Hi. I’m Diane. In 2014, after nearly six years of medical mystery, I heard these words: “It’s highly likely you have young-onset Parkinson’s disease.”
I was 42. My diagnosis was confirmed two weeks later after I improved with Parkinson’s medication.
This blog has been on my mind for … years. I believe women with young-onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD) get the least attention in the Parkinson’s community. I’ve read about 25% of “Parkies” are young-onset. Most Parkinson’s research is done on men.
What about Parkinson’s and motherhood, menstruation and menopause? How do we live well with this disease so we can keep showing up for ourselves, our children, our partners, our employers, our aging parents and everything else that’s important to us?
I don’t have it all figured out, and I’m not a medical professional, though I can share my experience and the resources I’ve discovered along the way.
I’m still working. I see my movement disorder specialist every six months and there’s usually a treatment adjustment of some sort. My doctor says: “What can we polish?”
Since my diagnosis, I’ve gained community and I’ve had adventures that probably wouldn’t have happened otherwise. Hiking trips. Whitewater rafting. Pottery class.
You can read more of my story in these guest blogs I wrote for the Davis Phinney Foundation (and if you don’t have their free Every Victory Counts manual, go get it):
My Long Journey to a Parkinson’s Diagnosis
Working Full-time with Young-Onset Parkinson’s
I’ll keep sharing, so thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you again.
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Jan
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Great job. Anxious to see how this develops.
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YOPD_LLL
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Thank you!
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