Paul D.

Paul D. is at the peak of his career as general secretary of a bank when he receives a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease in 2011. He receives the diagnosis, which is preceded by incorrect treatment, by post. Exercise is important to Paul D.; among other things, he does cardio and strength training at the fitness centre. He also practices and teaches various dances. At the time of the interview, he has been living with the disease for nine years. In 2017, he started deep brain stimulation therapy, which was three years ago at the time of the interview. As a hobby, he is very busy on the computer. Age at the time of diagnosis: 50 Treatment: Deep brain stimulation

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AUDIO

Maintain habits

Paul D. keeps up his routine, which is very important for him.

Video Interview

TRANSCRIPT

Paul D.: At five o'clock I get up, at six o'clock I'm on the train. I have a direct train to T [place] that takes three quarters of an hour in the morning. Otherwise I have an hour with changing trains. Then I work. Yes, it's actually more or less still the same as I am now. At that time I should have gone to physio, but I often didn't feel like doing physio. All I wanted then was a neck massage. And now I go to the gym every other morning after work and then go home. So two or three times a week. [...] Every second working day I have physio followed by individual training. I have training under supervision. And that was more or less the same back then before DBS. Interviewer: And you already had this routine in 2016 and you have the same routine now? Paul D.: Since I got the Anterocollis. I didn't have "IV" [disability insurance] back then, I was just on sick leave. Because before you get "IV" in Switzerland, you had to be on sick leave for two years. Interviewer: Yes. Paul D.: Yes. And that was me. And then I was 50 % disabled.

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