Parkinson's Disease Support Group

Hello, I am the wife of a newly diagnosed 55 year old. I am currently reading a really good book by a lady with young onset Parkinsons, and I am finding it very helpful. I think its title is "The first Year with Parkinsons", or something simalar. I've read 3/4 of the book in a day. I'm hungry for information. It is pretty obvious to me that my husband has had Parkinsons for at least a few years, and that it wasn't diagnosed. We recently moved to the state of Wyoming from the Chicago area, so the VA sent us to a new neurologist in Denver. After seeing lots of doctors in the Chicago metro area, we are finally diagnosed correctly here. I'm relieved to know why my husband is presenting his symptoms, but yet devastated at the truth. I am sure that God will allow us to handle this, but it certainly won't be easy.

I'm hoping our house in Illinois sells soon, so we can move into a single level home. My husband and sons plan to put a ramp onto our home while he still has the capability. We used to have a handicapped foster child, so we have actually built ramps on two of our homes. It is amazing how God uses our lives to prepare us for our future.

Post edited by: Theresa2Wyoming, at: 07/09/2009 07:23 AM

It took the dr about 8 years to diagnose my PD. But the symptons just cropped up and I was treated for each one individually or just accepted as the way I was. I'm so glad you are supporting your husband through this initial phase of accepting the diagnosis and being proactive. My husband of 32 years left me because I was A. Ill and they couldn't figure it out, B. I was so exhausted all the time, he couldn't talk to me, C. He didn't like our daughter doing all the cooking, even though I was doing all the laundry and D. I wasn't getting the laundry done often enough and he would run out of socks!! Boy it sounds like he did me a huge favour doesn't it? He left me 3 mos before i was diaagnosed w/PD, so having PD was just a blimp on the radar compared to the emotional mess I was in.

I know it's scary not knowing how the disase will progress and what side effects the meds have, but you guys sound like you are on the righit track. Just lead w/your chin UP and a smile on your face.

God has blessed me richly w/friends and family that pray for me, worry over me and taxi me to my Specialist appt 3 hours away. The good is there and the preparation God puts us through is truly amazing. Read Proverbs 3:5-6 and you'll see what I mean. Deb b