Hi Shirley - Thanks for the info - I originally wrote my letter above about 1 yr. ago. Since then, his neurologist took him off the meds completely, however, it has not changed his compulsive behavior that much. We still have the sex and gambling issues and of course, the lies. The neurologist felt that his Parkinson symptoms, if he has Parkinson's, have not changed this past year without the meds, so a senior neurologist has been seeing my husband to determine if he in fact has Parkinson's.

I believe the damage was done when my husband was originally diagnosed & the neurologist gave him the Parkinson's meds, even though she was well aware that he was addicted to smoking which he had done for over 50 years when we saw her. She never mentioned the extreme side-effects for someone who already has an addiction. Had she warned me when she first prescribed them - I would have been on the look-out for the issues and possibly been able to head them off. That's the sad part. I should have sued her for knowingly giving him meds that could cause such devastation when you already have an addiction, but I let it go........she basically destroyed our life together. I have forgiven her, however, he was nothing like the person he has become since taking the meds. I hope others will check with their drs. and find out about ALL side effects before taking the meds. There are other things out there - have to do research.......

Thanks for caring.

Sue

Medication for PD can cause compulsive behaviour including sexual and gambling. Speak to his neurologist or Parkinson nurse.They should give you advice that helps you cope or change the meds. The situation is very upsetting for you but he can't help or change himself if it is the medication. Thinking of you at this unhappy time.

So sorry for all your problems!!!

Different situation and I feel your pain., before I got it and faced it we had lost TONS OF MONEY. We bought and moved to HIS DREAM, back to a ranch. Best time of his life, short lived. Raised cattle and horses, deer and sandhill cranes in our yard and even a pet squirrel that came when called from the woods to eat corn out of hubbys hand! We had a small airstrip and hanger and planned to get a small plane, hubby had private pilot license. Lots of dreams. He quit working!!! I worked 13 hr days and drove 50 min one way so I really did not see what was going on. Pretty much nearly killed himself reckless actions and we lost most all of our retirement money and moving to a trailer park!!! Sold home, lots of big equipment, cattle/ horse operation. All said to say PD sucks and I got sucked in too. He was on the computer but selling all our stocks and losing the $, nothing to show for it. Know this is LONG but please protect yourself and what you two have! I blame myself for being so blind. He would NEVER DO IN HIS RIGHT MIND! He’s in ALF now and I’m home alone now diag w MCI
( so far Ok)! So much for retirement yrs. protect both of you!!! My dearest love would do anything to change things now!! And I beat myself up for being SO BLIND! Our daughter handles our finances now and son lives right behind me. We see each other and he visits home but relationship so different, all of our dreams of getting old together and having some fun....GONE

Collette C
I have PD and was diagnosed about 14 yrs ago. I love nothing better than siitting at slot machine and hearing the money come out. We don't have casinos in our state axcept for 1 in the Indian reservation. For s short time ,we had something similar to shot machines, As I am retired, I would go every chance I got. My husband and cihildren got very iirrittated with me but I coldn't seem to stop.I was using money fom my checking account through the ATM, got money ftom my savings account and my husband''s savings siccount. He only found out because one of the tellers asked if there as something wrong because I wsa always getting money from his acccount. Needless to say, this came to a halt. I had to have my bank go hhrough my checking account monthly because I wws gettting so many overdraft fees. Not too much later, some government group came through town and shut own all of the game rooms. I still play slot machines on my celll phone but there is no real money involved. I am slowly getting out of fdebt but it has certainly hasn't been easy. I have read in several places that this is a siide effect of several diffferent medicines that are used for PD. I take Rytary, Azilect and Senemet as a booster. This on top of the DBS system that I had placed in my brain about 4 ys ago. Hope your husband makes a turn-around. Let him know how you feel and ask about how he feels. It can be very frusrating for us, too. I am havibg an "off" day today and no one seems to underetand what I'm trying to say. Hpe things get better for you.