Hi,

I teach Maths in a grammar school and wondered if there are any other teachers who have needed help in school?
What experiences have you had and what kind of help has been made available to you?

Mathsman

there should be lots because teaching is the highest risk occupation for getting idiopathic parkinsons.

I was a teacher until 2008. I was made redundant but looking back, I now realise some of the issues I had with juggling lots of classes, planning, prep etc were probably the start of PD. I was diagnosed at Christmas 2009.
Why is it that so many of us were teachers? Maybe its stress? Teaching teenagers must rank right up there in the stress stakes!

I used to teach the under 5's, now I work for the education department. I advise teachers on working with children with special needs.

Couldn't go back to teaching children now.

one theory is that it is due to all the infections teachers get from their pupils
which is why health care workers are also high on the list

Hi, i've been teaching adults with learning difficulties for past 10yrs in college's and hope to continue until either i can't cope of more likely their is no work for me due to cut backs funding issues etc. I've hardly ever had a day off work apart from when my shoulder gave in (now known to be pd related) 6yrs ago! Stress is a big problem at this time of year for us what with reports to write and i'm currently covering an exta day for someone on long term leave, yet i find i'm buzzing and managing to cope (well at the moment anyway!) so maybe adrenaline is the new dopamine? plus a good bottle of wine helps:)

Diane

I taught in two comprehensive schools. The first in Coventry 1972 to 1979 teaching Statistics and Maths, the in South Wales 1980-2001 maths, stats but teaching maths was like getting blood out of a stone. I switched to computing.

In 1997 i developed a frozen shoulder and was depressed. I was diagnosed in 1999 at the age of 49. I asked my Union, NUT, for advice. They said they could do nothing and there were teachers with Parkinson's teaching. This was not the sort of answer I expected.

My specialist also would not write to my employer to get me out of work. Looking back this was correct, because I didn't suddenly disappear and become 'Billy no mates'. The two years gave me plenty of time to slowly tell my fellow teachers and some pupils that I was ill and would have to stop.

I was subscribed anti-depressants. this made a huge difference to my life: i was happy i started to go out to pubs and clubs and I played ABBA's greatest hits in my lessons, Happy days!

My hand didn't work so I didn't have to write reports, wasn't expected to stay late in school.

Howewver after two years I was totally exhausted and stopped.

Hi Bunnytheoctopus,

Our similarities are uncanny, teaching, frozen shoudler, age of dx (i was 48!) handwriting getting worse, and last but not least i too have been playing Abba music today with my students!!....have you heard their song dum de diddle? it made us laugh .......but can you match hearing an ancient song on you tube singing 'Daisy Daisy'? A student request that had us all singing! Certainly helps ease the stress!

Diane

Hi Bunnytheoctopus and Diane

Oh my goodness. could there be a pattern developing here?
I too used to teach, suffered from a frozen shoulder, initial symptoms involved deteriorating handwriting and I was diagnosed aged 48! I never played Abba in the classroom but on my one and only trip to New York I went to see Mamma Mia on Broadway.
How strange! Twilight Zone or just coincidence, could be a whole new area of research.

Yours Mrtoad

Hi Bunnytheoctopus & Mr Toad,

you don't happen to have a bulging c5/6 vertebrae by any chance?

Diane