PatientsLikeMe ™

My symptoms initially started as a disconnect between my brain and my right hand.  My right hand was slow and stiff and it was like a delay between when my brain told it to do something and when it would actually do it. 

I am fortunate that my primary care physician took my complaints seriously, and had me tested on numerous occassions.  I kept telling her that I could not get my hand to cooperate.  She sent me to neurology, and they initially did the shock and needle test, where the doctor thought it was fatigue.  I didn't laugh, but I wanted to.  A month or so later, my doctor sent me back to neurology, this time to speak to a movement disorder specialist.  After a number of tests by my neurologist, he informed me that I had Parkinson's.

My initial thoughts were "well, now it has a name and we can deal with it"  And so we have been.

I got a second opinion by another neurologist when my wife and I volunteered for a gene study to try and determine if a certain gene was connected to PD.  While questioning me and putting me through a series of tests, I asked her if she agreed with my PD diagnosis and she said definitely.  All classical signs were there, and my physical reactions on the tests confirmed it.

I am wearing out my back space and delete keys on my computers from making  corrections to my typing errors caused by my hand tremors.  I hit a lot of keys multiple times in a row, and then have to go back and fix them.

My support team consists of my care partner/wife BJ, my wonderful Dr. Ingrid Lobo, my regular doctor; Dr. Benzi Kluger, my neurologist, Dr. Marvin Schwarz, my pulmonologist, my sons and daughters-in-law, my 4 grandboys; and my brothers and sisters-in-law.  And I can't forget my friends and my church family.