Annie

I am a PWP and live on my own. I have fainted only once. The things that I’ve put in place for preventing future incidents are – monitoring my blood pressure, ensuring that I’m well hydrated (drinking a full glass of water with each dose of meds really helps this), sitting on the side of bed for a few minutes before getting up, and being car…[Read more]

I have alarms set on my phone. I have chosen a specific alarm tone to indicate that it’s for medication. My medication alarm is crickets chirping and my crickets chirp six times a day so everyone around me soon gets used to the crickets (I recently spent time with a former colleague who commented “oh it’s cricket time – I have missed your crick…[Read more]

So well said John! Yes Gary – I totally agree with all that John has said – we are the “troublesome patients” which is a label that I wear with pride. I have never set out to be troublesome but if a diagnosis has not felt right for me, I have questioned it. I have always done so politely and respectfully but some medical practitioners (and peo…[Read more]

Hi Gary

Good luck! I know that it sounds strange to hope for a diagnosis of PD but a correct diagnosis allows you to access appropriate treatments which will give you relief from your symptoms.

My Mum came with me to that first neurologist appointment when I received the diagnosis. I remember that we sat together in the car and (I’m not sure – I…[Read more]

Thanks John – very interesting!

I certainly paraquat is something that I have come into contact with repeatedly as is malathion (used in South Australia extensively against Mediterranean Fruit Fly when I lived there).

Hi Gary

I am in Australia and was living in a remote centre in 2017 when my GP became alarmed that I was dragging my left foot and moving really slowly. Fearing a stroke, she sent me to the local hospital for “a couple of days of tests”. I did not think that it was a stroke as it had not come on suddenly but gradually worsened over many mon…[Read more]

I worked in the horticulture industry in various capacities for many years so was exposed to a range of chemicals including herbicides, pesticides and fungicides. Apart from that there were naturally occurring toxins (e.g. molds etc) in soil, potting mix and water as we did not wear masks or gloves for a good several years when I started in the…[Read more]

I am still struggling to find out what works well for me now in the way of footwear. I really miss my floral doc marten boots. They are too heavy and I cannot cope with laces anymore.

Since becoming a PWP, I need something light, supportive and easy to get on and take off. Shoes are often such a struggle to get on that I will wear them all day -…[Read more]

I love board games but live on my own so have limited opportunities to play actual games. I particularly like word games – and bananagrams can be practiced solo.  I do play a few games online (mainly on my phone) but also regularly play on my laptop with a friend who I no longer live near.

Thanks Phil

Yes – it’s great to have someone else from close by amongst all the others from around the world.
cheers

Annie

Hi Phil

I am in Shepparton – didn’t expect anyone else in regional Victoria- whereabouts in regional Vic are you?

Cheers

Annie

Hi All

I live in regional Victoria, Australia. Diagnosed in 2017 aged 49 but symptoms had started 9 years earlier.

I have a cat who was living in the roof of a house that I rented. It took a few months for him to move “downstairs” from the roof cavity to become a pampered much loved pet. His name is Roofus. We have since moved and he graciously allows me to live with him in our new house. He keeps me amused and entertained and also keeps an eye on me. When I g…[Read more]