Back around 2000 I had a really bad cold after which a few of my work colleagues commented that I was sniffing a lot. Weeks later I told them I felt as though my sinuses were badly blocked behind my nose/eye socket area.
In 2005 I noticed that I was experiencing a strange nasal smell like gear oil or grease. At the same time I lost most of my sense of smell. I had no idea what this was.
In 2015 I started to notice a tiny shake in my right hand. At the time I put this down to excessive use of a drug called trifluoperazine for the treatment of anxiety caused by PTSD from a motorcycle accident when I was 18 years old.
In 2021 I was diagnosed with full blown Parkinson’s Disease and since then have been taking 25/100 Sinemet Plus. I am still allowed to drive but my licence is currently restricted to a three year review. I have mobility issues due to the motorbike accident and have to use crutches to walk due to severe osteoarthritis.
For 27 years I worked in laboratories as a safety analyst often working on substances such as organophosphate pesticides and herbicides. My hobbies included photography which for many decades involved the use of fairly toxic substances. I guess any of these may have contributed.
I am currently 64 years old and as active as I can be. I do not currently work. I love music/hi-fi and have a partner Susan who does her best for me. I love travelling/driving as without this photography would be almost impossible.
Thank you for allowing me into your online environment. I hope I find it very useful and I hope I can contribute.
Hello TheChemicalBrother and welcome to the forum.
Everyone is welcome here whatever their connection to Parkinson’s. It sounds like you’ve had an interesting working life and have some interesting hobbies and it sounds like your Parkinson’s took a while to develop as is the case with many of us.
The forum is a place where you can ask any questions or concerns you may have safe in the knowledge that you won’t be judged and that you will be talking to people who understand. The forum is more than that however - there’s quite a lot of ,fun stuff too so have a good look around
I hope you will feel able to post a comment or air a view to something on the forum because your contribution is as valid as anyone else’s - but there is no pressure to do this. it can be a bit unnerving when you are new to it - have I done it right, what will people think etc and it can make you feel a bit vulnerable… You can however, make a real difference to someone just by showing your support and understanding. so do give it a go when you feel ready.
Once again welocome and hope to hear from you again some time.
Tot
Thank you so much for your reply and comments. With regard to your comment about the time taken to develop the symptoms, yes, it took a long time. In fact it was so long I was convinced I had drug induced Parkinson’s for a year or so due to the anxiety meds. Oh well, it wasn’t to be. Like all of you here I now have to learn to cope with this condition. Lots of love and best wishes to you all.
Welcome to the forum. I am new here myself and have been reading through some of the posts, there is a lot of information and positivity on here which I think we all need at sometime.
I look forward to reading posts from you when you’re ready to write some.
