Here I go...

Ok, so I guess I have to start somewhere. So far, this year has been very much a blur. Long story short, I started this year (actually last December) just not feeling right. My muscles were giving me pain and I was having "joint pain" again. So I saw the rheumatologist. When I was at the rheumatologist the tremors were constant and I asked for a referral to the neurologist. I saw a regular neurologist for a couple of months who ended up suspecting "early Parkinson's" so she sent me to a Movement Disorder Specialist. On June 4, 2008 the Movement Disorder Specialist confirmed a diagnosis of Young Onset Parkinson's Disease. I now feel that the "joint pain" I've had since early 2001 was actually stiffness due to PD. (I also had tremors start in 2006). In other words, this has been coming for a long time. It is a relief to have a diagnosis, but frightening to wonder about the future.

So now we move forward. I don't know what it's going to do to me. I don't know what the future looks like. I've thought about it and dreamed about it but now everything I've thought and dreamed about will have to adjust to this new reality. Some things will stay the same (my faith, my husband, and my girls), some things will change (how I do things and the speed at which I get them accomplished), and some things may have to be eliminated (yet to be determined). I don't know where everything fits yet. I have to trust that God knows my future and I will be able to trust and hope in Him.

I will try to keep this up to date. They say writing is therapeutic. I guess I'll find out how true that is.