Huntington's Disease

I know a few of you have been wondering what Huntington's Disease is and why I'd be freaking out so badly about it. Well, it is a slow disease and it will kill my husband by the time he's in his early 50's if he has it. He's turning 38 next month. Usually the disease hits 6-10 years before death in his family --they die usually around the age of 53. So, you do the math at how much longer I'll have him before he starts getting really sick. These are the symptoms of the disease:

Behavior changes may occur before movement problems, and can include:


•Antisocial behaviors

•Hallucinations

•Irritability

•Moodiness

•Restlessness or fidgeting

•Paranoia

•Psychosis

Abnormal and unusual movements include:

•Head turning to shift eye position

•Facial movements, including grimaces

•Slow, uncontrolled movements

•Quick, sudden, sometimes wild jerking movements of the arms, legs, face, and other body parts

•Unsteady gait

Dementia that slowly gets worse, including:

•Loss of memory

•Loss of judgment

•Speech changes

•Personality changes

•Disorientation or confusion

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

•Anxiety, stress, and tension

•Difficulty swallowing

•Speech impairment
 
I found this video. Please watch it if you have a moment b/c it explains the true reality of Huntington's so well.
 

 
So, basically it's overall deterioration at a very slow pace. My husband's mother died of a stroke due to Huntington's and my brother-in-law died from choking on food due to Huntington's...it's very common for them to choke to death or commit suicide. So, now ya know why I've been so down in the dumps. I'm feeling a lot better though b/c I did something. I talked to my sister in law. I was afraid to, but I made her promise she wouldn't tell David I came to her...b/c I know he'd get upset. She told me she's glad I came to her and if I ever needed to talk about it, that she was only a phone call away. She's also on the mailing list to the Huntington's Society so she's going to give me a lot of reading material. She also told me I was right in making my husband eat better and told me to start making him take some Omega 3's. I had read that all of this can keep Huntington's from showing earlier but David told me it's quack science. My sister in law told me it's not and to start making him do these things. So, it was nice to be validated and nice that I could talk to her without feeling so sad. She's been through 4 Huntington's deaths in her family so she knows the reality of things, but has learned how to deal with it in a healthy way. She was only 11 when her mother died and she is such a trooper. I'm glad I spoke with her...it helped so much. If David has it, we still do have a long road ahead of us, but at least I know I won't be alone.