Living alone

John Geipel's story

It was two years ago, when I was 68 years old, that a Neurologist told me that I had Parkinson's. "You've probably had it for five years already," he stated. The Neurologist had reached this conclusion after asking me to walk up and down the corridor, carrying out rigidity tests and observing my movements.

I was in hospital for a burst appendix, so this wasn't exactly the news I was expecting. A doctor looking after me in hospital had spotted something wasn't right and sent a Neurologist to come and look at me.

I had noticed changes before then, but couldn't explain them. I was tired, was having violent nightmares, was often disoriented and confused, and occasionally lost my balance. My handwriting was getting worse, and I sometimes struggled doing my buttons or zips up. A couple of friends had commented that I stooped while I walked and that it took me a while to get dressed. I'd put all of these things down to simply getting old.

Looking back at the few years before my diagnosis there were other symptoms too. For example, I felt depressed and had difficulties with my bowels. 

After being diagnosed someone told me to find out if there was a local Parkinson's Disease Society branch in my area. I found one and started to go along to the meetings. These have been a great help as they've given me the opportunity to meet others living with the condition and to share ideas. You certainly don't have to face Parkinson's alone.

One thing I was worried about when I was diagnosed was how I would cope living on my own. Early on, a health visitor and an occupational therapist assessed what modifications were needed to my house, and I've now got handrails by the bath and a second banister on the stairs. A friend has gravelled over the flowerbeds at the front of the house so I don't have to worry about doing any gardening. The same friend has also made a few other modifications to make things easier for me around the house. A couple of local teenagers come around and help me with the cleaning. Having to give up driving has left my feeling quite isolated, but I've applied for attendance vouchers to help me get out and about.

Sometimes I do feel frustrated that I can't do everything I used to, but I usually manage to remain positive. I realised pretty quickly that I could either crawl under the duvet or confront my condition. I find keeping up to date with Parkinson's research really interesting, and often review new books for The Parkinson, the Parkinson's Disease Society's quarterly magazine for members. I've always been an inquisitive person anyway, having enjoyed a career as a writer, journalist, cartoonist and caricaturist. Although my tremor has prevented me from doing caricatures as often as I'd like, I thought it would be fitting to do one for this website, to show that Parkinson's needn't stand in the way of doing things that you enjoy.