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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JonW on June 3, 2002, at 22:11:54
Hi,
Have you every had a family history done before? Was it of any benefit to you? How many generations should be looked at? Also, anyone's thoughts on anything related....
Thanks,
Jon
Posted by SuzyQ on June 4, 2002, at 7:43:56
In reply to Family History?!, posted by JonW on June 3, 2002, at 22:11:54
My bio-father had serious problems, but I don't know much about it. He was no longer in my life after I was an infant.
I'm the third generation (that I'm aware of) on one side of the family--all on the same ADs. I haven't explored more than that and I don't know what I would find out or what would help. I do know that knowing this has helped me accept my problems.
I am interested in what you find out, though. Especially the ramifications about what we pass on to our children. I don't know if I would have had kids if I knew then what I know now about myself and my mental illnesses.
And sometimes I wonder if I should just go ahead and start giving my preschoolers a prozac with their breakfast and morning vitamins! *L*
Posted by Kar on June 5, 2002, at 8:14:47
In reply to Family History?!, posted by JonW on June 3, 2002, at 22:11:54
Jon- what exactly do you mean by having one "done"? Like by a professional? How would you go about it? My pdoc is just convinced that there's something, somewhere in my history (I'm bipolar) and that it was just undiagnosed/hidden...What I don't understand is why I can't be the one to have started it? Someone has to screw up the gene pool right?
I am worried about passing it on. Not gonna stop me from having kidlets, though. I figure what we could offer to a child outweighs the chance that he would end up with this nastiness...
Not of much help to ya tho...
karen
Posted by JonW on June 5, 2002, at 11:25:18
In reply to Re: Family History?! » JonW, posted by Kar on June 5, 2002, at 8:14:47
Kar,
Mostly I just mean how far back is significant? At what point doesn't it matter anymore?
Jon
Posted by JonW on June 5, 2002, at 12:55:05
In reply to Re: Family History?!, posted by SuzyQ on June 4, 2002, at 7:43:56
Posted by waterlily on June 5, 2002, at 15:48:57
In reply to Family History?!, posted by JonW on June 3, 2002, at 22:11:54
Well, I can tell you that my paternal grandfather spent some time in a mental institution (for what, I don't know), my dad had depression, shot himself and died, I have depression, and my 10 year old is on antidepressants. I did not get diagnosed with depression until after my youngest was born. Fortunately, she has a very upbeat personality like my husband.
Posted by JohnX2 on June 6, 2002, at 16:21:50
In reply to Re: Family History?! » JonW, posted by Kar on June 5, 2002, at 8:14:47
> Jon- what exactly do you mean by having one "done"? Like by a professional? How would you go about it? My pdoc is just convinced that there's something, somewhere in my history (I'm bipolar) and that it was just undiagnosed/hidden...What I don't understand is why I can't be the one to have started it? Someone has to screw up the gene pool right?
>
> I am worried about passing it on. Not gonna stop me from having kidlets, though. I figure what we could offer to a child outweighs the chance that he would end up with this nastiness...
>
> Not of much help to ya tho...
> karenKaren,
On the bright side...
There would only be a certain odd that your child
would activate the gene and by that time (many years from
now), hopefully medical science will have come out with many
more treatments to ease any pain.Regards,
John
Posted by JonW on June 7, 2002, at 17:44:58
In reply to Re: Family History?! » JonW, posted by Kar on June 5, 2002, at 8:14:47
> Karen,
>
> On the bright side...
> There would only be a certain odd that your child
> would activate the gene and by that time (many years from
> now), hopefully medical science will have come out with many
> more treatments to ease any pain.
>
> Regards,
> JohnYeah, and one theory about bipolar disorder that seems to make a lot of sense is that the genes involved with it are beneficial -- that's why evolution hasn't done away with them -- so your child could end up having a wonderfully healthy expression of these genes. One psychiatrist once said to me that great accomplishment seems to run in bipolar families. I don't know the statistics of all of this, though...
Jon
This is the end of the thread.
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