Newly-diagnosed

Hi!

I am 61 (for another few weeks), and male.

I saw a neurologist today & she has put me on something called Sinemet, half-a-pill, twice a day. She gave me a referral for a DatScan & a night at the Sleep Lab. As soon as our HMO approves these, I will call a hospital in Tel Aviv (spoiler: I moved from the USA to Israel 38 years ago) & make the appointments.

I noticed a tremor in my right hand a few months ago. I tried my best to ignore it but often a tremor will start & run a few seconds before I'm aware of it and can clench my thumb. (My right upper arm has been rather stiff of late.)

My wife (of 36 years, thank G-d) noticed. She also noticed my poor posture (which has never been the greatest). She says I shuffle.

I have been taking a poop softener (some powder I mix with water & drink first thing in the morning) for several months now.

I go to bed late, wake up early (morning prayers at the synagogue down the street are at 06:30/06:20) and rarely sleep the night through. My job (mainly Hebrew-to-English translating, at a Government office) requires me to be on call 24/6. If I'm woken up in the wee hours (happened this week, twice), it often takes me a while to fall back asleep. Friday night is worth its weight in gold. (2nd spoiler: We're orthodox Jews.) I am not on call & catch up on all the sleep I've missed during the week.

I also will, several times a day, when standing straight up, have the sensation that I'm falling forward (occasionally backward) and will put out a hand (or foot) to steady myself.

My wife & I just walked the 10km course (1 hour & 48 minutes) as part of the Jerusalem Marathon. I've got a few extra pounds & am in good general health. We are vegetarians.

My memory & cognitive abilities are fine.

Nobody in my family has had Parkinson's; my Dad, who will be 93 in July (G-d willing) is sharp as a tack & still lives with the cat in the house that he & my late Mom bought in 1964.

The fact that the neurologist thinks it very likely that I've got some early stage variety of Parkinson's is a bit unnerving to say the least.

I would be very grateful for any advice, words of wisdom, comments or reassurance (especially the last one).

ZBM