I was diagnosed a year ago this October. But like you, I also had symptoms at least 2 years before I was diagnosed. And also like you, my family doctor was very dismissive of my complaints. I think a lot of family doctors simply do not know enough about Parkinson's Disease, but that is what referrals are for. If a patient keeps coming back time and time again with the same symptoms, doctors need to trust the patient that something is not right.

Every person is different. I was diagnosed in October of 2016. But after learning more about Parkinson’s I now know I had many of the symptoms years before I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, but the family doctor, I had at that time, did not pay much attention to my complaints of fatigue and other symptoms. Needless to say, I have a new doctor. I now now recognize, though talking with my doctor and sharing experiences with other Parkinson’s patients that we can slow the progress of Parkinson’s, or at least lessen the intensity of the symptoms, throughout medication and exercise or physical therapy. The main thing is, never given up. And remember you are not alone! Who knows, that a cure for Parkinson’s will be found today or tomorrow, long before we reach the more debilitating stage of Parkinson’s. My advice to you is, learn all you can, do all you can and take it one day at a time.

@ Maddies - I agree entirely with what you have said - I was diagnosed in October 2006 having been to my GP first who poo pooed it! . In the end my sister took me to a private Specialist who asked me to walk across the room he immediately told me I had Parkinson's - he told me there were worse things to diagnose. He agreed to see me NHS and that i didn't have to see him prrivately.

One thing I have learned about early onset is that development is usually much slower, and exercise will slow it down even more. After my symptoms first appeared, when I was 25, I worked 16 more years before I couldn't count those stupid dimes anymore, and my writing was so bad no one could read my paperwork. Even after I had to stop work I continued walking miles each day until I started falling. Moving, doing about anything, will help. Sleep was a long time issue for me but I didn't connect thr 2 until about 5 years ago. Over time, you realize there were several indicators you didn't connect, but when you realize you worked through them, it can help you know you can work through new symptoms often time as well.
Hugs,
Teresa

i was 42 when diagnosed but in terms of having a finger twitching i was 38. It has advanced slowly, I don't take many meds. Side-effects to Stalevo has become a problem though. Take vitamins and do hard exercise.