A few weeks ago my husband went to the doctor for a checkup. He has been having tremors in his hand and leg. The doctor gave him a few tests and recommended and MRI. The MRI came back clean. However, he was referred to a neurologist. I tagged along with him to the neurologist's office yesterday. He went through more tests and the doctor thoroughly checked him out. We both thought he did great on his tests but when the neurologist returned for the final verdict, he told us that my husband has Parkinson's. My husband is 45.
To say we were shocked is an understatement. After we heard the MRI showed nothing but a healthy brain, we thought he was in the clear. Parkinson's doesn't show up on and MRI nor in a blood test; it is done in an evaluation by a neurologist. My husband has been referred to a specialist in Parkinson's. I feel good about the recommendation of this doctor because he comes highly recommended by a few different people besides the neurologist. This special Parkinson's doctor is described as brilliant and one of the best in this type of disease.
We are going to face this head on. We'll do whatever we can to prevent further symptoms, worse symptoms. Parkinson's is a chemical imbalance in the brain, like depression. I joked with him that we both have chemically imbalanced brains. We have also joked as to who will put my bracelets and necklaces on because my hands shake from my meds and familial tremors and his one hand already has tremors in it...have to start training my son (LOL!).
We will fight this fight together. I will help him fight his as he has helped and will continue to help me fight mine.
I'll keep my readers updated and this blog may become more than what it is now or maybe I'll expand and do another blog too. In the meantime, we will take it day by day. If you want to learn more about PArkinson's as I have been doing, go to TeamFox.org - Michael J. Fox's website. It's full of info and insight.
And I will stand by both of you always!!
ReplyDeleteLove your sister!