Fibromyalgia diagnosed over Huntington's
DEAR DR. GOTT: I have been told I have fibromyalgia. From the information I have found, it seems like this is a diagnosis when it isn't known what is wrong. When I wake in the morning, I feel like I have been in an auto accident. I hurt from top to bottom. After I get moving, it gets a little better, but the muscles mostly in my legs, arms and hands hurt all the time. I have lots of headaches and sadness, and I just feel tired.
I was put on Lyrica, and after about two weeks I did have a few better days, but now not so many.
My dad and two of his sisters had Huntington's disease. Not a lot is known about Huntington's, and most doctors have never heard of it. I am 53. My father passed away at the age of 50, and both his sisters passed away in their late 60s to early 70s.
My doctor, whom I have always trusted, said from what she knows that Huntington's cannot be passed from the father, only the mother, so any information you can help me with would be great.
DEAR READER: Huntington's is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by a genetic defect on chromosome No. 4 that causes specific nerve cells in the brain to deteriorate. This defect causes a portion of DNA, called a CAG repeat, to occur more frequently than it normally should. The number of CAG repeats may determine the severity of the disorder. With lower numbers, mild abnormal movements may occur later in life and slow the progression of the disease, while those with larger numbers may suffer more severe complications. As the gene passes from one generation to the next, that number enlarges. The larger the number of repeats, the greater your chances are of developing symptoms at a younger age. To the best of my knowledge, it can be passed on by either parent.
There are two forms of Huntington's: adult onset, which reveals symptoms when a person is in his or her mid-30s and 40s; or an early-onset form that is less common and can begin in childhood.
If one of your parents has or did have Huntington's, you have a 50 percent chance of acquiring the gene for the disease. You can also pass it on to your children. Without the gene, you cannot pass it on.
Common symptoms that may precede any problems with movement include irritability, paranoia and hallucinations. Unsteady gait, grimacing of facial muscles, uncontrolled movements, difficulty swallowing and speech impairment may follow.
Diagnosis should begin with a complete examination.
After all this, I am not sure your symptoms are indicative of Huntington's. Your muscle pain, headaches, sadness and fatigue might lead me to agree with your physician, and I would investigate arthritis, fibromyalgia and perhaps some neurological disorders.
My recommendation would be to have genetic testing performed to confirm or rule out Huntington's. Then, if you haven't had recent blood work, speak with your physician to rule out various types of arthritis or vitamin deficiencies. Do this investigation so you can put your mind at ease and get on with your life.
Dr. Peter H. Gott is a retired physician and the author of several books, including "Live Longer, Live Better," "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet" and "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook," which are available at most bookstores or online. His website is www.AskDrGottMD.com.