New member from Louisville KY

My name is DJ. I am 37, and live in Louisville, Kentucky. I have been married for 10 years to my wonderful, beautiful, and very understanding wife. We have 3 children- two boys and a girl. My family is my pride and joy, and why I keep going! I used to be a Sales Manager for an electronics retailer, but after 10 years, my Parkinson's has become severe enough that my wife and I switched roles. I am now a stay at home dad while my wife works in the Interior Design business. I have had pretty noticeable Parkinson's for 8-10 years but I never did anything about it until the birth of our first child in 2001. I didn't want my children growing up and getting teased because their daddy shakes. And so my journey began! Over the past 7 years I must have seen at least 10 different doctors and have been prescribed pretty much every drug known to man. I was originally diagnosed with Essential Tremors but in the back of my mind I knew I had Parkinson's because it never really went away and it kept getting worse. The bad thing about Tremors, other than the body movement, is that no one knew what was causing them. Finally, I was referred to the U of L Movement Disorder Center and it has changed my life. They had a team of 4 specialists see me and then they came back and told me I had Parkinson's. Honestly, I was happy to finally have a "name" to put with the "thing" that was causing my pain and tremors - and I knew that since Michael J. Fox came forward about his PD, there has been a lot of research being done about it - and so I have hope that a cure will be found. Living life with Parkinson's is quite a challenge, I have had to teach myself how to do everything differently and accept the fact that I just can't do some things any more. I am naturally right handed, but have taught myself how to eat and type left-handed and also drive with my left foot. When out in public I am very self conscience of what my body is doing and what other people are thinking. I usually try to lighten up the mood by joking around about it, if I don't have fun with it there’s nothing left to do but be depressed about it. The Dr's are now wanting to do DBS possible here in the spring and I'm very excited.

DJ,Welcome to Healing Well.Guess I'm lucky as My tremors are on my left side and I'm right handed.I can certainly relate to being under the eye in public.I don't think being self conscious ever goes away.I figure if it hasn't with me in close to 10 yrs with PD it never will.I believe that a cure for PD is close,and at 37 you are certainly young enough to be around to see it.My hat goes off to your wife ,and kids who have also taken on the pD challenge.Wish you all the best,and stay in touch with us here.Ed