SafetyJ2006

I am a 56 year old man who was diagnosed with PD over ten years ago. My grandmother lived well into her 80s with the disease, and although I was only about 12 when she passed away, I distinctly recall her very bizarre symptoms. Grandma would constantly stick her tongue in and out of her mouth during her waking hours. The arm and leg tremors are not what I remember, only the movement of the tongue.

Since being diagnosed, I have seen many people in all stages of the disease. Some only have increased tremors of the arms and legs that aren't very pronounced most of the time, like me. Others have very animated movements of their entire trunk or extremely dyskinetic movement of the limbs. Others have both. Some have a difficult time speaking. Some have accompanying Parkinson's dementia.

I guess what I am trying to say, each of us has our own personal symptoms and we each respond differently to therapy. I am extremely independent and actually have very few problems in performing my daily activities. But I certainly fear becoming an invalid and being dependent upon my significant-other, although she says she will care for me until the very end.

I wish your loved one peace and hope you all give her the love and attention she needs during these final weeks and months of her life. It is a great responsibility, but love makes it easier to perform.