[Tahmy Moore]

I would love to share my story.  The short version is as follows; I am a 50 year-old mother of 3 girls (22 yrs, 21 yrs and 18 yrs).  I was diagnosed in 2011 when I was 42 years-old, but had been seeking a diagnosis since fall 2009.  It took almost 2 years of nerve testing, physical therapy and guessing before a doc gave me carbidopa levodopa.  My symptoms improved within the first day.  I then went in for a DAT Scan which confirmed the loss of dopamine in my brain.  Medication dosage has been my biggest battle.  My “On-Time” and “Off-Time” have seesawed throughout the past 9 years.  Physical exercise remains my best medication.  Working out with a trainer for the past 18 months has been in great shape and able to minimize the effects of my Parkinson’s symptoms.

 

Tahmy

[Tahmy Moore]

Not to be so critical, but when I’m asked that question I always think. . . “Do you really want to know?”   I think most people ask that question because they don’t know what else to ask, but they really don’t want to know the answer.  So, it’s just easier to say, “Oh I’m doing great.”

The one I get asked the most is, “Are you limping?  Did you hurt your leg?”  I know I shouldn’t, but I enjoy saying, “Oh, no.  I have Young Onset Parkinson’s disease.”  Nine times out of ten the person is at a loss of words and I just smile.  Then they usually say, “I’m sorry.” And I always say, “Don’t be sorry.  I’m not.  I’m actually lucky.  Do you realize the percentages are so low for women my age to develop YOPD?  I feel lucky that I’m one of those few women in the world.  God must have something really special planned for me.”  🙂

[Tahmy Moore]

I find myself worrying about the end of my day (late dinner with husband’s business associates) at the beginning of my day.  All that worry creates anxiety that doesn’t help my symptoms and sometimes causes additional problematic situations in the beginning of my day.  Sometimes I feel like yelling, “I WANT OFF OF THIS MARY-GO-ROUND!”