PatientsLikeMe ™

I have been diagnosed by a neurologist after an extensive sleep study with REM Sleep Behavior Disorder which he said is probably associated with Parkinson's Disease.  I have violent nighmares where I have hit, punched and kicked my wife.  She is pretty understanding.  Since diagnosis and treatment with clonazapam before bed, I have had very few incidents. Currently, I am a patient of a well known movenent disorder neurologist at LSU Health Science Center. It is very important that PD patients be treated by a movement disorder specialist and not just a general practice neurologist.  I have recently 5/15/2009, moved to Niceville Florida to try and start a new life.  My wife was killed in an auto accident in January 2009 and I had difficulty dealing with living in the same house, same friends etc and decided to move.  I have been doing much better and beginning to really enjoy life again.  I sold all my horses and now don't have anything or anyone to hold me back from traveling or doing what I please.  I bought a boat for fishing on one of my house hunting trips and really enjoying fishing as Destin, Fl is a major fishing location.  The University of West Florida offers numerous boating safety type courses.  I think I have signed up for everyone of them and go every Monday night.  The instructor is fantastic and he tailored some areas specifically to me.  He recommended a personal flotation device that is like suspenders and inflate automatically upon hitting the water.  It cost $300 instead of about $15 for the run of the mill type.  He thought it was best since I could get dizzy and hit my head and fall overboard.  It also has rings to attach a rope and the dead man cutoff switch.  I think he made a super recommendation since I often go out fishing alone in the Gulf.  I also purchased on of the emergency locator beacon, distress devices that alerts the Coast Guard if I am unable to activate.  This would have saved the football players that overturned and died.  The beacon provides all personal information, medical history and your GPS coordinates.  Expensive, well $700 but it may someday be well worth it.  While taking the classes I got the bug to go on overnight trips with the local Power Squadron, a kind of boating club.  So, I bought a second boat, a 28ft cabin cruiser.  It has a full bathroom, stove, microwave, sterio, air conditioned cabin, sleeps 6 and has all kinds of radios and navigation equipment.  It has been a lot of fun on either boat but I need to learn a little more about fishing.