Hi Everyone,

I,m a 58 yr old female into hiking, rock climbing, backpacking and ski-ing. Over the last 10 yrs I have experienced countless symptoms and felt that something was definitely wrong with my body. During that time I have had so many tests that I was embarrassed every time that I visited my GP only to be told that everything had come back negative and to come back when I had other symptoms.

To cut a long story short I was dx with PD last week at Newcastle RVI. It was not a complete surprise as 5 weeks previously I had received a copy of the letter from my neuro to my GP which said that the DAT scan was abnormal. I started on medication on 8th March and in 9 days have noticed welcome changes.

I have never been a person to take things lying down and am determined to take control of my life and not let the PD dictate.

In December 2011 I could barely walk half a mile and the only respite from pain was when I slept. My new year resolution was to take back control and since then I have exercised regularly, no pain no gain! Last Thursday along with a friend I walked 7 miles over 3 of the Lake District Fells. It was hard work at times but I had no aches or pain afterwards. There is still a long way to go before I regain full fitness but I am on the way.

My long term target is to keep the medication to a minimum, exercise as much as possible and stay positive.

Love to you all.

Hi Topsy,

I read your post with great interest. I can give you a few years at 72 and was never quite as active but like you once I got the dx three years next May and the meds kicked in I made up my mind to be as fit as possible. Like you I had noticed various things not quite right for at least ten years but a car accident triggered a tremor and dx ensued. A couple of months before dx I started to walk "funny" at the end of walks in Portugal and was blaming the boots, the pace of the walk etc. etc. I have just got back from a two week Ramblers holiday in Nepal sightseeing/6 days trek at lower altitudes. I have gone up and down thousand of stone steps for 5-8 hours a day admittedly under the watchful eye and occasional helping hand of one of the younger sherpas due to my laces tangling and a headlong fall early on due to the fact that the leader couldn't be asked to allow me to get my boot hooks sorted out at the beginning of a walk - but that's another tale Now I'm back home with my stiff hips which started returning just after Xmas and I can't imagine how I did it. I think that the older you are the more the use it or lose it" principle applies. I look forward to reading more about your progress.

Best wishes