Parkinson's Early Onset Diagnosis transcript
Peter: When he diagnosed it we came out of the doctor's surgery and we sat in the car for five or ten minutes and Mary broke down, crying. My only comfort to her at that stage was to say it was better with that news than him having said to Mary that you've got cancer and six months to life. At least we are going to get a life out of this more so than being told that she is going to die in six months.
Elizabeth: When I was first diagnosed with Parkinson's I thought it was a mistaken diagnosis and in fact Isought another opinion and also informed myself by reading what the symptoms of Parkinson's was so that I could then establish that the diagnosis was in fact one the I could accept.
Jeanette: It was shock, first of all , because it was the last thing I imagined that I would have had.
Michael: I though I'd had a mild stroke so I was relieved in one way, I suppose.
Mary: Peter had phoned all my family in the afternoon and when I got home from work they were all there.
Peter: I did that for a specific reason, rather than putMary through the pressures of discussing it individually with people, I thought that our closest friends and family should get together on that very day, explain the situation to them and then that was it, there was no more of going from one person to another and It was easier to do it that way - everyone together and let's tell them what the problem is and then we could just get on with our lives.
Jeanette: For the family, it was difficult for them. When I say difficult, it's a lack of understanding; none of us really knew what Parkinson's was all about.
Mary: Once I started medication I just started to feel normal again. So it was like, wow, I've got Parkinson's but I jeez, I can cope with this, just pop a pill and you're right.
