I dipped into the forum yesterday I was in a perfectly happy frame of mind, and within a few minutes I came off completely depressed. My advice is you have Parkinson’s it does NOT have you unless you let it. Live your life as best you can (we only get one crack at it) do what you always did, accept help when its offered, I personally am in my 15th year and still fighting the****** thing. and what’s more i i had my 87th birthday last Thursday, i went out Birdwatching a week last Thursday trying to see the Nightjar On Cannock chase, fell off my scooter, tried to sit on my walking stick seat, missed and landed in the heather, turned to speak to my daughter when walking back tripped and landed on my backside again, each time my very good friends picked me up, the only downside to the evening was I didn’t see the bird. shall I go birding again of course I will,. I will now climb down off my soap box, but Shout out loud about PD and let the public know what a pig PD is laugh at yourself, look in the mirror give yourself a lecture and just get on with life as best you can and stop feeling sorry for yourself.
Hi nikobins, thank you so much for your post and sharing your experience, we are sure that will help others.
It sounds like you had a lovely birthday which is really pleasing. You have a really positive outlook and we’re grateful for you sharing that with the Forum. We hope you do get to see that bird and we hope you carry on enjoying bird watching.
Take care,
Parkinson’s UK Moderation Team 
My advice is you have Parkinson’s it does NOT have you unless you let it. Live your life as best you can (we only get one crack at it)
This is almost exactly what I have written on the forum more times than I can count. I accept I am luckier than many and there will be plenty who would love to be able to do the sorts of things you did and simply can’t. People also have to find their own way of living with Parkinson’s. The crucial thing for me is that however they choose to play it no one need define themselves by the Parkinson’s. As you will see in many of my posts should you care to look , I never give Parkinson’s star billing I am always Tot first and I happen to have Parkinson’s.
Tot
It’s so inspiring to see how you’re not letting Parkinson’s define your life. Your positivity and determination to keep going despite the challenges are truly admirable. I think you’re right about living life to the fullest and accepting help when needed. And even though the Nightjar didn’t make an appearance, it sounds like you had an adventure worth remembering! Keep going strong, and I hope you get another chance to see that bird soon.
Hi Tot,
I did not when writing that piece, in any way intend to hurt anyone’s feelings or to deride their way of living. And I know from first hand experience within my family that depression is a very difficult illness to recover from. What’s more I can only go bird watching when one of my friends takes me I had to give up my car and driving licence last November as I had a new aortic valve fitted in my Heart and this was after losing my beloved wife of 66 years last October, and yes I still say stay positive. I now spend most of my time in my shed (sitting on a stool to work) or researching my ancestry, or finally writing poetry, to boost my ego I paid and had a book of my verses printed.
Kowabins
Hello Selsons
Thank you very much for your much appreciated reply, I firmly believe that with the help of the academics, the medics, exercise, and staying positive we can beat this thing yet.
kowabins
Hello nikobins and my apologies to you if you felt my remarks were a criticism it certainly wasn’t intended to be. I manage my Parkinson’s very much as you do. Staying positive is a key tool for me and one I work hard to maintain.
I was simply saying that not everyone is cut out to see life as you and I do. I do believe ultimately everyone has to find their own way to live with Parkinson’s whatever their connection with the condition and there is no right or wrong way, just their way, I made the point more as how I see it and meant no more by it than that, but I obviously didn’t make that very clear in my reply to your post.
No harm done.
Tot
Hi Tot
no harm done indeed I just felt that I had to rely and explain my circumstances.
make contact again soo
PS If you haven’t come across it yet you might want to check out today was a good day a thread I started a couple of years ago. It’s slowed a bit now but is still live lol
Tot
Life is for Living - I was diagnosed in 2014 and my first response to this was ‘Well I may have Parkinsons but Parkinsons hasn’t got me’ and I still live by that. Since diagnosis I have done most of my ‘to do list’ which has included Jumping out of an aeroplane, flying in a Hurricane and a Spitfire, flying with my grandson whenever possible, visited many cities with my daughter, spent a day at an owl sanctuary and so many more things. I am now 80 years of age and at the weekend my husband and I celebrated with family and friends our Diamond Wedding. I appreciate that we are all different but from day one of my diagnosis I was determined that the old ‘Parking Sensors’ (as it is known as by my family) was not going to get me - I expect one day it will tap me on the shoulder but until then I mean to make the most of the years left for me but, perhaps on the odd occasion I will give Old Parky a good telling off!! LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT’S ROUND THE CORNER.
Hi, What a refreshing reply, it is so nice to hear from someone else who is really living their life instead of sitting bemoaning their misfortune.
Good for you Girl go for it enjoy ever minute.
Good.
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I don’tunderstand
thanks Adam welcome to our community
You’ve got a great way of telling things how they are without making it all doom and gloom, and that’s refreshing. Sounds like your birthday had a few bumps, but it also sounds like you made the most of it. I hope you get to see that Nightjar next time, and I’m glad you’re still getting out there doing what you enjoy.