What do you think is at the root of your Parkinson’s diagnosis?

[Tom Moody]

I should add that I’m 69 and was diagnosed at 67. I also meant to my motor skills are not impacted by my PD. There is no history of PD in my family.

[double-d]

I’m 77 years old, and a Vietnam veteran. I am certain where the root of my PD resides. In 2000 I was diagnosed with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy in arms and legs. No one in my family has had diabetes going back over a hundred years. The Veterans Administration lists diabetes and neuropathy as presumptively caused by exposure to Agent Orange and awarded me with a 40% disability. In 2018 my civil Neurologist, after many, many tests, diagnosed me with PD. My symptoms included excessive fatigue, resting tremors, balance issues, and low volume when speaking. Cognitive issues with difficulties trying to find to right word when speaking. At that point my Neurologist sent me back to the VA at which time the VA Neurologist, following over four hours of testing confirmed the original diagnosis. At that point the VA raised my disability rating to 100%. In September 2024, I was no longer able to speak loud enough to continue as a public speaker, even with a good sound system. I had to resign from preaching and teaching for over fifty years. I can’t begin to tell you the frustration of trying to carry on a conversation. I’ve been a musician since I was a teenager. My MOS in the Army was 00B30 which is a Salvage diver rating. For twenty-two months (24/7) in Vietnam, I and others worked under water recovering aircraft/crew victims, explosive ordnance disposal and demolition. If it was Army and it was in the water, we were called. The water systems of Vietnam always had a sheen on the water from the application of Agent Orange and it was not unusual to be over sprayed by aircraft and boats applying AO. I apologize for the length of this reply but if you were in Vietnam or have a grandfather or loved one who was there, and they have been diagnosed with PD, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, among other conditions you may qualify for help. I don’t spend much time worrying or fretting about PD and diabetes but maybe I can help others. It is what it is and just one of life’s little issues that can either kill us of make us stronger.