PatientsLikeMe ™

I am 41 years old. I 've been married for 15 years to my amazing husband Paul. We have a son who is 14 and is diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.  God bless my amazing husband for the caregiver that he is.  He has strength and will that is beyond anything I could have imagined. 

We live in Central Massachusetts with our dog Maggie (a black lab) and our cat Sam. (a stray that adopted us years ago) I have a BFA in Theatre and for a few years pursued a career as an actress. Then life took over and I got married, had a baby and decided to get a "real" job. I still sing with my church choir and as a cantor. I do miss the theatre and hope to get back to it someday.

I work as a Client Service Representative on a Technical Support Desk. In November 2004, I was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's disease.

UPDATE:  5/5/09  I was laid off from my job in Dec 2008.  Still unemployed as of today and seriously thinking about applying for SSDI.  

6/1/09:  Zoloft seems to have helped.    Dealing now with gastroparesis.  On the upside I've lost 50 pounds, which I can afford to lose.   Trying to take things one day at a time.

9/9/09:   Doing fairly well.  Still dealing with gastroparesis.  Down 65 pounds.  Dr. says that we're just going to go with it for now since I still can afford to lose about 100 more!  :)  I've been noticing my meds don't work as well lately.  I am very stiff even when I take my meds on time and I am insanely tired again.   I have my 6mo appt in Oct.  We'll see what she says.  Still unemployed...  still thinking of SSDI...  I'll have to make a decision by January.  Pray for us that we make the right choices.

12/7/2010:  Well, the time has come.  UI ran out last week and I have begun the process for SSDI.  A bit scary but I have faith that the Lord will provide.