I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease for two years. Previously, I had arthritis throughout my body with a total right hip replacement and degenerative disc disease. Recently, I was diagnoised with lymphoma. It is very difficult to attribute some of the symptoms to one specific diagnosis. Often pain is associated with all three while nausea is attributed to lymphoma and PD. Fatigue, well that goes to all three too. I am pretty much retired and receive full social securitiy disabiliity. I have had REM Sleep Behavior Disorder for many years that a neurologist diagnosed.

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.