hi my husband who is 53 just got results from dat scan that he definetely has parkinsons consultant told us not to go on meds till he felt his quality of life was affected at the moment apart from slight hand tremors and stiffness down one side hes not too bad we thought meds would be started immed. any comments or advice would be appreciated

Hi in similiar situation, aged 48 diagnosed Jan 2008 and told same and to try carry on life as normal. so not an expert but personally would agree with consultant. I try to keep active and eat well and also it is about being positive, that is a hard one! all the best, Carol

Hi
I wish I had been told not to go on meds straight away.Thought it was the normal for people with PD.There are quite alot of threads on her about alternative treatments.I have spoken to people who say special diet makes a big differance.Like you said when pd effects quality of life you will have to consider your options,although not really wanting to take meds they have made such a differance.
Take Care
Dot xxx

thanks for advice we are definetely positive about everything best way to be with all illnesses

I uuummm-ed and aarrgghhh-ed about the decison for 8 months post diagnosis and eventually decided to start just relieve the stress of making the decison!

Good luck
Bryn
www.wobblywilliams.com

Hi,
I was given meds straight away, dx made by giving me Madopar, things improved so then taken off Madopar and given Requip, really bad side effects stuck it out for 6 months, went through bad patch, given loads of support from you guys on forum + pds nurse, now off requip and back on Madopar. Huge improvement, don't think could have carried on working without the meds, not only physically but mentally as well.

Regards Dolly x

Hi

I have recently been diagnosed with P.D am 61 still working. My Consoltant prescribed Rasagiline which I think is supposed to just slow down the progression, but have been advised by the P.D Nurse to start on Amantadine (?) but am not sure. It seems most of the advice is on the side of not starting medication too soon. I do find its a strange condition as there are so many different outlooks and advice. I work with children with disabilities so feel reaching 61 with a fairly healthy life can't be too bad, but if medication would help with my tremour this would be good.

Jen

story told here before... resisted meds for two years despite dystonia stopping me walking. Recently started on ropinirole (requip). 5th week... feel very sleepy so still not very mobile even if dystoniaa is helped. (wouldn't know yet as sleepy keeps me down plus head not clear. Rather have the dystonia with a clear head than dystonia all fuzzy and sleepy but its early days yet and i did get to the stage where i felt i needed treatment. I think i did the right thing for me then and now i've started will persevere with meds . I'm afraid in the end its personal choice....

I have no PD nurse and rarely see consultant so am relying on (helpful) GP. One of the two times i saw a nurse when there was one (oh those heady days!) she recommended early treatment.

Hi SF
Thanks for reply it makes me wonder how many medications there are out there for P.D. don't seem to hear of anyone taking the same one's. Sorry to hear you don't get to see a Consultant P.D Specialist, I'm not sure my G.P would have the knowledge to treat P.D. I have gone for a Neurologist Movement Consultant he is based 30 miles away but do feel more confident with his advice. Hope you start feeling better soon.
Jen

Hi Jen, I was diagnosed last July, month before my 60th birthday - had been experiencing all sorts of symptoms for such a long time that I just kept blaming on other things, but it was my lousy balance & loss of power in my left hand (which was badly affecting my typing, not so good when you're a secretary), which made me decide to see GP who referred me straight away (as not happy about other symptoms). Consultant did usual neuro tests, asked lots of questions to which I ansered yes (and wouldn't have mentioned) then gave me my diagnosis straight away (saying he was 99% certain) but would arrange MRI of spine & brain to make sure he wasn't missing anything else more sinister They confirmed I had a brain & arthritis of spine He started me on Madopar same day and within days I was feeling a lot better than I had felt for a long time, so for me starting meds straight away was definitely the right thing, as I was planning staying on work when I reached 60 (just reducing my hours to 21), but had doubts because of how I had been feeling for so long.