Andrea Gibbons - Parkinson's symptoms at 21

Andrea Gibbons is a 37 year old mother of 2, from Nottinghamshire. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's when she was 34 after experiencing symptoms since the age of 21.

Andrea describes the impact being diagnosed with Parkinson's so young has had on her life.

Living with the symptoms since I was 21

"In April 2007, I was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson's. A shock at 34 years of age? Not really, I had been living with the symptoms since I was 21.

"A week after my 21st birthday, I gave birth to Ben. Shortly afterwards, my leg started to shake. I was reassured it was a nerve damaged in childbirth.

"Apart from depression and excessive tiredness, I didn’t notice anything more until 2005. By this time I was married to Pablo and had my daughter Isabel. I started to stutter and my leg began to drag. I couldn't write very well or even brush my teeth.

"My doctor thought it could be a benign tremor and prescribed me with high blood pressure tablets. But the tremor didn't change.

"I then saw a specialist. Parkinson's was mentioned, but it was not high on anybody's list. A scan later, I was diagnosed. As far as I was aware, Parkinson's was an illness for older people.

Advantages and side effects of medication

"Once I found out I was not going to die, I moved on positively with what I thought would help me return to my old self - medication.

"The medication definitely helped my mobility, but the side effects were awful - complete exhaustion, insomnia, nausea, muscle spasms and compulsive behaviour.

"My personality altered and this affected both me and my family. Ben just shut it out and carried on, but Isabel started leaving me off her drawings that she brought home from nursery. She ignored me and would not let me comfort her when distressed. It was heartbreaking.

Not alone

"I've started a support group for other young people in my area. We all need to know we are not alone."

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