Hello, my name is Edwin and I have recently joined the team at Unicare Health.
My role here involves maintaining sufficient levels of spare parts. This includes checking that the correct parts and quantities are received, and creating new codes from time to time as the market evolves or new lines become available. It also includes the arranging of photos to support our website. However, unlike most Inventory Managers, I live with Parkinson’s Disease.
I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in February 2010, aged 31. At the time, my symptoms included tremors, stiffness, pain, sleeplessness and lack of facial expression. I had difficulty with fine motor skills and I found my left leg ‘dragged’ as I walked.
I didn’t begin medication until 2 ½ years after diagnosis. It made a huge difference to my life – I could sleep again, meaning I wasn’t constantly tired. The stiffness and aching subsided and all the other symptoms came under control too. Over the years, I have had to increase the dose of my medication and have looked at taking different drugs. There are side effects, but I know if I ever forget to take my medication, the unpleasant symptoms will return in full force.
The best ‘weapon’ in my battle with this disease is exercise. In January 2015, I travelled to Sydney and had some intensive ‘PD Warrior’ sessions, which helped me to see how I could overcome some limitations of the disease with specific exercises and ‘thinking big’. I regularly swim, cycle, rollerblade and play tennis. Exercise keeps me fit and helps me fight the disease.
My children don’t remember having a dad without Parkinson’s disease. They take it in their stride mostly. I remember one of my daughters, at about age 8, helping me thread the nylon onto my whipper snipper – just one example of how a simple task becomes very difficult – before I started medication. My hand had begun to shake noticeably when she announced, “here they come”. I looked around but didn’t notice anyone, so asked her who was coming. “The shakes are here,” she told me. I ‘got’ the joke, and we have laughed about it many times since – laughter is the best medicine, after all!
I really enjoy being part of the team at Unicare Health. I feel that I am treated as a person, not a problem, and I look forward to continuing here as long as I can.
For more information visit www.parkinsons.org.au