Ben is Coping with Huntington's Disease. Ben, how HD affects him
and how he is dealing with it.
A Dear Male Friend has Huntington's Disease.
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 would think knowing you could
inherit a condition that destroys not only the body, but the
mind as well and there is no cure could cause someone to be
terribly depressed. 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. As I wrote before HD also effects one
mentally, not only with a mood disorder. It is also considered a
dementia. That is causes memory and thinking, judgement
impairments. In the latter stages people with Huntington's have
to be in full care nursing homes, protected from themselves.
They could very well 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 is 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. Many people with terminal illnessess who are suffering
with excruiating pain sure could use the pain relief. The least
they could have done for them to have something help relieve
their misery. Also for people with HD cannibis may help with
their muscle spasms and other involuntary movements. Lastly
personw with HIV/AIDS, and non-terminal stage cancer grass may
increase their appetite. thereby increasing their chance for
survival. 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. Web site on the
Internet. Note: This article replaces my earlier HD article. "A
Dear Male Friend Has Huntingtons. Typed it Huntongton. typo
obviously. I also have an article on how a common antibiotic-a
tetracycline may be helpful in treating this dreaded disease.
Its at http://www.writtenbyme.com/content/70095
About the author:
Disabled disability activist for over twelve years with local
Greater Phila, PA disability organizations.
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