How To Know That You May Have Parkinson's Disease When

Parkinson's Disease does not have a definitive test that can be used to generate a diagnosis; it's pretty much done by observing the symptoms and then eliminating all the other possibilities.

Diagnosed in 1999 with Parkinson's, I believe I am qualified to present this light hearted view on how someone might become aware of the possibility of having this chronic illness.

Let's get started!

You know that you may have Parkinson's when you find yourself drooling even though there is no chocolate within viewing or smelling distance. The advantage of this, though, is that when you blow out the birthday candles no one wants to eat a piece of the cake.

You know that you may have Parkinson's when you notice a remarkable resemblance between how you walk and the "old man" character that Tim Conway sometimes plays. The corollary is that when you go for a walk on the beach and you turn around to observe your footsteps, you discover that it looks like you've been cross country skiing on the sand.

You know that you may have Parkinson's when you notice that you're walking like a German soldier from one of those old World War II movies, with one arm swinging and the other arm glued on your hip. The corollary is that when you watch the Monty Python skit, "Ministry of Silly Walks," your kids say, "Hey Dad, they're walking like you!"

You know that you may have Parkinson's when every can of soda that you open explodes because you unintentionally shake it before opening. The corollary is that you are hired to work for a store that sells paint, and your job is to stand there and hold the full cans of paint so that customers can purchase paint that has already been shaken.

You know that you may have Parkinson's when you look at a series of photographs of your face -- one frowning, one calm, one smiling, one laughing, and one rolling on the floor in hysterics -- and they all look the same. The advantage of course is that you are great at bluffing and keeping a straight face during card games.

You know that you may have Parkinson's when you hear a tape recording of your voice and you mistake the sound you hear for that of a car engine trying to start on a cold winter morning.

You know that you may have Parkinson's when you try to eat a pea with a spoon and you inadvertently launch the pea across the room. Then, when you shuffle over to apologize to the woman whose blouse you just ruined, you drool on her, thus drawing the ire of her husband.

You know that you may have Parkinson's when your spouse and everyone around you seems to be going deaf because you are constantly asked to repeat yourself. The corollary is that when you are talking to yourself, you ask yourself to repeat what you just said.

You know that you may have Parkinson's when your brisk morning walk involves walking from your bed to the bathroom.

In all seriousness, if you find that you do have Parkinson's Disease, keep as active and upbeat as possible. After all, you get one life here. You may as well accept it and enjoy life as much as you can.http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1511402/laughing_with_parkinsons_disease.html?cat=5http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1515408/freedom_to_speak_parkinsons_disease.html?cat=5