Symptoms The beginning.

I started to write this but for some reason I flipped to another page, still finding my way around this. When I was first diagnosed with PD, I was shocked but didn't cry, not then, however I was determined not to read about it and take it day by day which was very strange as I am very detailed and like to know the ins and outs of everything. I didn't want to know what I was in store f or symptoms of anyone else, especially if I hadn't got there yet. I was afraid! For a long long while I was OK and it wasn't noticeable and I never told anyone, even now, family overseas don't know. However, i could feel it progressing and I knew the time was coming I would have to tell them. I have told some people but not all. I do get a few tremors not many, but it's the immobility that gets bad and the slowness gets to me I can't manage to hold a knife and fork or hardly put my pants on. When I went out I'd order finger food, toasteds etc I hardly go out anymore, I've lost who I am. I don't want to elaborate on this and make everyone depressed as I know tomorrow I may get up and fight and have a different resolve. I have ortheoarthritis in both knees one worse than the other but I have suffered a long time with this from sports etc but still trained, didn't effect my life perse but as I got older its got worse, the Ortho Dr wants to do a knee replacement. With having PD it doesn't help matters, it's been unfortunate that all this has happened at once. In addition, a little girl lost control of her dog let the leash go and it tangled around my leg and my daughter tried to stop me falling and grabbed my arm the opposite way and ripped my tendons in my left arm which I had injured before, so I can't lift my arm up very high. They can operate but i refused. The end result being, I have Parkinsons on the right side, my knees are very painful especially left one, and my right arm is starting to pain as it's taking strain. So together with the Parkinson's I cannot walk when I get up in the morning, I have to wait about an hour after meds. The Neurologist doesn't like anaesthetics with PD as there's a high risk of developing Dementia or Alzheimers which is already high on the list of Parkinsons, unless I have my knee's done with Epidural. Its just unfortunate for me this all happened. I love exercise but to try and walk properly is sore and I know it would help if I could. To get off a chair is awful. I won't be this long again but I thought it better you know a little about me, maybe we can encourage each other. That's what this is all about isn't it? Back to PD I think I got worse when I started with the meds but then Parkinson's is a degenerative disease... The symptoms which have been really horrible is the dry mouth, I can't talk properly, people must think I'm drunk. I chew gum, drink water etc but doesn't last for long. I know it sounds silly and trivial but believe me it's not, i feel like I'm on another planet after, that comes the abnormal tirednes. They say Dopamine is a "happy"
pill, I think it's a terrible feeling. There are many things that are unpleasant but I cope, not always well like today, I feel I can't go on but then there are times my family and I can joke about it, especially when my hubby and I are trying to get off a chair! We are old and we used to be so fit, we look at each other and laugh, who would have thought... in conclusion we really live one day at a time, if it's a good day I dance a little and use what I can move, not often, but try. At our age we're in the waiting room now. We are Christians or should I say we are spiritual and love God, though I must be honest it's not always easy to be on the top all the time, the valley is difficult, then only God can love me. The next time I would love to read more on PD, how to cope, new symptoms etc. I'm the 1%, 99% people are fine with a certain drug, I'll be that one who cannot take it. Kind regards and go well.
Jeanette