Ian O'Brien was 38 when a neurologist told him, within a couple of minutes, that he had Parkinson's disease. For about a year before that he had been on antidepressants for anxiety and depression, and for two years he had been finishing sentences with his left hand holding his right. His first question was whether Parkinson's could cause the anxiety and depression. When the answer was yes, he says it felt like a weight off his shoulders. Now 46 and nearly ten years in, Ian, who co-founded EOPD Ireland, tells Laura what early onset Parkinson's is really like: medication that now lasts him about an hour, switching "off" like a light, planning his day around tablets and protein, and the evenings his daughters help him get ready for bed. He talks about telling his eldest with a poem and letting her interview him on camera, and about Parkinson's being one of the factors in his recent separation. He also explains dopamine in plain language, the gambling and compulsive behaviour dopamine agonists can trigger in some people, deep brain stimulation, why exercise should be the first thing a neurologist mentions, and why talking to other people with Parkinson's has been his best education of all. 🔑 Key Points Depression came first His first symptoms were anxiety and depression, and he spent about a year on antidepressants before a physio friend told him to ask his GP for a neurologist. The movement signs he missed For around two years his handwriting shrank and stopped mid-sentence, and he would reach across with his left hand for the keys in his right pocket. A diagnosis can bring relief Ian says he almost wanted something physically wrong with him to explain how he was feeling, and he walked out of the neurologist's office feeling better. Medication is a daily balancing act Levodopa now lasts him about an hour, and eating close to a dose, especially protein, can stop it working, so he plans tablets, meals and work around the times he needs to be on. Exercise should come first He says neurologists don't always lead with it, but high-intensity exercise made him feel almost as if he didn't have Parkinson's, and he has got worse since slowing down. Your whole family gets Parkinson's He regrets being a bit selfish at the start and sees the condition as one of the factors in his recent separation, though he and his wife still raise their girls together. Telling his daughter with a poem Ian read his eldest a poem about Parkinson's, then a week later let her interview him on camera with questions she wrote herself. Life isn't over He knows people living well 20 to 30 years after diagnosis, and his advice to anyone newly diagnosed is that you just need to make adjustments. 📚 Resources EOPD Ireland the charity for people with early onset Parkinson's that Ian co-founded Parkinson's Ireland the national charity supporting people with Parkinson's The Michael J. Fox Foundation the Parkinson's research foundation Ian mentions Samaritans Ireland free support, any time, if you are struggling ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome back to the podcast 02:17 — Anxiety and depression came first 04:16 — "It was like a weight off my shoulders" 06:30 — The movement signs he missed 09:18 — Why exercise should come first 10:22 — Parkinson's and dopamine, explained 12:17 — Levodopa and planning the day 14:40 — Telling his daughter with a poem 17:15 — Dopamine agonists and compulsive behaviour 24:59 — Playing soccer for Ireland 28:15 — The whole family lives with it 33:44 — Deep brain stimulation 37:00 — Setting up EOPD Ireland 38:52 — "Life isn't over" Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
