Huntington's Disease is an incurable fatal genetic disease that attacks the nervous system. My mother is in the last stages of the disease. It is heart-breaking to watch her go from an active exuberant person to one who cannot walk or speak. I have a 50-50 chance of inheriting it from her. I have no plans on ever having children, so that is not an issue. There is a simple test that I can take to see if I will get it when I'm middle aged (I'm 25 right now). If you were me, would you get tested?
2007-02-23 15:10:54 · 6 answers · asked by Ophelia193 6 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
This sounds like an ethical question we had in nursing school. I'm pretty sure I would not get the test at age 25. For one thing, if you decided to apply for long term care insurance later in life, you wouldn't want insurance companies knowing about it. On a personal level, would you live your life differently if you knew you would get it? Or could you live your life fully just in case you might, but not knowing for sure? It's hard to say what I would do for sure, but would probably wait another 10 years at least before finding out. I wish you luck, and am so sorry you and your family have to experience that dreadful disease.
2007-02-23 15:23:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
This kind of question is something that shouldn't be taken lightly and should be entirely your decision. Perhaps you should ask yourself what you would use with that information. If you did have the gene, what benefit do you see in knowing? Would that make you want to enjoy more out of life while you still have it or would it devastate you and take away enjoyment out of your current life? Even with the test, you still wouldn't know at what time the disease will manifest itself so you should take that into consideration.
I'm a "need-to-know" type of person, so I would get tested if I had to, but I'm not you. What I would recommend is gathering a strong support system to help you if and when you make that decision. Good luck
2007-02-23 23:49:05 · answer #2 · answered by Terry N 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on your personality. To some people, learning that you have a fatal disease is actually liberating because their whole outlook on life changes and each day is much more valuable. Others may have the opposite reaction, and quit living normally because they are so focused on dying. For me, I would want to know because I would stop worrying about having the disease - I would know one way or another, and I think either way, I would be better off.
2007-02-24 00:51:10 · answer #3 · answered by formerly_bob 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That has always been a hard thing to think about. I almost think I would consider getting tested and then scour the internet for drug trials or expirements to help prevent it etc.
2007-02-23 23:15:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
To put your mind at ease and peace, I would say yes. If God Forbid the test do not turn out as you would hope at least you will be able to make the best of your life either way. May God speed and may you find comfort in him.
2007-02-23 23:26:34 · answer #5 · answered by Nana 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I wouldn't until there is a cure. Just knowing for sure would be horrible.
2007-02-23 23:23:36 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋