My Symptoms to Diagnosis

Hi, my name is Derek. I was diagnosed when I was 49. But for years I have been struggling with walking if it had a slight incline. I was having issues driving and pressing on the brakes- they didn’t seem to be working properly. I would panic and then press the brakes again, and they worked fine. Then I would open the curtains on the trailer and I couldn’t put my gloves on. Usually I can stop my car very quickly. I was driving home from work and halfway home I noticed a man talking to someone who sat in a car on the other side of the road. I slowed down because I knew the guy had a dog. As I drove closer, somebody opened the shop where the person lived and the dog came flying out of the shop to try to get to the guy. I just stopped but I hit the dog.

Driving difficulties

At work I had all my deliveries done and I had to go to Yorkshire to pick up a load, so I was cutting from Blackburn to Brigghouse. When I got halfway to Yorkshire I saw some signs saying that there was road work so I slowed down the wagon. As I was trying to slow to a stop, it didn't seem to work and I hit a van. I got back to work and told them about the brakes so we took the wagon to the garage and I told them what was happening, he said the brakes are air brakes.

Parkinson's diagnosis

I had been going to the doctor because my hands were not moving properly. I used to go out with the wife and kids but I fell walking. I had to go to the hospital to see a neurology specialist and after a couple of questions he said that I had Parkinson's. He put me Rasagiline and that helped me for a while but my skin was trying to attack the patch on my skin. During the night without waking up I would take off the patch because it was burning my skin so I was put on Madopar. After a week of taking it I started to struggling with walking. One morning I couldn’t move my legs and I wanted to go to the toilet but I had to crawl. I ended up going to hospital for 8 weeks because I couldn’t walk. This was baffling because I was improving on the patches. I kept telling them it was the Madopar so they reluctantly put me on sinemet and after a couple of weeks, I was able to walk with a walker. It is funny how some medications works for some people while other medications don't.

I have done a few DNA tests for family to see if was passed on. I took a test for falling and one for dribbling. I am 62 now and I am on a duodopa pump during the day and sinemet. All has been good. I have been tested for deep brain stimulation but was found to be unsuitable.