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Hey, I’m John. I’m fifty two years old and currently on my way to my doctors for a checkup. I called him about a week ago because I’ve been having tremor to my hands, arms, legs, head, and also stiff muscles, and slow movement. As I arrive in the waiting room they take me in almost right away. He seats me down and says “John, there’s no easy way to tell you what I’m about to tell you. Based on your symptoms and neurological tests, I hereby diagnose you with Parkinson’s Disease”. I was devastated, but also not fully aware of the affects of the disease. The doctor said, “John, I’m sure you have a lot of question, and I’ll be more than happy to answer them”. I ask “what exactly is Parkinson’s”? He replies, “it affects the way you move and happens when there is a problem with certain nerve cells in the brain”. Normally, these nerve cells make an important chemical called dopamine. With Parkinson’s, these nerve cells break down, then there is no longer enough dopamine, and you have trouble moving the way you want. “ John, unfortunately Parkinson’s is progressive, which means it gets worse over time”. Most people don’t last over the age seventy five. “What could have caused this?” I asked. “No one knows for sure what makes these nerve cells break down. However there is something called Abnormal genes, and that seems to lead to Parkinson’s. But so far, there is not enough proof to show that it is always inherited. “Is there any treatment?” I asked. There is no cure, however there is a drug called Levodopa which when combined with Carbidopa cqan have positive affects. Carbidopa delays the conversion of Levodopa into dopamine until it reaches the brain. I will be starting you on this course of treatment immediately.

I was so overwhelmed by the news of my illness and the probable outcome. I started thinking to myself that I don’t want others to know I have a chronic...