Hi Becky;<br> I just join this chat area. My
husband was just diagnosied with Parkinson's at the
beginning of this year. His dad had Parkinson's and just
died this last December. Everyone around him thought
it was something else, but from our studies on this
disease both my husband and I know that it was
Parkinson's. He also had other problems that didn't help him.
I hope that I can answer some of the question you
have and become friends with the same needs.<br>
Parkinson's affects the body in many ways and yes the brain
is involved. Short term memory can be affected.
There are a lot of thinks that need to be understood
for you to live with a person with this disease.
Patience is the most important thing. As years go by the
body will start to shut down communications from the
brain to parts of the body. Example; [You might want to
get up out of a chair, your brain is sending the
message to the legs, but the legs won't move. This can be
frustrating for you, but think about how he must feel,
knowing he wants to get up but can't. Feeling himself
telling himself to move but the body can't do it. Some
time it will, and sometime it won't. He will never
know when this will happen. That is where you have to
help him get up and get started. Then he will be able
to walk, and do what he wants to do.]<br> Hope this
helps a little, ask anything you would like, if I know
I will answer you, if not I will tell you I don't
know but will try to find out.<br><br>Annette Burkett