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• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 2 years or under >> Elaine - Interview 34 >> Elaine was given a thorough examination the first time she saw the neurologist.

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 >> 5-7 years >> Fiona and John - Interview 09 >> Fiona realised that it might not have been easy for the consultant having to tell them the diagnosis.

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 >> 8-12 years >> Natalia - Interview 18 >> Natalia saw a consultant who dismissed her symptoms and seemed irritated by her suggestion that she had Parkinson’s Disease.

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 >> Carers >> Mari - Interview 45 >> Mari suspected that Humphrey couldn’t resist putting on a show for his doctor and that as a carer perhaps she should have told him the truth.

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 >> Ruth - Interview 26 >> Ruth was shocked at her GP’s apparent indifference to the news of her Parkinson’s disease. She brings him printouts of information from the internet.

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 >> Over 12 years >> Geraldine - Interview 28 >> Geraldine described why she decided to register with a new young GP, who has helped her to cope.

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 >> 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 >> 5-7 years >> Rachel - Interview 39 >> Rachel saw how difficult it may be for a GP who does not know you well to make an accurate assessment of changes which might be very slight.

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 >> Tom - Interview 06 >> Tom thought that because some pink tablets relieved his symptoms this meant he was OK. He didn’t realise the test had revealed his diagnosis.

Tom was 27 when he was diagnosed. His medication includes levodopa. He experiences ‘on’ and ‘off’ periods most days. During the on period he may also have dyskinesia. He set up the Cure Parkinson’s Trust.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 5-7 years >> Wendy - Interview 07 >> Wendy had had symptoms for five years before she saw a neurologist who said she had to wait another year for him to be sure of the diagnosis.

Wendy was diagnosed in 2002. She has problems with balance and memory and a tremor in her right hand. Roprinirole controls her symptoms well.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 3-4 years >> Angela - Interview 10 >> Angela’s GP had no idea what was wrong with her but agreed to enter her for a ‘nerve trial’. Once at the hospital the cause of her problems was recogn

Angela was diagnosed in 2004 with Parkinson’s Disease. She takes Ropinirole, Orphenadrine and Requip. Acupuncture has helped her symptoms.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 5-7 years >> Karen - Interview 12 >> Karen looked for information about the pills she had been given on the internet.

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 >> 5-7 years >> Karen - Interview 12 >> Karen looked for information about the pills she had been given on the internet.

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 >> 5-7 years >> Wendy - Interview 07 >> Wendy had had symptoms for five years before she saw a neurologist who said she had to wait another year for him to be sure of the diagnosis.

Wendy was diagnosed in 2002. She has problems with balance and memory and a tremor in her right hand. Roprinirole controls her symptoms well.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> Over 12 years >> Tom - Interview 06 >> Tom would like to know that his needs will be recognised and that appropriate support would be available should he need it.

Tom was 27 when he was diagnosed. His medication includes levodopa. He experiences ‘on’ and ‘off’ periods most days. During the on period he may also have dyskinesia. He set up the Cure Parkinson’s Trust.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 8-12 years >> Sharon - Interview 31 >> Sharon distinguishes between what is best talked about to the neurologist and what the nurse is better for.

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 >> 8-12 years >> Natalia - Interview 18 >> Natalia had not been convinced that it was appropriate to accept advice on medication from anyone other than the neurologist.

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 >> Over 12 years >> Tom - Interview 06 >> Tom thought that because some pink tablets relieved his symptoms this meant he was OK. He didn’t realise the test had revealed his diagnosis.

Tom was 27 when he was diagnosed. His medication includes levodopa. He experiences ‘on’ and ‘off’ periods most days. During the on period he may also have dyskinesia. He set up the Cure Parkinson’s Trust.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 5-7 years >> Bob - Interview 22 >> Bob feels he can rely on his neurologist. He is easy to reach and understands him.

Bob was 51 when he was diagnosed. He has tremor in his right hand and is slower at doing things. He continues to work full time.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> Carers >> Mari - Interview 45 >> Mari suspected that Humphrey couldn’t resist putting on a show for his doctor and that as a carer perhaps she should have told him the truth.

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 >> Natalia - Interview 18 >> Natalia saw a consultant who dismissed her symptoms and seemed irritated by her suggestion that she had Parkinson’s Disease.

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 was slightly surprised that the NHS consultant had a different view on medication to the one he had seen privately.

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 >> Over 12 years >> Geraldine - Interview 28 >> Geraldine relies on a GP who has made it his business to become familiar with PD and the Parkinson’s disease nurse.

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 >> 2 years or under >> Penny - Interview 17 >> When Penny was referred on by her GP she was expecting to discover that her symptoms were caused by stress.

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 >> Gina - Interview 41 >> Gina, who knew nothing about Parkinson’s disease at the time of her diagnosis went away confused and terrified.

After Gina was put on Ropinerole she started gambling on the internet and lost large sums of money. There was no indication at that time on the leaflet that came with the medication that gambling might be a problem.

• 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 >> 5-7 years >> Karen - Interview 12 >> Karen only realised that she probably had Parkinson’s disease when she looked up her medication on the internet.

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.