BUdnkota - I'm sorry to hear about your family history with Huntington's. It's a very scary disease. I believe I would come to the same conclusion as you and want to end my life before I got to the point where I could no longer make or act on that decision. And I can't imagine making the testing decision: I have no idea what I would do. That's such a difficult situation. It must weigh on you, especially as you can't rely on your father.
My grandfather had a very slow, terrible decline from Alzheimers when I was a child. He was incontinent and knew only about 10 words in two languages. He barely could feed himself. He lived with us for a few years until it became apparent he needed to be in a skilled nursing facility. Near the end - which came after years of further decline - he only knew one word: our last name. So his son (my father) would hold a sign with our name written on big letters and just say his name over and over.
My mom now is showing clear signs of early Alzheimers. A family friend who is an internist and knows her well agrees that this is the diagnosis. I am dreading the years to come and wish I could spare her, the rest of my family, and me from what I know will come.
The genetics of Alzheimers is unclear. It looks like most cases in older people are not genetically based. Early-onset Alzheimers appears to have a stronger genetic basis. Lately, I find myself forgetting common phrases and words (I used to be an editor as well). I know this is due to lack of sleep and too much stress, but AD sits in the back of my mind. I would prefer to take my life than have my children watch me decline as I watched my grandfather.
Let's both get some more sleep and less stress, and we'll hope for the best for both of us and our families.
My grandfather had a very slow, terrible decline from Alzheimers when I was a child. He was incontinent and knew only about 10 words in two languages. He barely could feed himself. He lived with us for a few years until it became apparent he needed to be in a skilled nursing facility. Near the end - which came after years of further decline - he only knew one word: our last name. So his son (my father) would hold a sign with our name written on big letters and just say his name over and over.
My mom now is showing clear signs of early Alzheimers. A family friend who is an internist and knows her well agrees that this is the diagnosis. I am dreading the years to come and wish I could spare her, the rest of my family, and me from what I know will come.
The genetics of Alzheimers is unclear. It looks like most cases in older people are not genetically based. Early-onset Alzheimers appears to have a stronger genetic basis. Lately, I find myself forgetting common phrases and words (I used to be an editor as well). I know this is due to lack of sleep and too much stress, but AD sits in the back of my mind. I would prefer to take my life than have my children watch me decline as I watched my grandfather.
Let's both get some more sleep and less stress, and we'll hope for the best for both of us and our families.