I was diagnosed in the Spring of 1997. At that time I had just moved into another village because I was fed up with the daily train trip to my work. I worked as a social worker in the dermatology department of the Leiden University Hospital. My first PD symptoms were problems with writing. I had no real tremor but my right hand didn't react to the commands I gave.
Looking back, I realize that there were more problems. Friends noticed that something had changed. I was much slower and I had problems with counting and doing several things at the same time. And when I looked at my hand, it felt like it wasn't mine.
I went to the GP and later to the neurologist and within a few months I was diagnosed as a PD patient. I had just moved into my new house in a new place and I felt like a stranger to myself. I stood under the shower in my new house and was faced with the reality that from now on I was a woman who had a certain "defect." In the beginning, it made me buy lots of clothes. I wanted to test if I was still attractive. I learned that "I was and am."
The house where I live is part of a community of 15 houses around a big garden. The people who live there take care of each other, and share fun and social activities. This house has nothing to do with illness. It is a community of families and persons living on their own. The youngest is 15 years old now and the eldest 84. I help some people with the PC and with pictures or making special cards. And, happily, there is always someone who can give me a hand. I suppose that makes me the most spoiled PD patient. I am very happy that I live there. Photography, especially taking pictures of people, is my great hobby. It has a tremendous effect on my tremor. It gives me the opportunity to come into contact with lots of people.
My father is the most important man in my life. He is an English-Dutch translator. He taught me the love for language and playing with it. He enjoys pictures very much. He is now 87.
Why do people get ill? Lots of patients ask themselves this question. I knew that there is no answer and I have never asked myself this question. My question was, "OK, now I have PD. How can I cope with it?"
I have always been very open about my PD. As a social worker, I had fun with my patients although we spoke often about sad things. That hasn’t changed; I have still fun. Nowadays, I live my life with PD. I feel that I am strong, maybe stronger than before.