I was wondering how old everyone was when they started to notice symptoms. Im 36 but started the tremors at 35...I know that is young but they finally said that is what it is...IM very scared as to what my life will be like..and how to explain to potential signigficant others. I just feel alone...I have now lost strength and my speach is some what affect on words... I hope to make some friends here people who will understand me and what im going through

sassywriter,hard or impossible for most to understand what you are going thru.I was dx with pd at 53 about 10 yrs ago.Everyone that has this disease experiences different symptoms.I've been on pd forums for 7 yrs.and have not run into anyone with identical symptoms that i have.I would like to make the following suggestions:1.Get a second opinion if you have not alredy done so.2.See a movement disorder neurologist 3.know thy enemy by researching and getting on as many forums and chats as you can.Just google parkinson chat and forum.4. keep fighting,exercising,and take your meds as prescribed.Wish you the best.Ed

HI, sassywriter

I am 43 and I am very scared also. My tremors started three years ago.Now I shake all the time.I have alot of symptoms.Maybe we can swap talk our sypmtoms.I feel so alone also.Maybe we can feel not so alone together. Believe me I can relate to how your feeling.

I would really like that...feel free to write me at sassywriter@q.com anytime you need to talk...or just need a friend to be there....

Your new Friend Jenni

Hi,sassywriter

I was hoping you would read the post,I noticed it was a while back when you wrote it. This is great. you can find me at.lettingitshine@yahoo.com

Angels Care 2

Hi everyone...my husband dx parkinsons 3 yrs ago, and he is now 43. His symptoms seem to be progressing so I joined this bulletin board and the chat room to seek some advice, etc. No one seems to be in the chat room when I go, so I stopped by the FM room and met a lovely lady whose father had parkinsons. If any of you would like to chat...lets start opening up the Parkinson's chatroom. I have met only 2 people there.

Hello, I can understand exactly how you feel. I was diagnosed 1 year ago with PD. I am 52 which is old compared to you! I think I've had symptoms for a few years but they were so vague that I didn't really pay attention. At first, I was in denial and just tried to put it out of my mind. I keep thinking that I didn't really have it because there is no definitive test to prove it but 4 doctors later i am resigned to the fact that I have PD. All I can tell u is what has helped me. First, you are not alone! It was very hard for me to tell my family, we know no one with this disease and did not know very much about it. My husband and daughters have been wonderful. Do Not let Pd overtake your life. Think of all the things you can still do. Think of all the good things in your life and focus on that. You did not choose to have PD but you can choose how to handle it. Remember, advances are being made all the time, the medication I am on Azlect is relatively new. I have had no significant progression of my disease in over a year! Within the next 10 years huge advances will be made. Try to stay positive. I get scared sometimes too, but usually I think I am pretty lucky. It is not a death sentence. I can handle this and I am sure you can too!!! Stay positive!!!!

Hi,

I feel for all of you. I have had a chronic illness for 21 years. I have learned some amazing information in the last several months while doing my own research.

Parkinson's, like many other illnesses (Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, MS, etc) has "no known cause".

I discovered that Parkinson's and many other illnesses, like those above, can be caused by a chronic Borrelia burgdorferi (a bacteria) infection. This is the bacterial spirochete that causes Lyme disease.

If I were you, a young person with these symptoms, I would absolutely INSIST on having a Western blot IgG and IgM through Igenex lab in CA....www.igenex.com.

I would then compare the individual band results to the Western blot info in page 7 of Dr Burrascano's Lyme guidelines found here:

http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf

99% of Dr's are not able to recognize, diagnose or treat a chronic borrelia infection. I found out the hard way.

Many people think that they were properly tested for lyme and the Dr said it was negative. Lyme is NEVER ruled out by just a lab test. The tests that Dr's count on are also very inaccurate. Most cases of lyme are missed by a Lyme ELISA/screen/titer/IFA.

The western blots done by regular labs like LabCorp, Quest and others are also very flawed. They do not test for all bands, which is absolutely mandatory, and their testing methods are not good.

I did my own research and learned how to interpret the results. I then found a Lyme literate MD 2 hrs away. I am 9 weeks into treatment and just saw my first sign of improvement. It will take many months, but I really have hope now.

Do not settle for Dr's telling you that you have an illness with NO KNOWN CAUSE! Everything has a cause! They will not search for the cause for you. I did it myself and now I will get better!!!

If I can help anyone in any way please leave a post for me on the lyme board here.

Here's more info with a symptom list in the back of this booklet:

http://www.lymepa.org/Basics2007v1.2Rev.pdf

I was 23 when symptoms appeared, not diagnosed until 34, now am 56. Life goes on. Need to accent the positive and not dwell on the negatives if possible. If you have other concerns, wite to me at pearlinak@hotmail.com.

ps: also had two successful pregnancies before diagnosed.

I was diagnosed a year ago at age 57. I just tried Maripex with no success, and the doctor today put me on carbidopa/levodopa 10/100. Anything I should be on the lookout for with this drug.

I have a friend with Parkinsons.. Look up fusionexcelutah...I know it sounds crazy. They have pendants that are fused with scaler energy. She bought a pendant and it has changed her life. I am sure she would share her story with you..This needs to be shared with others so maybe it can help them too. Good Luck..