Transcript - Dave Trinder's story 

Dave Trinder describes how he was diagnosed with Parkinson's and his hopes for the future.

Dave Trinder's story

Hi, my name's Dave Trinder. I've got Parkinson's. I'm 52 in May. I was diagnosed 4 years ago.

It started off with a few problems. My left arm wasn't working very well and I tended to be carrying it a bit. I was washing my hair and it was only my one right arm was working properly and my left arm wasn't doing much.

I'm a member of a football club and I used to help people with rubs and things like that before the game. And I noticed my left arm wasn't doing anything at all. My right arm was going up and down like a good one, and the left one was doing nothing.

I wasn't too concerned because a few years ago I broke my arm badly playing football and I had to have it plated up. I just thought it was a wear and tear injury and things didn't work very well because of that.

It went on and on and I finally went to the doctors about it and he recommended I went to see a neurologist in Cheltenham and I was diagnosed with Parkinson's.

Hearing that, I was a bit shocked to say the least. I didn't really know what Parkinson's was. I just thought again, it was something people get when they are very old and shaky and doddery and I didn't really feel like that at all.

But it was explained to me a bit about it and how surprising how many young people do get it. From all the symptoms I've had, I've had it since I was about 40 apparently, so it's slowly progressively been getting worse.

But not the end of the world. I'm just trying to get on with my life and as you do really, just get on with it and everything as standard.

When I was diagnosed I felt quite shocked, because I didn't really understand what the disease was. I didn't understand what was going to happen to me in the future and things like that so they were all questions I asked at the time.

Regarding the Parkinson's Disease Society [now Parkinson's UK], I've actually been in touch with them a few times. I've actually spoken to the Parkinson's nurse in Cheltenham and found her very helpful with a few personal issues, which I was very concerned about, especially regarding my children and potential illnesses to them. I found her a great help.

In regards to the Society, I've done a couple of fundraising events, I've done a tandem parachute jump, and a 5k walk in Bristol last year. I raised about two and a half thousand pounds in total for the two things.

I know the Parkinson's are there and I know I can look on the website. I do occasionally get on there and have a hunt around, see what's coming through, see what's in the news, see what people are talking about.

But I'm trying to really get on with my life as I am at the moment. I'm aware I've got Parkinson's, I can't hide the fact, I can't ignore it. But I'm just really trying, making sure it doesn't wear me down or get me down. I'm just getting on with things. But I know they're there if I need to get hold of them.

Regarding the Parkinson's, I still play a bit of five-a-side football although I go in goal these days now because I struggle.

I can actually run better then I can walk and I can walk better backwards than I can forwards sometimes. It's crazy how I worked that out but it's true. If I'm struggling, if I'm staggering around sometimes, I actually turn around and walk backwards. I'm straight as a die but to stumble along forwards is a bit embarrassing.

I can be walking down the road sometimes and people look at me and think: "God, look at that drunken so-and-so." And I'm just strolling and stuttering along - but I'm actually on the way to the pub not from the pub. It wouldn't be so bad if I'd been in there first but unfortunately people just take a perception of you and just think: "Look at him."

I've got two young children, 15 and 11. I want to be around for them for a long time to come yet obviously. I know this won't kill me, but the more debilitating it gets the harder it's going to become. I want to do a lot of things with them still and I still want to be there for them in every way I can be. And so I'm just cracking on with life anyway. I'm not letting anything hold me back.

The most important thing for me is we can actually find a cure for Parkinson's.

Obviously the PDS [now Parkinson's UK] are doing everything they can do. All the fundraising that goes on, it's amazing the amount of people who donate and give things as there are so many charities around.

But the more they can give to Parkinson's, the more it will help me personally. I want to be there for my children in the future and obviously a cure is going to go 100% of the way towards that.

• email
• Share