Dear younger me,
Dude, don't take this the wrong way, but you should've taken meds Dr. McKeown told you to take.. Rather, you waited a year, letting yourself get slower and slower. Why go through that punishment to yourself? I know that you’re worried about the amount of medication you’ll take in your lifetime, but remember, your quality of life is important too. You’re starting off with pramipexole (Mirapex) and I know you are worried about the side effects of gambling addiction, but luckily for you, you're not getting that side effect nor anything else.
What you are doing well is listening to your doc.’s advice on medications and staying as active as possible. Keep doing that and you'll go along way without having DBS... which is a surgery that you’ll get in 2021 (yay!), and, I don’t mean to discourage you, but you’ll have waited since 2017 (boo!), when you first get on the list to consult with the neurosurgeon. Luckily for you, you have your consultation and surgery all within a six-month time span.
The other thing you should do is get in touch with Parkinson Society BC sooner. Don’t be so hung up about seeing other people with Parkinson’s. Because you didn’t want to see what you think might happen to you, you missed an opportunity to get to know PSBC much sooner. Again, the good thing is you do take action and get on the board, and help out in a number of ways that help many others with PD. That’s the best thing you will find out by getting to know the staff and members of PSBC. They are all unique individuals who care about and care for people with PD and the friendships you develop with PWPs and their care partners are truly treasures of the heart.
Sincerely,
Richard