Can you help me? : inside the turbulent world of Huntington disease Cover Image

Book

Can you help me? : inside the turbulent world of Huntington disease / Thomas Bird.

Bird, Thomas (Thomas D.) (Neurologist), (author.).

Summary:

This book shares the surprising, insightful, challenging, and even encouraging stories of patients and their families who live with Huntington Disease. Having seen patients for more than 40 years, Dr Thomas Bird, a pioneer neurogeneticist, adds a human touch to this genetic brain disease that devastates persons during mid-life when they can least afford it. With a brief history of Huntington Disease and the occasional scientific detail, the true heart of the book is the human experience of the disorder: -The man who cannot stay out of prison because he is addicted to being a burglar. -Another man shoots and kills his roommate while watching television and cannot explain why he did it. -The woman with Huntington Disease copes with her depression by using Texas line dancing. -A twelve year old girl with juvenile Huntington Disease who can barely walk and talk, but her classmates rally around with touching and heartfelt support. -And the 72 year old man with late onset Huntington Disease and severe depression is made worse by ECT, but improved (for a while) with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. These are just some of the compelling stories of people of all ages and in all walks of life who feel trapped by a progressive degenerative brain disease from which there is no escape.

Record details

ISBN: 9780190684228
ISBN: 0190684224
Physical Description: xiii, 270 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
Publisher: New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2019]
Copyright: ©2019

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Formatted Contents Note:

Preface -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Comparing Huntington disease to other brain diseases -- 3. The genetic testing conundrum -- Part I -- Interacting with the legal and mental healthcare systems / 4. Can you help me? -- 5. It was awful -- 6. The asylum -- 7. Meeting Huntington disease patients at Western State -- 8. I don't know why I did it -- 9. Carkeek Park -- 10. Please call the coroner -- Part II -- coping strategies / 11. Enjoy the moment -- 12. High five -- 13. Let's try a magnet -- 14. "I don't agree" -- 15. The greatest generation and productive lifestyles -- 16. Princess in pink -- Part III -- Marriage, family and finances / 17. For better, for worse -- 18. In sickness and in health -- 19. Money problems -- 20. Staying employed -- 21. We just want to have a child -- 22. The judge said, "Are you sure you want to do this?" -- 23. The Thanksgiving visitor -- 24. Family opposites -- 25. A second wedding -- Part IV -- Embarrassment, injury, neglect and delusions / 26. "Excuse me, madam" and "I am not drunk" -- 27. Broken bones -- 28. A bump on the head -- 29. Impulse control -- 30. Reservation blues -- 31. Is this negligence? -- 32. Delusions, hallucinations and diabolical possession -- 33. The downward spiral -- 24. A visit to Willow Park -- Part V -- Summing up / 35. Summing up: "Can you help me?" -- Acknowledgements -- Appendix: Genetic testing for Huntington disease -- Index.