I am glad you told your daughter. There is no good alternative as I can see it. We told my son and daughter that their dad has HD when they were about 7 & 9 - not long after he was diagnosed. We tried to paint a rosy picture in terms of research and possible treatments. My daughter is now 14 and son is 12. She knows she is at risk because she learned about it in school... I am not sure iby Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
My ex husband who has HD was pulled aside and detained recently by police who must have thought he was drunk because of his gait. He was on his way to a work party and it was awful - they called the EMT and he was held up for an hour. I think he needs to have some way to identify the HD like a bracelet or a card. Does anyone have info on what is available. He says he will talk to his doc at hby Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
So sorry Sonny. There are no easy answers and simple solutions in these scenarios. I guess you just have to take comfort in the fact that you are not alone - so many here (myself included) can relate - this disease is so complex and difficult to live with. I chose to divorce my husband because he was also drinking and trying to deal with it all (and raise 2 kids) was just too much for me. Noby Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
I learned the hard way with my husband (soon to be ex) that antidepressants are not the way to go for bi-polar. my husband had a horrible time with paxel and abilify and a host of other anti-depressants until we learned that he needs a mood stabilizer instead. Look into this - I hope it helps.by Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Thanks so much Marsha! That was very helpful. I think when they upped the paxil the first time he started to do a bit better... not sure why it was upped again right away. I am confused because the docs know that he is sensitive to meds yet kept doubling the dosages rather than stopping to see the progress. Thanks again for your input it is very valuable to us!by Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
We have been through the ringer. We had a good doc that weaned him off all but fish oil and thyroid (for depression). Then he stopped seeing that doc because he was too expensive and found another doc who put him on abilify/paxil and a sleep aid (name escapes me at the moment). this is what he was taking when he went into the hospital because of depression with suicidal thoughts. they raisedby Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Hi - My husband has had a rapid deterioration and has been hospitalized as of 12/21. the docs didn't know much about HD and his normal MRI suggested to them that HD wasn't playing a role. They said he was severely depressed (which is true) and recommended ECT. he has been doing very poorly and the doc called the neurologist back for another look. This time he said he thinks it is HD related aby Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Marsha can you tell me what "caused by dysfunction" means? what does show up on an MRI? What can they learn by having a "normal" mri? thanks very much!!by Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Thanks very muchby Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Anyone have good luck with Wellbutrin? Husband now on paxil and abilify and they are suggesting a switch to wellbutrin. thanks very much!by Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Hi - My husband with HD is in hospital now for severe depression. they ordered an MRI which he hasn't had yet. the doc said the MRI was "normal". Can anyone help me with understanding what would show on the MRI and depression being "from" the HD or "just depression". trying to understand the significance and also the relationship between MRI and HD symptoms. thaby Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Wow - that is quite a story... unfortunately on this site almost everyone has had some form of it in their lives... I don't have advice for you but I want to thank you for sharing your story. I am currently divorcing my husband of 14 years who has HD. I know I have to do it for my sake and my kids but splitting with someone who is ill such a very difficult thing to do. I think I will go to theby Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Hi Spouse - this is such a difficult situation to be in and I understand your feelings. It tests and makes you confront who you are, what you believe, what you can cope with. What stage is your husband at? My husband is early stage. He is still working and able to care for himself. I am mostly worried about how he will do emotionally but he has friends and family (although his family is not lby Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Hi Spouse- I haven't visited this site in a long time - used to be a regular - so it amazed me to see your post right when I opened the page. I am currently in the process of divorcing my HD spouse. It is an incredibly difficult decision and it took me years to come to it. We have 2 kids - 10 and 8. My husband also happens to be an alcoholic and over the past 10 years he turned inward and tby Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Thanks Will. He doesn't have a problem with the fish oil on its own - doesn't love it but endures - but adding the tumeric has put him over the edge. Thanks for the info maybe I'll see if they carry tumeric in capsules.by Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
My husband's neuro/psychiatrist has told him to take 1 TB tumeric each day. Does anyone know about using tumeric medicinally, particulartly for HD? My husband is also taking a liquid hi potency fish oil and the combo is pretty hard on him - trying to find it in pill form - anyone have any info there? thanks very much!by Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Your post strikes close to home. I married my husband knowing he was at risk. we were completely in denial and have 2 at-risk children. we are now getting a divorce at my request. He also has issues with alcohol and has turned completely inward and unable to communicate. He is very early in his symptoms but who knows how different his personality would be without the HD. I feel horrible - bby Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
One thing that you learn from reading posts on this board and living with HD in your family and your life is that you have to grab the joy where and when you find it. Right now you have a new baby - nothing is much more joyful than that. I COMPLETELY understand the terror/anger/fear/sadness etc that you are living with right now but what a shame if that wins out during this amazing time with yoby Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Hi - I have been off the boards for a bit - how did it go for you at the COE and with the social worker?by Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
very sorry for your loss.by Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
From my experience with that particular SW at that COE warning folks away from the lighthouse is right in line with how they operate. They had no interest whatsoever in what was coming down the pipeline - didn't even want to be aware of it. I was amazed that they knew nothing about huntexil and encouraged us not to put my husband into the trial (we were all set for him to start). when my husbaby Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Congrats to you and your daughter. Wonderful that he was there to walk her down the aisle - priceless memory for all of you.by Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Fantastic news!! What a wonderful thing for him! Keep that brain active - good for everyone but especially HD+. So happy for you all!by Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Hey - I am so sorry that you are going through this!! As you know I have had a terrible experience with that COE, social worker and co. I haven't tried to find another but I know there is one at Long Island Jewish and I have a name there if you are interested. I also thought that Columbia would be the best - it is NYC after all (remember the New Yorker illustration of the US with both coasts dby Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Just wanted to chime in also that you are not alone at all. The man I married is essentially gone - and with him a piece of me has gone too - it is heartbreaking to see someone you love being taken away bit by bit. We also have kids 9 and almost 7 and I am so sad that they will likely never know the man I married as their father - the man they know is very different and disappearing before ourby Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Hey Paula - I'd have to second that emotion. I think everyone here realizes how important it is to have someone who REALLY understands and gets it. Unless you are living it you can't really understand. I think everyone has benefitted from the experiences and words of others and, knowing how important it is to them wants to give back and help others if they can. I think this forum is pricess tby Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Hi Lori - I am sorry for all that you have to deal with and the denial on the part of his family just adds to the problems. My husband went through something similar in terms of the alcoholism - he has since stopped drinking and has been diagnosed with HD but for a long time everything was all jumbled up - what is due to the drinking, what is HD, what is him just being a jerk. For me it took aby Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
I have a friend in CA that uses medicinal marajuana butter and foods baked with the butter - better than smoking...by Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
We are going through something similar - my husband's dosage of anti-depressant was tripled by the HD doc and then remeron was added which would up putting him in the hospital in what was the worst episode of both our lives to date. then he was off that med and put on something else at too high a dosage. Now we are working with a doc weaning him off everything - he's doing much better. he is oby Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Welcome Pat. Thanks for sharing - I am glad you decided to. I have also found this site to be an invaluable source of support and info. Seems like everyone has something to gain AND something to give...by Hope2 - Huntington's Disease Support Center