Why me?... It was a day I will never forget. Age 37. The day I first laid eyes with my neurologist within minutes of us meeting, I knew. My life would never be the same. She knew before me. She read it in my eyes. She saw it in my facial expression. She took my hand, and as it started to shake in hers, she said five words that changed my life forever, You have Young Onset Parkinsons. Why me? The world stood still. Everything went to slow motion. How old was I? I wasnt even sure at that moment, 40, 50 or 70? Isnt Parkinsons an old persons illness? But didnt Michael J. Fox get this at an early age? Wasnt that rare? I staggered to the rest room. After splashing my face with cold water, I started to come back to my new reality. What does this mean? PD is movement disorder caused by the brain not producing (enough) dopamine. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease for which there is no cure. Someday the symptoms will affect my lower back, then my upper back. Other conditions will also affect my mobility. Strangely, there is no test to determine if you have Parkinson . Also this is not a death sentence disease. Being that I am still alive and that I intend to stay that way for a long, long time. I was put on medication and waited to see if it works. Fortunately, the medication worked. My dosage is 9 pills a day; however the side effects are weight gain, sleep disorder and occasional stiffness of muscles. When I finally got around to talking to my mother. Her reaction surprised me. Of course, she cried and expressed empathy, but then she said something that I will never forget, “Don’t feel sorry for yourself , you’re stronger than that.” Also my family and loved ones have been very supportive. Many people consider those with Parkinsons disease disabled. DISABILITY is defined as the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness; while ABILITY means the power or capacity to act or perform. Although I have YOPD, I now realize my abilities far outnumber my disabilities. Anyone who knows me knows I’m stubborn and very determined. I will not let this disease take over my life. Parkinsons disease is not itself a disability unless I choose to allow it to be!!
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 13:04:55 +0000
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