Grew up & attended college in Conn. After graduating in 1965 accepted a job with IBM, where I stayed 5 years. Had a variety of jobs in IT over the years (mostly programming mainframe computers), including consulting, ending with a 12 year stint at Bank of NY. I've been retired from BNY since 05/2002 ("position elimination" after 9/11). Have 2 grown children (boys, 42 & 37) and 2 grandchildren, Katherine, 8/20/2004, and Miles, 1/14/2006.

Note on the photo, it's my grandson dressed up for Halloween. He turned 3 on 01/14/09.

A couple of notes regarding my symptoms, I was originally treated for depression in 11/1985 and was diagnosed as bipolar 04/1987. I was out of work for 5 weeks in 1993 and 5 months in 2001 with depression, so I don't think of depression as a PD symptom for me. Similar situation with blurry vision, I had cataract surgery on my right eye 02/2005 and on the left one 06/2007, so I think my blurry vision comes from that.

More notes, as of my LapBand surgery, 10/22/2004, I had fallen twice (both indoors at home), and was having problems with fine muscle control in the following areas: writing, brushing teeth and buttons, especially shirts. All are greatly improved since I started taking Stalevo in 08/2006. My handwriting was never very good and it is not quite back to its pre-PD level, but it's *much* better than it was. The other areas are fine, i.e., no problems at all. I have enough manual dexterity in 08/2008 to be able to manipulate parts & tools so I can replace the motherboard in my computer and change the oil in my car.

Saw my ophphalmologist 08-07-08, who told me my blurry vision is from PD.