Hi EF,

I was diagnosed 2 years ago at 48 and have found that I get anxiety effects when speaking to groups or leading workshops which are regular parts of my job as a management consultant.. Also find myself much more self conscious in meeting new people as my movement is noticeably stiff and clumsy. Another issue is fatigue due to poor sleeping pattern.

I have needed to alter the focus of my job to take on lower profile roles and my employer has allowed me to do this so far and it hasn't stopped me from working hard and travelling a lot to places like Singapore. I Think you need to adapt psychologically as much as physically and I probably suffered from my reluctance to take anti depressants. Whilst I will need to keep working for another 5 years the main thing is to get the work life balance right so i can enjoy the good years and prepare for a quite different lifestyle.

Best wishes


MYN

hi. May you never.

Whilst I can understand you taking a step back from the front line, as it were. I and taking on a higher profile role.

All the nursery's and preschools, and other professionals that I work with know that I have Parkinson's, so, ignore it when I shake. I have taken on more responsibility recently as my manager has been given a promotion, which impacts on my role having to take on some of her original responsibilities.

I did originally find it difficult to get my head around the idea of people feeling sorry for me.Or thinking I was nervous, but everybody's been incredibly supportive, if I go into a meeting with people I don't know, I just say, do you mind if I use my dictaphone as I have Parkinson's and can't write. No one has ever refused, or made me feel uncomfortable.

I really love my job and I have no plans to leave it any time soon.

Caroline

Hi Carolineb211
I am still working full time (59 and diagnosed last year)I work as a Practice Manager for a group of 6 GPs (funnily none of them recognised the symptoms and now feel very guilty!!) As I have a chronic back problem all my problems were assumed to be related to that, it took well over a year before I was diagnosed (by an orthopaedic surgeon!)
My employers have always been very supportive, I have a space in the doctors' car park and they altered a room to provide an office downstairs.
I feel it is my work that keeps me going, it has always been important to me and I am determined not to let PD rob me of that.
All the people I work with support me - especially the nurse although sometimes a bit too much, since starting medication things have improved dramatically and I have to remind them that I can now do a lot more!
Good luck to you and may you keep working!

thanks flower child,

where are you based?

Unfortunately many GP's do not know much about Parkinson's. I was lucky that my GP referred me immediately to a specialist and was dx within 6 months of visiting the GP.

unlike you, I cannot tolerate Dopamine Agonists very well and can only have a low dose before getting extreme symptoms (hallucinations,sleep paralysis etc)

The low dose does manage my symptoms up to a point but not very well.

Hope you are able to carry on at work as long as you want to

Caroline

Hi, I can fully relate, in fact it was the anxiety that comes with public speaking the effects me the most philb

Hi Carolineb211
I am based in East Sussex.
Sorry to hear about your problems with medications, I have been lucky so far and keep my fingers crossed that this will continue but as we all know the one thing you can't predict or plan for is PD!

Hi Flowerchild,

I'm 49 and was too diagnosed last year, where in E.Sx do you come from? as i live in Seaford and am under DR Mcleod in Eastbourne!!!!!

Diane

Hi Drobb
I am based in Eastbourne and also under Dr McLeod at Eastbourne DGH, also see Louise the PD nurse

Hi again Flowerchild,

Maybe we should discuss Neuro privately? Louise has been, and will remain my first point of contact when i need her. Feel free to private e-mail me! I belong to new PD group set up for early onset in our area organised through Fell Duncan and PD social worker (name gone out of my head!!) and we are next meeting up on Wednesday 5th September at Halland Forge. I work at SX Downs college in E'Brne and maybe nice to meet up sometime/share experiences etc?

Would be nice to meet you,

Best wishes

Diane