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Nerves & brain
Motor Neurone Disease
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Diagnosis :
First symptoms
Path to diagnosis
Immediate reactions to diagnosis
Possible causes of MND (including familial MND)
Telling others
Treatment/ interventions :
Medication, trials and research
PEGs, RIGs and ventilation
Complementary therapies and alternative treatments
Physical therapy and exercise
Information and support :
Information needs
Support groups and meeting others
Work/ career and money :
Work and career
Finances and benefits
Living with MND :
Mobility, arm and leg weakness
Aids, equipment and adaptations
Personal care and care support
Speech and communication
Eating, swallowing and breathing
Tiredness, pain and discomfort
Forgetfulness and thinking
Emotional lability, depression and low mood
Relationships and sex
Leisure, holidays and travel
Impact on family carers
Feelings about life and the future :
Philosophy, attitude to life and messages to others
Hospices, respite and thoughts about future care
Thoughts about death, dying and bereavement
Health and social care professionals :
Coordination of care
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Motor Neurone Disease
Subject index
Topic
Nerves & brain
>>
Motor Neurone Disease
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Emotional lability, depression and low mood
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Emotional lability, depression and low mood
Emotional lability, depression and low mood
Clip
Nerves & brain
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Motor Neurone Disease
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Bulbar onset
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Sarah - Interview 21
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She developed symptoms in pregnancy. She believes the neurologist knew at once what was wrong but didn't tell her. She would have preferred to know. [
Sarah was diagnosed 7 years ago when 7 months pregnant with her second baby in 2000. Now she cannot use her arms or walk unaided, and her speech is affected, so she uses voice software to communicate.
Nerves & brain
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Motor Neurone Disease
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Carers
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Mary - Interview 04
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Even before diagnosis she noticed her husband had become forgetful and slow. The family described it as 'dithery'.
Mary is the wife of man diagnosed with MND a year before interview (2003). (Couple also interviewed together - see Jack's story MND03).
Nerves & brain
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Motor Neurone Disease
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ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 20-49
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Kim - Interview 10
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She resisted taking an antidepressant for emotional lability but now she's glad she does. She enjoyed the laughter but not the crying.
Kim was diagnosed with MND (ALS) about a year ago (2005). Now unable to walk she needs help with most daily tasks, but is still working as an occupational therapist and able to drive. Her speech is not affected.
Nerves & brain
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Motor Neurone Disease
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Rarer forms - familial/inherited
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Ken - Interview 34
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Her husband's emotional reactions have become quite different, and he laughs and cries unexpectedly. He does not want to take medication. [Ken is unab
Ken was diagnosed with rare inherited (familial) form of MND less than a year ago (2006). He has limited arm and leg movement, has a PEG and uses a Lightwriter to speak, but carried on working until a month ago. Interviewed through his wife Chris.
Nerves & brain
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Motor Neurone Disease
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Carers
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Mary - Interview 04
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Her husband thought the aching in his legs was because he wasn't used to doing physical work. She noticed changes in his memory and emotional reaction
Mary is the wife of man diagnosed with MND a year before interview (2003). (Couple also interviewed together - see Jack's story MND03).
Nerves & brain
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Motor Neurone Disease
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Rarer forms - PLS (primary lateral sclerosis)
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Hal - Interview 26
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He found it difficult to control his emotions. He was worried about becoming reliant on an antidepressant but it has made him calmer and restored his
Hal was diagnosed with MND nearly three years ago in 2004. Diagnosis revised to primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) a year ago. His speech is affected, but mobility is still good.
Nerves & brain
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Motor Neurone Disease
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Carers
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Dick - Interview 42
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Di's emotions became volatile a year before physical symptoms emerged and it caused some difficulties between them, so they saw a counsellor.
Dick was married to Di, who was diagnosed with MND two and a half years ago (2004). She died 6 months ago, aged 64.
Nerves & brain
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Motor Neurone Disease
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Rarer forms - PLS (primary lateral sclerosis)
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'Speedy' - Interview 19
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She thinks she's emotionally quite tough, but every few days she has to cry. It's a combination of frustration, anxiety, loneliness and tiredness.
'Speedy' was diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) nearly 2 years ago (in 2005) after 2 years of increasing leg weakness. She now uses a wheelchair and a hand-operated car.
Nerves & brain
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Motor Neurone Disease
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Rarer forms - familial/inherited
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Liz - Interview 22
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She is determined to keep going for her children's sake, but she has been depressed in the past. Taking an antidepressant helped control both depressi
Liz was diagnosed with rare inherited (familial) form of MND 8 years ago (1998). Sixth member of her family to be diagnosed. Has weakness in her arms and legs, and some speech difficulties. Has a PEG but does not use it yet.
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