‘Parkinson’s makes you wish you were never born’, says Jeremy Paxman.

That's sad. I could never say that about any illness if I got to his age after a fulfilling life. Does he mean debilitating pain or frustration at no hope of treating it?

It must be truly terrible to have this diagnosis and good if anyone who is able , provides support and friendship for the best life possible for the person with Parkinsons. I have a tremor - but it is not Parkinsons, and it reminds me to be grateful for the life I have. I don't know anyone with Parkinsons but feel empathy indeed for someone with this diagnosis.

My husband died with Parkinson’s , not of it , it is such an insidious disease , it masked his stomach cancer
To see him go from a busy , out every night at cards , watching football , loving chat with his mates … to barely able to speak , totally unable to move , man in a wheelchair was heartbreaking

The thing with Parkinson’s is that it takes no two people in the same way. Paxman was very positive to start with but obviously his symptoms have escalated to such an extent life has become very difficult. My auntie had it but apart from being unable to do certain things without help still had a reasonable quality of life but then she was very religious, and lived to be 97. For those suffering the extremes it’s a horrible condition.

The thing with Parkinson’s is that it takes no two people in the same way

A close relative had it.
I think he got off "lightly" compared to some.
He did not die of it, but with it.
Maybe he never got to the worst part?
I had never thought of that before.

Sorry about your husband, aggie.

Like dementia, its a horrible thing that takes away the person you love piece by piece.

I know it's impossible, and probably wrong of me, but I always found the people with parkinsons were really gentle, sweet people.
One on particular comes to mind.

He was a lovely man.

Parkinson’s is horrible, I’m sure . But the cruellest of all diseases I think, is Motor Neurone Disease. My brother had it for 6 years, before he passed away .

I think it’s more cruel than dementia, because most people are fully aware of what’s happening to their bodies right to the end, but can do nothing to change it. I always think of Dylan Thomas’ words ‘Rage, rage against the dying of the light’ from the poem Do not go gentle into that good night. I think that’s what Paxman is doing, raging against the dying of the light.

That really is awful.

Huntington's, too.

My friend was diagnosed about 5 years ago with Parkinson's the medication she is on makes her seem perfectly ok her tremor has gone and she walks better and faster than me mentally she’s perfectly normal
I just hope for her sake the medication keeps working, they have upped it once !

That’s so sad, he was always so positive, it must be so debilitating.

It's exhausting, too, from what I've been told by sufferers.

Casdon

I think it’s more cruel than dementia, because most people are fully aware of what’s happening to their bodies right to the end, but can do nothing to change it. I always think of Dylan Thomas’ words ‘Rage, rage against the dying of the light’ from the poem Do not go gentle into that good night. I think that’s what Paxman is doing, raging against the dying of the light.

Many forms of dementia leave the sufferer fully aware of their condition.
My late husband suffered from young onset dementia. I cannot begin to describe how traumatised he was. I met many others with various forms of dementia during the long ten years of my husband's illness. The suffering they endured was dreadful.
They included some with Parkinsons related dementia.
Unless you have witnessed the worst case of dementia, please don't make comparisons with other illnesses.
I would rather die today than go through the suffering I have witnessed.

Aldom

Casdon

I think it’s more cruel than dementia, because most people are fully aware of what’s happening to their bodies right to the end, but can do nothing to change it. I always think of Dylan Thomas’ words ‘Rage, rage against the dying of the light’ from the poem Do not go gentle into that good night. I think that’s what Paxman is doing, raging against the dying of the light.

Many forms of dementia leave the sufferer fully aware of their condition.
My late husband suffered from young onset dementia. I cannot begin to describe how traumatised he was. I met many others with various forms of dementia during the long ten years of my husband's illness. The suffering they endured was dreadful.
They included some with Parkinsons related dementia.
Unless you have witnessed the worst case of dementia, please don't make comparisons with other illnesses.
I would rather die today than go through the suffering I have witnessed.

I have unfortunately Aldom. I take your point though, any illness is terrible when someone close to you is suffering.

I would rather die today than go through the suffering I have witnessed.
That I might understand, but not to say, "I would rather never have been born."

My dfil died of it. He had it for seven years and it was just a gentle slide down. aggravated in the last year, by a stay in hospital. He was hospitalised with an infection, recovered and then was kept in because he was in general mental and physical decline.

My dmil and her brother, just turned up at the hospital one day and said they were taking him home, where upon, mind and body started to improve, but the some of the damage was permanent and he died six months later.

This picture of Paxo brought it home to me and really saddened me

We need much more research into these awful diseases.

poor Jeremy

It is a horrible disease, I had an aunt who died of it (not with it).

Poor Jeremy, he must feel very frustrated and I can understand what he meant.

But, if he'd never have been born, we would not have had the delight of seeing him skewer politicians in his interviews.
Or get annoyed with contestants on University Challenge.

crazyH

Parkinson’s is horrible, I’m sure . But the cruellest of all diseases I think, is Motor Neurone Disease. My brother had it for 6 years, before he passed away .

I agree.

My brother in law had MND. For 12 months we were praying for death for him. Which sounds dreadful, but it's true. It was an utter nightmare. His wife ended up being sectioned after watching him die a long, slow, agonising death.

Louella12

crazyH

Parkinson’s is horrible, I’m sure . But the cruellest of all diseases I think, is Motor Neurone Disease. My brother had it for 6 years, before he passed away .

I agree.

My brother in law had MND. For 12 months we were praying for death for him. Which sounds dreadful, but it's true. It was an utter nightmare. His wife ended up being sectioned after watching him die a long, slow, agonising death.

Heartbreaking.

And the reason I support Dignity in Dying.

Louella12

crazyH

Parkinson’s is horrible, I’m sure . But the cruellest of all diseases I think, is Motor Neurone Disease. My brother had it for 6 years, before he passed away .

I agree.

My brother in law had MND. For 12 months we were praying for death for him. Which sounds dreadful, but it's true. It was an utter nightmare. His wife ended up being sectioned after watching him die a long, slow, agonising death.

How absolutely dreadful Louella.. your poor SIL and DB.. and you... that's why I fully support Esther Rantzen.. some dignity and compassion through assisted dying..