I have had PD for over 20 years and so far (knock on wood) it has remained mild. I have trouble looking like a drunk when I walk but I usually walk holding my wife's hand. I forget words, but I am 78 and lots of old people do that.

I was diagnosed in 2011 with very mild infrequent tremors on one finger of one hand. My progress has been steadily downhill since then. Tremors are a daily fight in both hands & face, many debilitating muscle issues, lack of sleep problems, etc. It has had a huge effect on my daily life and activities but I just keep hanging in there with the determination to remain as independent as possible for as long as I can! It is such an individual walk that we are all on and impossible to compare one to another. We all change at such different rates and our experiences along the way, although similar in so many ways, are also so vastly different!

I find that at times I have trouble sometimes saying the easiest of words and now my friends here in the village just say "start again"and I can get the right words out. I do hate when you can be sitting doing something and for no reason you will dribble. Still I could be a lot worse and learning there are somethings I can and can,t do but I'm not going to let it stop me I will try and do what I want when I want after all it is my life and I am going to live it the way I want and refuse to let this PD rule me. I'm just someone who has a touch of Irish, Scot and Cornish blood in my veins and you know how stubborn those Scots can be An armful of hugs and best wishes Pam

The progression of Parkinson's disease symptoms can take 20 years or even longer. But the rate of progression varies from person to person.

Parkinson’s disease is sometimes referred to as a "boutique" disease: It is unique to each person. You cannot predict which symptoms you will get, and when you will get them. There are broad paths of similarity as the disease progresses, but there is no guarantee that what you see is what you'll get. Some people wind up in wheelchairs; others still run marathons. Some can't clasp a necklace, while others make necklaces by hand.

From http://www.pdf.org/en/progression_parkinsons

The progression of Parkinson’s disease varies among different individuals. Parkinson's is chronic and slowly progressive, meaning that symptoms continue and worsen over a period of years. Parkinson's is not considered a fatal disease. And the way that it progresses is different for everyone:

Movement symptoms vary from person to person, and so does the rate at which they progress.
Some are more bothersome than others depending on what a person normally does during the day.
Some people with Parkinson's live with mild symptoms for many years, whereas others develop movement difficulties more quickly.

Nonmotor symptoms also are very individualized, and they affect most people with Parkinson's at all stages of disease. Some people with Parkinson's find that symptoms such as depression or fatigue interfere more with daily life than do problems with movement.

I was diagnosed with PD in 2001 and with taking my meds on time, I am still doing well. Not much shaking, mostly stiffening up. I have some issues with pain in my legs. I did just in the last 3 days experience something new. Hallucinations! The worst is my hand writing. Even in printing I cannot sometimes read my own writing. This is scary! I am waiting to hear from my neurologist. Otherwise, I attend a stretch and tone class 3 to 5 times a week and Tai Chi class 2 to 3 times a week. I am not letting PD get me down as long as I can. Good luck to all of you.