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GeneralRe: Private messages Pin
R. Giskard Reventlov14-Jan-14 8:12
R. Giskard Reventlov14-Jan-14 8:12 
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Le centriste14-Jan-14 8:27
Le centriste14-Jan-14 8:27 
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Richard MacCutchan14-Jan-14 8:12
mveRichard MacCutchan14-Jan-14 8:12 
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Ron Beyer14-Jan-14 8:20
professionalRon Beyer14-Jan-14 8:20 
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Richard MacCutchan14-Jan-14 8:29
mveRichard MacCutchan14-Jan-14 8:29 
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Ron Beyer14-Jan-14 8:36
professionalRon Beyer14-Jan-14 8:36 
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Le centriste14-Jan-14 8:27
Le centriste14-Jan-14 8:27 
GeneralGood news and bad news... Pin
Septimus Hedgehog14-Jan-14 7:32
Septimus Hedgehog14-Jan-14 7:32 
A couple of months back or so I mentioned I might be in early onset myasthenia gravis which is a form of muscular dystrophy. To be sure, some of the symptoms have been present for a number of years, which may or may not work in my favour. I had an EMG and two critical blood tests came back negative and slightly elevated. Because of those tests the neurologist effectively ruled out myasthenia, which is the good news.

The devil is in the detail however. He referred me for a blood test to test for a specific faulty gene called PAPBN1. If present, that could explain everything as the diagnosis would indicate oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD). Curiously, it affects 1:100,000 in Europe but as many as 1:1000 in Canada. If the faulty gene is discovered, then OPMD is a slippery slope to all sorts of problems with droopy eyelids (which I have), slightly nasal and and slurry speach (which I have and can't be blamed, like Nagy, on too much gin!), weakened facial muscles (which I have some evidence of) and so on. I'll know in a couple of months whether the genetic "proof" confirms things. I'm hoping of course that the test comes back negative but at least if it's positive, then plan B can kick-in which involves some specific surgery but that's a future bridge I'll cross when it comes.

The good news is that life expectancy is not affected. The waiting game means that having been exempt from one likely cause, another gopher has popped its head up. One by one, the neurologist will chip away at things until we know what it is and from there the treatment options can be discussed.

I am fortunate though, as I must mention about a young lady who came out of the consulting room before I was called. She clearly had serious muscular dystrophy as she could not speak well at all and could only shuffle with a walking stick and she was pregnant as well. She reminded me of what's affected the former Springbok rugby player, Joost van der Westhuizen.

They can do astonishing things in medicine now. While there is no cure for MD in all its forms, the symptomatic treatment has progressed well. Having "forgotten" our wedding anniversary last Friday, today's news for my wife was received with some pain. The positive side? I see no reason to alter anything I do and we'll deal with it as we go along. I will continue to laugh at things that make me laugh.

The neurologist wants me to take my current medication and I asked him about possible side effects of which he mentioned increase flatulence was one. I've suffered from that all my life, so nothing new there, then. Project ongoing. Big Grin | :-D
If there is one thing more dangerous than getting between a bear and her cubs it's getting between my wife and her chocolate.

GeneralRe: Good news and bad news... Pin
Ravi Bhavnani14-Jan-14 7:35
professionalRavi Bhavnani14-Jan-14 7:35 
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Septimus Hedgehog14-Jan-14 8:39
Septimus Hedgehog14-Jan-14 8:39 
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Ravi Bhavnani14-Jan-14 9:24
professionalRavi Bhavnani14-Jan-14 9:24 
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Corporal Agarn14-Jan-14 8:11
professionalCorporal Agarn14-Jan-14 8:11 
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Septimus Hedgehog14-Jan-14 8:43
Septimus Hedgehog14-Jan-14 8:43 
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Ravi Bhavnani14-Jan-14 9:25
professionalRavi Bhavnani14-Jan-14 9:25 
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Corporal Agarn14-Jan-14 9:35
professionalCorporal Agarn14-Jan-14 9:35 
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Nagy Vilmos14-Jan-14 9:39
professionalNagy Vilmos14-Jan-14 9:39 
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Septimus Hedgehog14-Jan-14 21:24
Septimus Hedgehog14-Jan-14 21:24 
GeneralMy last day at this job is tomorrow Pin
The Jiving Anchovie14-Jan-14 7:27
professionalThe Jiving Anchovie14-Jan-14 7:27 
GeneralRe: My last day at this job is tomorrow Pin
Pete O'Hanlon14-Jan-14 7:29
mvePete O'Hanlon14-Jan-14 7:29 
GeneralRe: My last day at this job is tomorrow Pin
The Jiving Anchovie14-Jan-14 7:43
professionalThe Jiving Anchovie14-Jan-14 7:43 
GeneralRe: My last day at this job is tomorrow Pin
Ron Beyer14-Jan-14 7:49
professionalRon Beyer14-Jan-14 7:49 
GeneralRe: My last day at this job is tomorrow Pin
Pete O'Hanlon14-Jan-14 8:06
mvePete O'Hanlon14-Jan-14 8:06 
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The Jiving Anchovie14-Jan-14 8:25
professionalThe Jiving Anchovie14-Jan-14 8:25 
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Fabio Franco14-Jan-14 23:14
professionalFabio Franco14-Jan-14 23:14 
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Dan Neely15-Jan-14 2:33
Dan Neely15-Jan-14 2:33 

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