汤姆的故事
嗨，我叫汤姆，37岁。我不知道为什么会得帕金森病。也许永远也找不出原因。我只能接受事实，继续生活，做一切能够做的事情，把注意力从这个目前还无法治愈的、渐变的疾病中转移开。
1985年我高中毕业后就加入了美国空军。我的职务是信号情报分析员。我在这个岗位上有十分出色的表现。2001年1月，我的生活及前途都发生了巨大的转折。
那之前一年多时间里，我一直感到腰部和眼睛有问题，朋友和家人问我出过什么事故，还发现我的动作十分缓慢。我的眼睛经常发干，聚焦困难，眼科医生说我散光，但是眼镜没能矫正我的视力。我也找了按摩师，同样也没用。很快我的左手开始僵硬，发音模糊不清。我不知出了什么事。
我害怕去医院。最后，2000年10月，在我前妻的鼓励下，按照我与空军基地医院的预约，做了一系列检查之后，我被确诊为良性震颤，并被介绍到美国军事医疗中心神经部
做进一步检查。
军事医疗中心很快便诊断为帕金森病，并为我开了药。
不幸的是，这段时间我的婚姻破裂了，因为药物的副作用使我的焦虑不安发展到失去控制的地步，我变得十分多疑。我妻子和3个女儿于2001年1月离开了我。我孤独、迷惘、愤怒和伤心。
由于严重的抑郁症，我开始了心理治疗。直到现在我还在和抑郁症做斗争。
经过一个月的漫长旅途，我来到另一个医疗中心，见到了一位运动障碍专家。通过检查和使用一种药物，最后诊断为“怀疑帕金森病”。我的健康顾问建议我去确诊一下到底是否帕金森病，但是现在唯一的检查办法只能是对大脑进行尸检，而对此我还没有作好充分的准备！最近他建议我用另一种药，他确信我一定是个很好的DBS（脑起博器）手术候选人。
感谢胡老师的译文。
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Tom Berdine, I’m 37, and I have Parkinson’s Disease. I don’t know how or why nor will I ever find out. All I can do is accept it and move on with life. While doing so I hope to draw international attention to the issue of young onset Parkinson’s disease through any advocacy efforts within my ability. When I was initially diagnosed I thought that Michael J. Fox and I were the only young people in the world with this, was I ever wrong!
I joined the US Air Force in 1985 straight out of High School and was classified as a Signals Intelligence Analyst in which Ii excelled at until January 2001, when my life and future took a quick u-turn.
For about a year I had been having difficulty with my lower back and my eyes. Friends and family were asking if I had been in an accident and pointed out my slowed movements. My eyes were, and are constantly dry and I have difficulty focusing. Optometrists noted a stigmatism but glasses did not remedy my vision. I also visited a chiropractor which did not help. Shortly after I noticed a stiffness in my left hand and slurred speech. I thought nothing of it.
Finally after encouragement from my ex-wife in October 2000 I made an appointment at the Hickam Air Force Base hospital (I dread doctors). Following a series of tests I was diagnosed with essential tremor and referred to Neurology at Tripler Army Medical Center for further testing.
The Army at first diagnosed depression but soon after diagnosed ”probable Parkinson’s” and prescribed Mirapex. Unfortunately at this time my marriage was falling apart and the anxiety side-effects of the drug caused me to lose control and caused undue suspicions. My wife and 3 daughters left in January 2001. I was alone, confused, angry, and hurt.
During this period I began psychiatric treatment for severe depression.
In March of 2001 I took a month long TDY to Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC and was introduced to Dr. Cannard (an expert in movement disorders). Thorough testing and a trial dose of SINEMET resulted in my official diagnosis of ”probable Parkinson’s disease”, a familiar term. He offered to definitively diagnose Parkinson’s but I am not quite ready for an autopsy of my brain!
I medically retired from the Air Force (TDRL) at 80﹪ disability on 1 October 2001. The which Veterans Association (VA) has granted me that 80﹪ tax free. The period from October 2000 to October 2001 was a year of trials and tribulations, and I learned much about myself.
Today I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico by myself at the foothills of the Sandia Mountains. I am unemployed and live on $1500 a month. I am a full time advocate for Parkinson’s disease, and I would have it no other way.
