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• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 3-4 years >> Humphrey - Interview 01 >> Humphrey had looked up the symptoms and decided that he should write about his experiences.

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 >> 2 years or under >> Steve - Interview 05 >> Steve noticed that he had suddenly dropped from being first in the team to being last for no obvious reason.

Diagnosed in 2004, Steve takes Pramipexole. He has tremor in his right arm. He is a member of a running club and trains most days.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> Over 12 years >> Tom - Interview 06 >> Tom came out of the neurologist's waiting room to the horrific realisation that in time he would be like the people he had seen there. Before he went

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 >> DBS >> Elisabet - Interview 08 >> Elisabet was aware that something was wrong but didn’t allow herself to consider that it might be something serious.

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 >> 3-4 years >> Keith - Interview 14 >> Keith had done quite a lot of research before going to the neurologist.

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 >> 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.

• 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 >> 2 years or under >> Ann - Interview 19 >> Ann came to adopt a very positive attitude to the diagnosis she had been given.

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 >> 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 >> 3-4 years >> Nicolas - Interview 23 >> Nicolas feels that he had been in denial and regrets that he failed to share with his partner the concerns which actually affected both of them.

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 >> 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 >> 8-12 years >> Ruth - Interview 26 >> Ruth’s depression, panic attacks and paranoia were a reaction to being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

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 >> 8-12 years >> Sharon - Interview 31 >> Sharon had suspected for some time that she might have a serious neurological disorder and was determined to keep the diagnosis to herself.

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 >> Jean - Interview 33 >> Jean had been told several times that she had nothing wrong with her so her diagnosis came as a kind of vindication.

Jean had noticed jumping in one leg and general difficulty walking for at least two years before she was diagnosed with both Parkinsons Disease and ME, having at fist been told she had nothing wrong with her. To high doses of her medication resulted in her having hallucinations.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 2 years or under >> Elaine - Interview 34 >> For Elaine too the diagnosis and also the start of treatment made sense of symptoms for which she had been blaming herself and her circumstances.

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 >> 3-4 years >> Helen - Interview 40 >> Helen, then 33, was furious when her GP said he suspected she was suffering from Parkinson’s disease - though this was not confirmed till several yea

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 >> 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 >> DBS >> Stephen - Interview 44 >> Stephen described his reaction to people with neurological problems before he became one himself.

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.