69 yr. old male just diagnosed. I feel it and know it. Have suspected for several months. Had a good run healthwise otherwise. What do you tell an old guy like me. Have read several of the posts and found informative. Life has suddenly become very different. How do I keep from getting depressed? Ok so far but lot of thoughts. Thanks for listening

with health challenges. I was a very active person all my life and here at 71 I'm challenged with knee, lower back and hip OA. I'll do all I can to NOT go under a knife. But that's me.

On the PD, I can't speak much about it except I have a cousin in Las Cruces, NM who is dealing with it and he's probably 60. I'm not in contact much with them so I don't know what he's taking/doing. I know they are outdoorsy people and do hike as much as he can now.

Dr. Burt Berkson is in Las Cruces, NM and he's an advocate of LDN therapy and it's been used for many autoimmune conditions. I'm taking it now to see if it might help my lower back and knee stiffness. Too soon to tell.

Dr. Berkson has a website and I would sure look at him and check him out. At least a call.


Now on the depression which can be huge. I've dealt deeply with my thyroid and have gotten it working pretty good finally when I was age 63. I was misdiagnosed for over 10 yrs. Thyroid is huge with Depression.

Also, Vit D levels are found to be very deficient in millions in the Northern Hemisphere. I'd make sure thyroid and Vit D levels are optimal since they both are related to Depression. These two "hormones" are major and need to be looked at deeply by the RIGHT docs.

Hope I've helped a bit. jam

62 yr old F, PD dx'd about 8 years ago. Last year I talked myself out of having it, and came off the PD meds. Never progressed much, but still had tremors and RLS. I finally decided to see another Neuro who reaffirmed the PD and put me on Sinemet 3 to 4 times a day. Does pretty good. Depression has been part of my life for many years; it's in my family's genes! So my psychiatrist keeps on top of all meds I take for all my other probs and works them in with an anti-depressant. I am feeling better now than I have for awhile. Although I'm 2 months into having rotator cuff surgery due to a trip outside. "Grace" should've been my middle name. You're not an old guy. 69 is just a number and there are plenty of meds and doctors to help you in your walk with this. Don't give up doing things you like to do and are able to do. I started volunteering at my local hospital and love it. And I've just had to give up bowling. You aren't alone.