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Concerning Family History
Sat, 03/21/2015 - 20:19Hello all,
My partner and I have reached a point where we want to start trying to conceive. During our discussions my family history of seizure disoders came up. My grandmother had many grand mal seizures and was said to be "bipolar" or "schizophrenic" (diagnosis at that time quite vague). Along with grand mal seizures she would display erradict behaviour such as excessive spending followed by depressive episodes. She took her own life at 35. Her brother, my great uncle, was institutionalized as a young child. He suffered from seizures, behavioural problems (hyperactivity, so called deviant behaviour, etc) and in the 1950s language in the history I have received, was referred to as an "idiot". His seizures increased near the end of his life and he passed at the age of 19 in instituation due to a chest type infection (bronchitis perhaps). He was heavily medicated throughout his short life. His aunt, my great-great aunt, was also institutionalized, I am making the assumption that it is for a similar seizure type disorder. She lived until later on in her years, at least 50, 60. Now, due to the time peroid all diagnosis are extremely vague and unhelpful. I have a list of symptoms and behaviours, but nothing to identify whether or not the illness suffered by my family members would be a risk to a child I would concieve and if a genetic link exists, how much of a risk it poses to a child in the 21st century. Hoping perhaps someone has a similar experiences with an accompaning diagnosis that can shed some light on my concerns.
OK here i go again. The
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2015-03-24 - 11:40
OK here i go again. The original response didn't stay,Are you going to check family history if either family has someone that had a heart ailment or some other disease???I do know about things happening in the 1960's some people were still beiog put away in homes. Out os site out of mind. In the 1970's there were still some states that wouldn't give people with epilepsy a marriage certificate..Techonology has advanced a hell of a lot in a short time. Medications today are far better then they were back in the 1960's. Been there done that. Epilepsy can run in families but so does brown eyes, red hair,green eyes. Almose any and all ailments can be transfered in genes. Does it mean you or your kids will get them? That answer is NO. Did my epilepsy come down thru the family? WEllll since I wan't arround and didn't see them and the only family members I can talk to never talked about someone with seizures I am to think it didn't. Culd it have? It is possiable but testing showed my epilepsy was caused by scared brain tissue. The scar was from a hemmorage to my brain. The original diagnosis was before or after birth. Weell that testing was done in the 1960's. Technology advanced in 2004 my current neurologist wanted to see of other procedures could help control my seizures better. They ran the same basic tests. IN thos tests the main difference was insteaad of before or after birth. The scar was caused by a blow to my head which happened between 6-8. well I did have a fall at the age of 7in which I hit my head spinning it arround and then my nouth hit the metal rail on the bunk bed. The doctors were worried morre about the 4 teeth knocked out and the cuts on the inside of my mouth then the big bump on my head since I needed 32 stiches on the inside of my mouth and on my tongue. If you want kids then by all means have them. We are no different then an other people. We have our ups and downs just like everybody on this big blue planet. Like I posted. Will you be checking for other ailments that can't be seen?? Anybody in either family had a heart ailment of any kind. High blood pressuer? What about diabeties (which can and does run in families). You can start by using google or bung and type in "famous people with epilepsy" you might be surprised to see the names