Hello Again Caring4HD, Cymbalta has been fantastic for both y husband and mil! My husband has a lot of weird side effects at first: headache, tired (more than usual), butterflies in his stomach, dizzy....we almost quit it, but a doc convinced me to give it more time. After a few weeks, he was used to it. It took away his anxiety and depression. It helped slightly with pain (although he claimsby Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Caring4HD, My husband has Hd. We've been together for 20 years. Just found out about HD recently when his mom was diagnosed. Had never heard of it before. We are getting wills and POAs done. You may have a hard time doing anything for her since you aren't married and I am assuming there is no POA with you listed. You feel God told you to leave her and you are just trying to find a place to takby Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
HI theclosh, It was ok. I liked her, but my husband didn't feel it would be beneficial and has chosen to not pursue it. If he doesn't think it will work, then it won't! His dad talked him into seeing an acupuncturist, which neither of us thought would be helpful, but it stopped the bouncing in his left leg for about 24 hours! He said the lower half of his body hasn't ever felt so relaxed. So,by Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Schydawg - my husband and I have been together 20 years and we've always had a spare bedroom for me to sleep in when I need to get some rest as he has always been a restless sleeper and loud snorer and I am a very light sleeper. His going to bed late and then complaining about being tired has always been an issue. We just recently have found out about HD. He isn't even tested yet, but we are certby Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
JFB - I have found in my research and in my experience with my husband that people with HD are VERY sensitive to light. He can't stand bright ceiling lights. So, we have low light lamps and I put twinkle lights wrapped in a sheer fabric in the bedroom.by Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Schydawg - BTW, she also complains that the shower hurts, or it hurts to stand, or it hurts to sit in the shower chair... she always says she feels better afterwards though.by Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Thanks for the responses. Schydawg - my husband is overly hygenic in the sense that he HAS to have a bath every night, It is the only thing that helps with his pain. He says his time in the bath and the 15 minutes afterwards are the best minutes of his day. He is early stages and still works. His mom is as you describe your husband. For many YEARS before we knew about HD, she didn't bathe. She isby Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
I'm sorry to hear that, but appreciate the response!by Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Anyone have any experience with their HD partner staying up late and not getting to bed - even though they are exhausted?by Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
I am so sorry to hear about this. Definitely sounds like HD! Regardless of whether it is HD or not, I would look into getting him on a med of some sort for the obsessive / compulsive behavior. Maybe you could go with him to his primary care and just mention the OCD for now. Then, broach the subject of HD after he has been on it for a month or so. My husband was depressed, anxious, in pain and ocdby Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
You can try Principal. We have a policy with them. They will ask questions, but you may get lucky and they may not ask specifically about HD or neurological disorders. Unfortunately, he can not get long term disability insurance right now anyway though. I wanted it for me and was told that I had to work full time at one job (I previously had 3 part time positions and then no job for awhile). Yourby Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Mikee, My husband recently said that there was a time when he felt he had all he needed to succeed in life. He had all the tools. Then he started to feel like he didn't have that and feels like he doesn't now. So heartbreaking. I know God will give us all we need though to succeed with His plans. We aren't the only ones to go through this. People with HD aren't the only ones to deal with theseby Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Mary, Please convince your boyfriend to get life insurance and long term care / disability insurance! Then, down the road if his mother is diagnosed and he wants testing, that will already be in place. If he waits, they will deny him or have a case to fight paying out. If he does have HD, he will become more symptomatic over the next 5-10 years and may need disability by his late 30s or earlyby Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Completely agree with your last post Marsha. I am so excited about the pre-cell study in CA. Hopefully, it will bring some kind of a cure down the road. As for the coconut oil, IF it bring more oxygen to the brain, that means nothing. HD people don't need more oxygen, they need DNA that isn't set up to destroy the brain by killing parts of it. The CAG repeats aren't depriving the brain of oxygen.by Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Jaylyn, Good for you for helping your x-husband! I feel so sorry for those with HD with no one to help. It sounds like it may be time to step out now though. You've got him set up in a good place and he is being taken care of. Talk to the assisted living facility and let them set up an account that all his finances will go into. They can take out for what he owes them every month and leave theby Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Remember too that just as people with alzheimers can't be blamed for not remembering, angry outbursts, etc, we can't blame the person with HD. There is also no point in trying to reason with them or argue using logic. Their brain is not functioning properly. So, try not to be mad or hurt. They can't control what they are doing and saying at certain stages. If it becomes dangerous, by all means puby Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
I hate meds, but think they may be of value with HD. My mother in law is on various ones. If the person you are referring to is already on meds, start lowering them one at a time. It may very well be the meds causing the problem. My mother in law was mean and out of control before we found out about HD. Then she was in a psych ward and on numerous anti-psychotic medications. Then, in a nursing hoby Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Wow! Many thanks to each of you for posting! I just wonder if maybe the way HD affects the brain actually helps one to be artistic? I was mad at God when we figured out my husband had HD, but I wonder if he would be the man I know and love without it. How much of who we are is made up by DNA and the way it works in our brain? Just some thoughts I had. Of course, I have no answers. Will be somethiby Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Thank you all so much! I've noticed seroquel mentioned on blogs before. I wasn't sure what it was for though. I think that if we decide to get him on something, we will ask for that first. I'm glad to hear your daughter is doing pretty well Howard. We may need to try that risperidone some day Tyler. Have any of you noticed specific side effects from the meds you mentioned?by Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Can anyone tell me what medications have worked (or not worked) for you (or the person you are caring for with HD) in regards to depression, anxiety and OCD. My husband has HD and experiences all of these symptoms from time to time. We are considering getting him on something, but are unsure of which ones are best for HD.by Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
I agree with the church advice. Some larger churches (and smaller too I suppose) even have programs specifically for helping people in that kind of situation. Also, check with your closest HD Reach support groups. Maybe you and other caregivers can help each other out. Try calling 211. It is a number good all across the country that tries to help people in need to put them in touch with local reby Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Yes Marsha! We need to hold on to hope!by Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
We are trying to get a steroid injection! You would not believe the BS we are going through with his pc to get it. My husband finally emailed his neurosurgeon to get it set up through him for his neck. Trying to find out the cost as we have a large deductible. So, did the steroid injection help?by Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Thank you Mike. I think we found a great hypno therapist. She will meet with us/him for an hour and a half the first time and then she said most people have the result they want with just a few more 1 hour sessions. Part of what she does is teach him how to help himself and it does include CDs. She sounds very good and professional. She said she has worked with people with parkinsons and had gooby Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
That is so sweet sunnyjen. It is so sad when they lose the ability to do what they love! My mother in law doesn't paint anymore because she says it hurts too much to stand or sit for long periods and it hurts her shoulder. She had numerous surgeries years ago due to an xray machine falling on her (she was a tech) and breaking her back. My husband is a graphic artists and still works, but can't doby Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
My husband and his mother are amazing artists. It seems everyone I have met or talked with who has HD is artistic. Have you found there to be a high percentage of artistic people with HD?by Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Anyone tried hypnosis for symptoms management? I set up an appt for my hubby for next week. Hoping to help with pain, sleeplessness, choking, anxiety, depression, OCD, etc.by Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
Thanks Debi. Not sure why my husband and his mother in law have had so much pain after their surgeries even though every one says they are healed and they shouldn't have pain. We think its an HD thing, but I haven't heard of others with the issue yet.by Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center
My husband had been having a problem with his left hand for years and then his left foot. It is a normal part of HD unfortunately. I'm glad I read this post so I could hear about the depression / anxiety meds. He's been talking about wanting to get on something. I know now that if we decide to get him something to ask for seroquel and stay away from Wellbutrin. Is Seroquel a depression med or antby Amber - Huntington's Disease Support Center