NEEDING ANSWERS H

MY FATHER HIS NAME IS BILL, IN HIS YOUNGER YEARS WAS A DOCKER/TALLY CLERK ON THE RIVER, HE LOVED THE RIVER, ALWAYS WORKED VERY FIT. EATEN WELL. KNOW HE SUFFERS WITH THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE, HE SHUFFLES WHEN WALKING SOMETIMES GETTING STUCK, HIS HEAD IS SLIGHTLY BENT FORWARD, HE SHAKES MOSTLY HIS HANDS, AND WHEN HE GETS ANXIOUS THIS GETS WORSE. HE IS 74 BUT STILL HE WANTS TO WORK EVEN IN HIS GARAGE EVERYDAY HE IS MAKING THINGS OR MENDING THIS, I HAVE GREAT ADMIRATION FOR HIM. 

CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT HAPPENS, I GUESS PEOPLE SUFFER DIFFERENTLY, MANY THANKS. 

Hello Diane

Like your Dad my name is Bill and I am 74 next year.  I was diagnosed straight away but not put on medication at the time.  As my symptoms got worse I started on Sinemet and later on Selegiline and now 7 years later am on a fairly low dose compared with some of the folk at our support group. It is my decision to stay on a lower dose even though I know that a higher dosage  would make me feel a bit better.  This is because I am wary of the side effects 

As you will find out, no two of us with parkinsons is alike. In my case my speech is poor and I am slowish in movement and I have the shakes in my left hand.  It would be wrong to say that it does'nt bother me but, like your Dad, I find that anxiety and stress makes things a whole lot worse so I try not to think about it.  Also, like your Dad, I have always been one for making things and working in my garage workshop. This I still do as I find it helps me to forget being ill.

The most important thing is to give him your love and support and, by the tone of your post he has that.  Encourage him to do the things he used to do even if it takes him 4 time as long; he will retain a sense of worth if he feels he is contributing and not just giving in to it.

Keep in touch to let us know how he is doing - and try not to worry

God Bless

BILLY