<h1>Time's not on our side. No it isn't.</h1>

As time progresses, so do the symptoms of PD. The medication still works, but you have to take more, more often and typically, the effectiveness of the drugs does not last as long. It is at this time that a PWP begins to experience the "wearing off" phase, when the drugs wear off as the effect of the medication wanes, thus causing a PWP to take more medication, more frequently. Alas, the effect of the increase in medication may also cause L-dopa induced dyskinesia, involuntary movements that fortunately don't bother the sufferer (see Michael J. Fox on Oprah). Of course, PD being a designer disease, you might be lucky and avoid this dyskinesia. However, be forewarned, you might avoid those fidgety movements, but you can't avoid the worsening of your other symptoms. There is no doubt that after 10 to 20 years of illness, your symptoms will surely begin to interfere with daily activities. During the decade or two, following diagnosis, those symptoms will gather speed, and indubitably, your problems with balance, swallowing, urination, sex, possible cognitive impairment, etc (you know the roll call) will cause you some trouble and frustration.

Isn't knowledge wonderful!

In the meantime, ignore the future. Stop slamming your head against the wall, hoping a window will appear. Take heart. The window you are looking for is not far off, so don't pull down the blinds just yet.