Rafa - Interview 27
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About two years ago Rafa, who was a keen runner, noticed that after about two miles of running he suddenly found himself stopping and for a time unable to progress any further. The messages he was sending to one of his legs didn’t seem to be getting through. However after a few minutes things became all right again and he was able to finish the run. The only other symptoms he noticed around that time were a tendency for his right arm to be drawn towards his body and changes in his handwriting. He mentioned running problem to his GP and a physiotherapist who he consulted but was told that there was nothing wrong. However when he managed to demonstrate the problem on a treadmill the physiotherapist was clearly concerned and Rafi returned to his GP and asked for a referral to a neurologist. On discovering there would be a several month wait for this and having been led to suspect that he might have a brain tumour he decided to ask for a private referral. Here he was immediately told that his symptoms were those of very early Parkinson’s. His GP then agreed to re-refer him as an NHS patient and the diagnosis was confirmed by CAT and DAT scans. It was decided that no medication was necessary at that time, and so far, since that time there has been little if any deterioration in his symptoms. He has been able to keep the diagnosis from most of his friends and acquaintances being particularly keen not to burden his teenage children with the anxiety it might give them at a point when they don’t need to know and are unlikely to realise that there is a problem.
While he was running one of Rafa's legs stopped working without any warning.
While he was running one of Rafa's legs stopped working without any warning.
Though his symptoms had barely progressed since his diagnosis 18 months earlier, Rafa couldn't...
Though his symptoms had barely progressed since his diagnosis 18 months earlier, Rafa couldn't...
From time to time I think the greatest the greatest worry you might have is that in two or three or five years time you cannot do the things you enjoy doing. Or it’s the uncertainty of it, the unknowingness which we all are aware of anyway. You can drop dead anytime, you can be hit by a bus or acute diseases or have an accident. We kind of all accept that but knowing that this clock ticking, or potential clock ticking, that will affect your movement or your life, your children’s experiences, your partner’s experiences things like that. That’s from time to time worrying.
Rafa's neurologist reassured him about the beneficial as opposed to the possible harmful effects...
Rafa's neurologist reassured him about the beneficial as opposed to the possible harmful effects...
I value his professional judgement and I’ve talked to him about, “Should I be doing normal things?” The only thing he’s advised me against is trying to run another marathon simply for the reason he mentioned that it it’s such an exhausting exercise to do.