’s and joined a group for younger people with the disease, but it was not very activ

Humphrey was able to continue working as a writer, broadcaster and musician after he was diagnosed. Although his Parkinson’s was progressing fairly quickly he maintained a resolutely positive attitude, trying to solve each problem as it presented itself, such as voice recognition software when typing became difficult. He died unexpectedly of a heart attack in 2005.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 8-12 years >> Natalia - Interview 18 >> Natalia enjoyed meeting a local man with Parkinson’s and found a local group more reassuring than she expected.

Diagnosed in 1999, Natalia takes Madopar and Mirapexin but has times during the day when she feels weak, and has difficulty standing and understanding and participating in conversations.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 3-4 years >> Nicolas - Interview 23 >> Nicolas made some contacts through the PDS and feels that you can learn more from other people with the illness than from anywhere else.

Diagnosed 4 years ago, Nicolas now takes a low dose of Mirapexin. He works full time. He experiences stiffness, tiredness and difficulties with walking and handwriting.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 2 years or under >> Ann - Interview 19 >> A 6-week course gave Ann a lot of practical help but she doesn’t feel ready to join a PD group.

Diagnosed three years ago, Ann has tremor in her right hand. The first year after diagnosis was very difficult, but since taking Mirapexin, she feels more able to cope.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 3-4 years >> Gaynor - Interview 15 >> Gaynor joined her local group with trepidation, now she is fully committed to its activities.

Gaynor was diagnosed 4 and half years ago. She takes Mirapexin. Fatigue, sleep disturbance and stiffness are the main symptoms she experiences.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 5-7 years >> Rex - Interview 04 >> Rex found something very reassuring about being with people who understood what PD was about.

Rex was diagnosed six years ago. His main symptom now is tremor in his right hand and he is still active and mobile.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 2 years or under >> Penny - Interview 17 >> Penny, diagnosed when she was 51, did not feel ready to see how Parkinson’s disease could affect someone of her age.

Although she was advised not to mention her newly diagnosed Parkinson’s disease when she had to change her job she has found that disclosure was necessary. As a divorced woman she can’t help worrying about who will care for her in future if her condition deteriorates.

• >> Parkinson's disease >> Support and support groups >> Support and support groups

Support and support groups

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> Support and support groups >> Support and support groups

Support and support groups

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 3-4 years >> Keith - Interview 14 >> Keith admits that part of his interest in other people with PD is to make comparisons with his own condition and to try predict how things will go for

Keith’s symptoms have progressed slowly since he was diagnosed in 2004. His symptoms are tremor in his left hand, slowness and fatique. He is currently taking Madopar.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 5-7 years >> Fiona and John - Interview 09 >> Fiona and her husband had not wanted to join a group but he met someone on a charity stall and had such a useful conversation that he changed his mind

Fiona’s husband was diagnosed in 2003 at the age of 42 with early onset Parkinson’s Disease. He has continued to work full time.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 2 years or under >> Kevin - Interview 16 >> Kevin resisted joining the local group because he thought it would be full of old people. He found he couldn’t tell who were the carers and who had PD

Kevin was diagnosed 2 years ago. Although he still experiences stiffness, particularly in his shoulder and neck, most of his symptoms were managed well by Ropinirole but it caused nausea and has os now on Rogitotine 4mg vvpatches.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> DBS >> Elisabet - Interview 08 >> Elisabet was shocked to see people who had become dependent on someone else and preferred to remain in denial about her future.

Elisabet was diagnosed in 1990. In 2006, she had deep brain stimulation which was successful and has improved her symptoms considerably.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 8-12 years >> Sharon - Interview 31 >> Sharon had gone to a support group but decided that though she was normally quite sociable this was a nightmare.

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.