About a year ago, after persistently seeking answers from doctors, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. I had noticed subtle changes in my mood and movements, but doctors had always attributed these symptoms to other causes. As my mother had Parkinson's when she was my age, I had always been suspicious of the disease and knew exactly what it would look like. But many doctors seemed reluctant to look more closely, probably because it was so early in the disease.
When the diagnosis finally came, I was still quite shocked. I had been very active all my life, doing sports and social activities, which are often thought to provide some protection against the disease. I quickly found the support I needed at the Centre La Tulipe, which I had visited with friends before my own diagnosis. By taking part in the various activities at the centre, as well as some in my free time, I'm even more active than before. I have also received a lot of help from the staff at the Parkinson's Research Clinic in Val Fleuri.
I hope that all these physical and social activities, together with well-matched medication, will help me to stay as fit as possible for as long as possible. And I hope that in the future there will be easier early diagnosis so that people with Parkinson's can get the care they need to slow down the disease at an early stage.