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Coping with Huntington's Disease
Ben is Coping with Huntington's Disease. This is on how Ben is coping with Huntington's and how the disease effects him. A Dear Male Friend has Huntington's Disease. He has one of the worst diseases there is. Technically this is a matter of opinion. However the condition slowly, relentlessly destroys not only the body but the mind as well. The main symptoms are physically, uncontrollable spasms and dementia. One theory is there is too much glutamic acid amino acid in the brain. In other words it isn't switched off, quickly enough and therefore causes increasing brain damage. Its like a faucet with an uncontrollable drip, wreaking havoc.
Pharmaceutical companies may be researching how to turn off this rather damaging switch. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. There are essential and nonessential. The nonessentials the body produces. The essentials are ones we need from food. Different proteins are composed of different amino acids. Every protein is made up of amino acids. A dear male friend who I met while both of us attended a rehab program has Huntington's Disease. It is also known as Huntington's Chorea. Chorea means involuntary movements usually involving the voluntary muscles. In other words, mostly twitches, spasms and similar moves.
Getting back to my friend. I remember him before the disease began to clearly manifest itself. He was a bright, creative young man. He is in his mid forties now. Now I wonder if his depression was caused by the very real fear of inheriting the dreadful disease or if the mood disorder was already part of the disorder. One of the signs of Huntington's is depression. I think knowing you could inherit a condition that destroys not only the body, but the mind as well would make most people depressed. Plus there is no cure, which makes it even worse. Irregardless, clinical depression is one of the symptoms.
His progressively worsening involuntary movements is making it increasingly difficult to take care of himself, to live independently. He can not even shave himself. He needs attendant care daily. This means he needs a caretaker to take care of the majority of his daily needs.
As I wrote before HD also effects one mentally, not only with a mood disorder. It is also considered a dementia.
It can causes memory and thinking, judgement impairments. In latter stages people with Huntington's need to be in full care nursing homes, protected from themselves. They could inadvertently do something dangerous because of poor judgement. For example accidentally start a fire.
For his mood disorder he is in a partial program. His father and his very supportive male friend is giving him moral support. Unfortunately his younger brother has the same disease. His father's late wife passed away from Huntington's. I feel great sorrow for the entire family.
There are only pallitive treatments for the symptoms. Psychotropics for the mental disturbances. I know there are some anti-alzheimer drugs such as Aricept, Tacrin, Hydergine. I don't know if they work for Huntington's Disease.
There was a study going on in Wash. D.C studying an anti-parkinson's medication. Cannibis, ie, manijuana has been seriously considered to help with the involuntary movements.
I think its terribly unfair and cruel to not have legalized medical marijuana for patients who it would do most good.
Cannibis for legal medical reasons is Marinol. It is a legitimate prescription drug for valid medical purposes.
If anyone knows of any experimental studies, please let me know.
My male friend and I will be greatly grateful.
Thank you
For more information, support please contact your local Huntington Disease Society of America. |
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This intel was contributed by mugwort
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May, 2012
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