A dad-of-two who thought he was just being clumsy was shocked to discover he had Parkinson’s disease.
Rob Stubbs was walking in the Himalayas when one of his friends first noticed he wasn’t picking his right foot up off the floor properly. Rob, from Barnston, Wirral, said he didn’t think anything of it at the time, so when he started dragging his right leg along with him he put it down to clumsiness.
However, it was thanks to a friend, who noticed Rob was leaning to one side, that he decided to go to the doctors to get checked out. The 62-year-old teaching assistant has shared his story to raise awareness as part of World Parkinson’s Day, which fell on April 11 this year.
READ MORE: Man, 20, killed after Audi collides with tree
Rob told the ECHO: “I went to the doctors after we did this walk in Anglesey. The couple I was walking with, one of them was a physio. I couldn't straighten up [my body], I was leant over to one side. She said ‘you need to go to the doctors about it.’”
After going to see his GP, Rob was referred to a neurologist for further tests which confirmed he had Parkinson’s Disease in October 2017. Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years.
There are over 40 symptoms of Parkinson’s, with the three main symptoms being: a tremor (shaking), slowness of movement and rigidity (muscle stiffness). Rob feels he and other people with Parkinson's could benefit from having more support in place post-diagnosis to help deal with the impact it can have on your mental health.
Rob said: "I was expecting it. I was in denial. I'm quite a positive person but it was a big shock. I was told 'you've got Parkinson's Disease, it's going to get worse, go and research Michael J. Fox's book and I think they gave me the email address for Parkinson's UK.
“It really was a kick in the stomach. It is quite brutal. In my case, when I saw the consultant for the diagnosis I wasn't tremoring at all. Within 48 hours of having the diagnosis, I did start to tremor quite a lot and I was stuck with ‘what do I do now?’
Rob is now under the treatment of the Walton Centre and is currently taking a three hourly cycle of medication, which means he experiences relief from his tremor for one hour out of every three. The 62-year-old said one thing many people don’t know about Parkinson's is that stress and anxiety can make your symptoms worse.
He said: “The scary thing about Parkinson's is there's no cure and it gets worse. Slowly over the last five and a half years my tremor has gotten worse to the extent now that my wife won't let me cut up food when we're preparing a meal because of the sharp knives.
“Anything that involves two hands [is difficult] so pulling a bottle of beer is a bit of a no no. Eventually I can see in the future when I'm not going to be able to drive anymore and that will be a major blow to my independence.”
Rob has been referred for DBS (deep brain stimulation) - a type of surgery used to treat Parkinson’s - and is waiting to see if it can go ahead. According to Parkinson’s UK, DBS is not a cure and doesn’t Parkinson’s from progressing. But in many cases it's given people with the condition better control of their motor (movement) symptoms including tremor, speed of movements and involuntary movements.
Despite the difficulties he’s faced since his diagnosis, Rob is determined to stay positive and has dedicated his time to carrying out research as well as raising over £12,000 through various challenges for Parkinson's UK.
The dad-of-two also continues to work as a teaching assistant at Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, where he says staff and pupils have all been really supportive.
Rob said: “There’s a mental process to go through, but I’ve always been quite positive. What’s the alternative? My motto is, ‘It is what it is, get on with it.’ There’s nothing you can do about it. You can roll over or you can grasp it and go full throttle and that’s what I try to do.
“I’m very lucky. I have a good circle of friends, some from my school days too. I have a lot of support."
READ NEXT:
Man, 20, killed after Audi collides with tree
Family plea as tributes paid to Hillsborough survivor who died after Paris chaos
Coronation Street's Helen Flanagan stuns in £215 Karen Millen dress
'I thought he was going to kill me so I pushed him out the window'
