‘Strangers asked me if I was on drugs’: Meet the woman who got Parkinson's at 21

January 2016

NICOLA Gosling, 34, lives in Dudley, West Midlands, with her husband, Matt, 43 and their children, Olivia, seven, and William, three. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in her 20's...

"As the sun shone down and music blared, I sat for a moment soaking up the atmosphere of my first ever V Festival last summer. But then my body began to shake. A young lad nearby couldn’t help but stare and asked if I was on drugs. 

He looked dumbfounded when I said I had Parkinson’s disease. 

I saw the first signs at just 21 when buying a house. It was stressful and whenever I felt anxious, my fingers seized up and my arms would shake uncontrollably for up to a couple of hours. 

It was terrifying feeling so out of control, so I saw my GP, who referred me for an MRI scan. When the results came back clear, I was diagnosed with a dystonic tremor – muscle spasms – and told it wasn’t serious.

Nicola's symptoms started when she was just 21

Over the next few years, however, the shakes grew more frequent and tiring. I tried epilepsy drugs, herbal remedies and even antidepressants to stop them. 

But nothing worked and simple tasks like shopping, cooking – even applying mascara – became difficult. 

In 2004 I met Matt, who was really understanding, and the shakes didn’t affect our relationship or stop me having kids. After Olivia was born in 2008, I adjusted to her routine and rested between feeds to avoid tremors.I gave up my full time job in finance to set up a carpentry business with Matthew, with me taking on the financial side. It worked perfectly for us as the tremors had begun to affect my typing and were also making me tired, and being my own boss meant I could work flexibly. 

By this time, I became convinced my shakes weren’t down to a dystonic tremor. I did some research and read about Parkinson’s – a progressive disease that affects the brain and causes tremors, stiffness and slow movements. My gut told me that’s what it was, despite the fact neurologists hadn’t investigated the possibility as I was so young.

Nicole and her family 2013

Wanting answers, in April 2015 I asked for a specialist brain scan. Two weeks later, I was told the symptoms I’d experienced for years were early onset Parkinson’s. 

The news was a bombshell, despite the fact I’d suspected that’s what it was. I panicked the kids might inherit it, but doctors told me it wasn’t genetic. 

My family were devastated when I broke the news. Matt was silent, but then said that it made no difference as he would always love me. 

I was put on medication and, although I still get a slight tremor when I’m nervous, it’s nowhere near as bad as it used to be. Even so, I still get strangers asking me if I’m cold or drunk. But I try not to let it get to me. 

For a time I did feel incredibly low, but I soon realised I had nothing to cry about. I have a wonderful family, a good business and a huge support network in my friends and the charity Parkinson’s UK. I still live a normal life and do all the things parents do. 

I exercise to keep strong, and in October I’m running a half-marathon. My condition will deteriorate in the long-term, but Parkinson’s affects people differently. 

I may need a wheelchair or develop a fatal condition if my immune system weakens, but as I just don’t know, I don’t dwell on it. For now, I won’t let it change who I am." 

Parkinson's disease affects 127,000 people in the UK - which is around one in 500*, but most people develop symptoms later in life. 

Around a third of people with Parkinson's disease develop symptoms before the age of 65, and one in 100 before the age of 40.*

Photography: Syriol Jones, Hair and make-up: Josie Heighton-Jones, Styling: Kate Barbour. Nicola wears: shirt, Bershka; jeans, River Island. 

Source: *Parkinson's UK (Parkinsons.org.uk)

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/fabulous/6871943/I-got-Parkinsons-in-my-20s.html