I'm 63 years old and my wife will be 59 on Saturday.
I've been a spectator here on TP for around three months, trying to assimilate information to help us with the illness that seems to be enveloping my wife.
The (brief) backstory is that my late MIL was diagnosed with Pick's Disease in 2005 and passed away in 2010. I also have a Brother-in-Law aged 54 who is diagnosed with PD, although he was born with 'learning difficulties' which make neurological diagnoses difficult.
About six months ago my wife's speech seemed to be slightly slurred, and she started having problems swallowing. She also started having leg cramps and seemed to be shuffling when walking. There was nothing too dramatic but her speech problem was becoming more noticeable and she also had a couple of sudden falls so we saw the GP who referred her to the movement disorder clinic.
So finally this week we have just had her first appointment at the clinic, with a consultant neurologist. After discussion of her family history, and a thorough examination, the consultant, in a perfectly reasonable and kindly manner, explained that his diagnosis is Motor Neurone Disease.
One hell of a shock! We were thinking maybe Parkinson's, hoping that it wouldn't be Pick's/FTD, and it feels like we've actually driven straight into the abyss.
I've read so many posts on here referring to the length of time taken to be given a diagnosis, that I don't think we were expecting anything more than a maybe an hint of some possibilities initially, but this has come without any hesitation or reserve.
Anyway, the cycle of tests and scans etc. has begun, and so has the nightmare for my poor wife. In her heart, and in mine, I think we both know that the consultant is right
Nokin
I've been a spectator here on TP for around three months, trying to assimilate information to help us with the illness that seems to be enveloping my wife.
The (brief) backstory is that my late MIL was diagnosed with Pick's Disease in 2005 and passed away in 2010. I also have a Brother-in-Law aged 54 who is diagnosed with PD, although he was born with 'learning difficulties' which make neurological diagnoses difficult.
About six months ago my wife's speech seemed to be slightly slurred, and she started having problems swallowing. She also started having leg cramps and seemed to be shuffling when walking. There was nothing too dramatic but her speech problem was becoming more noticeable and she also had a couple of sudden falls so we saw the GP who referred her to the movement disorder clinic.
So finally this week we have just had her first appointment at the clinic, with a consultant neurologist. After discussion of her family history, and a thorough examination, the consultant, in a perfectly reasonable and kindly manner, explained that his diagnosis is Motor Neurone Disease.
One hell of a shock! We were thinking maybe Parkinson's, hoping that it wouldn't be Pick's/FTD, and it feels like we've actually driven straight into the abyss.
I've read so many posts on here referring to the length of time taken to be given a diagnosis, that I don't think we were expecting anything more than a maybe an hint of some possibilities initially, but this has come without any hesitation or reserve.
Anyway, the cycle of tests and scans etc. has begun, and so has the nightmare for my poor wife. In her heart, and in mine, I think we both know that the consultant is right
Nokin