Page created by: The MacFann Clan

Today, I finally admitted to myself that I have Parkinson's, even after being advised by my Neurologist over a month ago. I guess it's somewhat like having cancer. I wanted to deny it, but the simple fact is. I can not. Back in the late 1980's, when I was in my late 20's, I began to develop minor hand tremors. While aggravating, it was something that I felt that I could live and coup with. As my life went on, the tremors became worse and I finally sought medical advice. At the time, I was serving in the United States Navy and the only medical diagnoses that I received from Navy Doctors, was that they thought that I had an Alcohol problem and sent me to Alcohol and Substance Abuse Treatment. I argued that the only alcohol I was consuming was the occasional beer on weekends, the Doctors insisted that I was suffering from Delirium Tremens.

A few weeks into treatment, the Doctors changed their diagnosis and then decided that I had Essential Tremors and prescribed Propranolol, since they believed it was very unlikely that people in their late 20's or early 30's developed Parkinson's. At first, I was prescribed minor doses of Propranolol. But, as life went on the doses increased to a point that I was receiving the maximum dosage allowed. After leaving the Navy, I became a Police Officer and though my career, I stopped taking my medication, since it appeared to have no effect.

After time, my tremors would become uncontrollable and I want back on Propranolol, which had little to no effect. In 2008, I was deployed with the Army National Guard to Iraq and while there, I would have days that I could not move due to muscle pain and my body would begin shaking. I eventually went to see an Army Physician, who stated that he was concern that my protein levels were elevated and recommend that on my return to the United States that I get additional tests.

Of course, returning to my family and civilian career became more of a priority. Within a year, I received orders to deploy with the Army National Guard for another tour, this time to Afghanistan. While I suffered from some muscle pain and tremors, it seemed slightly better since I was very active conducting counterinsurgency patrols. Then one evening while on patrol responding to an insurgent attack, my vehicle was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device, which resulted in some Soldiers and myself being wounded. I was later medevac'd and received treatment for a Traumatic Brain Injury. As time wore on I noticed that I was getting the typical signs of Parkinson's but I was still in denial.

My wife, Rachel, who has stood by me all these years begging me to get help, began educating herself on my combat injuries and Parkinson's in general. There would be days that she would point out that I had all the symptoms of Parkinson's and of course I would be her lip service and tell her that I would get it checked out. Rachel being Rachel, finally had enough of me blowing her off and made a medical appointment with my Neurologist. With Rachel besides me, she told the Neurologist about my symptoms and began advocating for me in ensuring that I was receiving proper medical care.

After all these years, my Neurologist told me that I had Parkinson's and placed me on Levodopa-Carbidopa, which has provided some relief. But as of today, I finally will admit that having Parkinson's and a Traumatic Brain Injury, that my days become somewhat unbearable due to the pain, but with Rachel at my side supporting me, I always look forward to the next day.