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On My Knees

I have no idea how Parkinson's managed to creep up on me, it seemed so sudden, yet when I look back had probably been lurking in the background for years.

I had suffered from constipation for ages, plus anxiety, plus low blood pressure, sometimes my right hand would tremor or I'd feel wobbly all over, but I didn't think that this could be the precursor of what lay ahead.


I had a high powered job as a Senior Manager in Child Protection and travelled all over the country, often not having time to stop for lunch.
I remember the time I was brought to my knees as if it was yesterday, although this was 10 years ago in November.


I had stopped at a large store to get myself a sandwich, when suddenly I lost all conception of where I was, I tried to run up the moving stairs which were coming down towards me, then turned around and tried to get some money from my bag to buy a poppy from 2 elderly ex-servicemen standing behind a table.


I fell to my knees spilling coins everywhere and being unable to move, the gentlemen rushed to my aid and helped me up, they collected the money from the floor and sat me on a chair.
This was only the beginning of my ongoing battle with Parkinson's Disease.

Tricia.

Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing your story. That sounds awful. Personally, as upsetting as it was to hear the diagnosis, it helped to be able to put a name to the collection of unexplained health problems that I had been experiencing. In the short term anyway. Did you feel that?

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