Medical Heredity

What is Medical Heredity? Heredity is the passing of physical or mental characteristics genetically from one generation to a subsequent one.  Thus, Medical Heredity are those medical conditions that can be genetically passed to later generations.  The purpose of this essay is to identify those medical conditions that can possibly be passed to later generations of the Price and Wilhite families.  My intent is not to scare anyone but to provide information concerning medical conditions that have exited in our two families.  Even so, this information is limited to what I am aware of or experienced.   And this awareness is definitely limited.  Writing this essay came to mind prior to deciding to undertake Reflectionsbut preparing it was continually delayed for any number of reasons. Once writing Reflectionswas initiated, it was planned to include at some point a Medical Heredityessay.  When to include it was the only question.  It has been a goal to present Reflectionsessays as close to chronological order as possible, but Medical Heritageis not chronological and is really generational. Then while in Southern California last year to celebrate Christmas with everyone, Roberta informed me of her recently diagnosed medical condition.  Upon learning of her medical diagnosis, it became evident NOW was the time to prepare the Price/Wilhite Medical Heredity essay.

After deciding to present the Price/Wilhitemedical history and inheritance possibility, a number of questions arose as to how best to structure the information.  As a starting point, a list was made of known medical conditions and the family member affected.  This list illustrated the situation that more than one person was affected by a specific medical condition. Thus, it was decided to identify a medical condition and which family member was affected.  This type grouping provides a degree of awareness for possible heredity possibilities.  Deciding what order to list the medical condition is more complex that depends on seriousness or its effect on the quality of life.  An attempt has been made to list the medical condition considered to be the most serious listed first.  However, what will be listed high on the list may not be the most serious if you have the condition.  Seriousness is in the eye of the beholder!  As you review the list, I’m sure you will note that several of the medical conditions first appear in my personal history.   

A description will be given for each medical condition.  Each description is either based on a Mayo Clinic Overview or knowledge I have gained through the years.  There has been no attempt to list symptoms except those that have been experienced. Certainly, my medical knowledge is limited and everyone is encouraged to conduct their own research to inform yourself. In other words, do not take my word as gospel!  After all, I am as fallible as everyone else.  The objective of this essay is to identify various medical conditions experienced by members of the Price/Wilhite families.  Some of these medical diseases have a heredity component, others do not.

Heart Disease – Generally refers to conditions that lead to heart attack, chest pain or stroke.  To the best of my knowledge there are only two family members that have experienced some form of heart disease

Pauline Price–Mom had a leaky heart valve that was discovered during a hospital visit for another condition that was not related to her heart.  A cardiologist suggested surgery to replace the valve, but she refused the replacement.  The doctor gave her six months to live without the replacement.  Mom was prescribed medications to control the leakage and she lived for seven years after refusing the replacement.

Robert S. Price– Our Great Grandfather.  No specific knowledge of his heart condition and only found a brief cause of death in family notes.  However, he was 81 at his death, so not sure heart disease was a major factor in his passing.

Colon Cancer- A cancer in the large colon.  This cancer is slow growing and is diagnosed with a Colonoscopy.  Colon cancer has a heredity component – meaning it can occur in a person’s descendants.

Robert Otto Price– Dad lived only five weeks after the cancer was discovered.  He complained of a “grippy stomach” when hospitalized.  The cancer had metastasized into his chest cavity.  NOTE– As a result, all his children and grandchildren should have a colonoscopy every five years after the age of either 40 or 50!  Medical professionals have quoted both ages to me, so ask your doctor for his/her recommendation when to start the process.

Barrett’s Esophagus– Barrett’s Esophagus is caused by long term acid reflux (heartburn) from the stomach.  Acid reflux changes the ell structure of the esophagus to that like the small intestine.  Barret’s has three symptoms: heartburn, difficulty swallowing and chest pain.  Sometimes none of these symptoms exist.  After a history of heartburn for five years, consult your doctor.  Barrett’s is diagnosed with an Upper Endoscopy (Similar to a Colon Endoscopy, just the other end).  If constant heartburn exits, it can be a heredity component.  Barrett's esophagus is associated with an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer. This cancer is very aggressive, fast growing and usually fatal.  Barrett’s can be successfully treated if diagnosed prior to developing esophageal cancer.

Royal Price– Yep, I have Barrett’s!  There was a long history of heartburn that was treated with Tums, Rolaids and Bicarb of Soda.  Besides heartburn, there would be occasional chest pains.  Chest pains would follow a run or bike ride but would disappear within a couple of hours after the exercise.  The pain was ignored because it stopped within a few hours.  Then one day in 2001, after a bike ride the chest pain did not quit until the next morning.  The lingering heart pain was ignored, but it occurred again a few days later.  Decided it was best to see my doctor.  He performed an electrocardiogram that showed normal heart conditions.  He ruled out a stress test upon leaning I experienced elevated heart rates for over two hours on bike rides.  Since there was a lingering chest pain, he gave me a Maalox and the pain disappeared.  He immediately scheduled me for an Upper Endoscopy with a gastroenterologist.  The endoscopy revealed Barrett’s Esophagus.  I was informed of the probability of esophageal cancer but was informed it was a small percentage possibility.  I began taking Nexium to reduce, or prevent, acid reflux to stop further damage to the esophagus.  In addition to the Nexium, it was highly recommended an endoscopy be scheduled once a year.  So, in 2002 an annual endoscopy was started.  

After moving from Seattle to Golden, Colorado, in 2003, the annual endoscopy was continued through 2005.  Although I had moved to Jackson Hole in 2005 when Norma and I were married, we return to Denver for the annual procedure.  Shortly after the procedure, the doctor called and indicated the biopsy revealed there was high grade dysplasia.  Dysplasia is precancerous with “low and high” designations, with high being one step from cancerous.  The usual treatment of Barrett’s with high grade dysplasia is surgery.  This surgery removes the Barrett’s portion of the esophagus, the top portion of the stomach, and reconnects what is left.  A very major surgery that completely changes your lifestyle.  After consulting three doctors, internet research revealed a Barrett’s procedure that did not require surgery existed at the Mayo Clinic.  An 800 phone call to Mayo immediately resulted in an appointment  After further tests at Mayo, we were given both a surgery and non-surgery option.  We chose the non-surgery option and scheduled another appointment in two months.  Another endoscopy was performed with the results showing NO dysplasia and we began Mayo visits on a three month basis.  Each endoscopy resulted in either No or Low dysplasia.  After about a year the schedule changed to every six months and finally to once a year.  Since about 2007, a trip to the Mayo Clinic for an endoscopy continued until 2017 when the endoscopy was performed at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital in Salt Lake City. Changing to Salt Lake City was done to save transportation costs.  I continue to take Nexium daily and the Barrett’s has stabilized with either no or low dysplasia.  

Sorry for the lengthy explanation, but it seemed important to convey seriousness of Barrett’s Esophagus.  Many details have been omitted in this narrative, and I am willing to provide these extra details for anyone that is interested.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurism– The aorta is the major artery from the heart that supplies blood to the body.  The aorta exits the heart and runs through the chest and abdomen.  An abdominal aortic aneurism is a weakness in walls of the aorta.  There are a number of reasons for the weakness, such as smoking, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, being Caucasian and family history.  A drawing illustrates a common aneurism, which appears like a bulge in a garden hose.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurism

An aortic aneurism can expand over time, then rupture and can cause death in a very short time due to internal hemorrhaging.  Caroline’s step-dad Bud and my best friend in college, Don McGuire, both died from a ruptured aortic aneurism.  This medical condition is difficult to detect, and could be considered to be a “ticking time bomb” in your body.

Royal Price– Yes, me again!  My aneurism was detected on the first Mayo Clinic for my Barrett’s Esophagus.  Dr. Wang ordered a CAT scan after his selection for treating my Barrett’s condition. Dr. Wang did not want to be surprised by something unknown.  When first detected, the aneurism’s size was not a concern, but its size required watching. The aneurism’s size was monitored with annual CAT scans from 2005 to 2009.  In 2009, its size had increased such that medical action was required.  Upon learning Jackson Hole did not have a cardiovascular surgeon, the Mayo Clinic was contacted for an appointment. Upon reviewing the latest CAT scan surgery was scheduled for November 2009.  During the surgery, a stent was inserted into the aorta that blocked blood flow to the aneurism.  Since the surgery both sonograms and CAT scans have been submitted to Mayo Clinic to monitor the size of the aneurism and leakage around the stent.  To date, the aneurism has diminished in size and there has been no leakage around the stent.  All good news.

Note:  My aneurism was not like the one shown in the diagram. According to the Mayo doctors, aneurisms like the one in the diagram can have a heredity component, but mine does not have this type possibility.  My aneurism appeared sort of like a balloon attached to the aorta.  There are other details of the aneurism and surgery that have been omitted, that while interesting are not essential to the story.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)- AMD is a common eye condition and a leading cause of vision loss among people age 50 and older. It causes damage to the macula, a small spot near the center of the retina and the part of the eye needed for sharp, central vision, which lets us see objects that are straight ahead, i.e., in the center of your vision.  The macula is made up of millions of light-sensing cells that provide sharp, central vision. It is the most sensitive part of the retina, which is located at the back of the eye. The retina turns light into electrical signals and then sends these electrical signals through the optic nerve to the brain, where they are translated into the images we see. When the macula is damaged, the center of your field of view may appear blurry, distorted, or dark. AMD has a heredity component.  AMD by itself does not lead to complete blindness, with no ability to see. However, the loss of central vision in AMD can interfere with simple everyday activities, such as the ability to see faces, drive, read, write, or do close work, such as cooking or fixing things around the house.

There are two types of AMD: Dryand Wet.  Dry AMD isa slow, progressive, degradation of the macula.  Currently, there is no medical treatment that stoops or reverses the macula damage.  Taking a supplement that contains zinc, copper, lutein and zeaxanthanin, slows the rate of progression, but does not stop it.  Wet AMDis characterized by hemorrhaging of the macular.  Wet AMD is the most serious form of the disease, because if not treated immediately, eye sight can be lost in a week or less.  Wet AMD can be treated with medicines injected into the eye.  Laser surgery can also be used to address the hemorrhaging of the macular.

Virgil “John” Wilhite– When John’s AMD began is unknown.  It is assumed his AMD was Dry, but that is an educated guess.  John and Faye belonged to an HMO, and I accompanied him for an eye exam.  I was sitting next to the eye chart while he read it.  I was totally amazed at his inability to correctly read the chart. His eye exam was my introduction to AMD. When John and Faye visited us, they never drove at night, which more than likely was due to John’s AMD. Then when Faye was in a nursing home, we learned he was driving to see her and he admitted there was a “hole” in his vision.  He was extremely fortunate not to be involved in an accident.

Neva Jester Barnes– Neva is Faye’s younger sister and Bev’s Aunt.  Sometime in the late 1980s or early 1990s, Bev heard that Neva had Wet AMD. While Bev may know what happened to Neva’s eyesight, I have no knowledge of the final result.

Royal Price– In 1995, AMD was diagnosed by Dr. Harry Charm, O.D.  There were indications on my macula that indicated the deteriation had begun. There were not any noticeable symptoms; from my viewpoint, there was no difference in my eyesight.  Dr. Charm gave me an Ansler Grid to check my eyesight on a regular basis.  An Ansler Gird is a chart with ¼ inch grid lines.  When looking at the chart, if the lines appear wavy or missing, AMD is progressing.  After using the grid on a monthly basis for over a year, I stopped checking, because there were no changes observed.  Dr. Charm also prescribed the over-the-counter supplement that I began using daily.  In addition, he recommended that I always wear sunglasses and a hat to shade my eyes when outdoors.  As such, it seemed logical to me that UV might be part of the problem.  Recently, this thought has been confirmed by a retina specialist.

There were no changes in my eyesight until about 2007.  Then I began seeing a “floater” in my left eye.  My ophthalmologist suggested going to a retina specialist.  After an eye exam by the retina specialist, I began an annual exam with him.  Dr. Moffett said my AMD was the Dry type and to continue taking the supplement.  About this time, I began to have difficultly reading without a very bright light.  Also, about this time driving at night was difficult, and Norma would do the night driving.  After Norma passed away in 2012, vision in my left eye was only peripheral, with no central vision.  By 2014 vison in my right eye had deteriorated considerably and central vison compromised but still existed.  After skipping Dr. Moffett’s exam for one year, WET AMD was detected in my right eye in 2015.  Dr. Moffett began injections of Eylea every 6 weeks to save my sight in that eye. Finally, in September, 2017, there was no WET AMD detected---yay!  Two ore exams since then also show the WET AMD had not returned and my next exam is in July this year.

As for the other medical conditions, some details have been omitted. For those interested, I am more than willing to discuss these details.

Roberta “Berta” Westberg– My sister was diagnosed with WET AMD the week before Christmas last year.  She immediately began injections of Avastin, a cheo drug, the same week.  She had a second injection four weeks later in January.  Her February exam showed NO WET AMD, with her next exam scheduled eight weeks later in April.  The April exam showed the Wet AMD had not reappeared but scar tissue covered her macular. This scar tissue reduces her vision in this eye to peripheral only, while vision in the unaffected eye is 20/25. Berta’s experience illustrates how quickly Wet AMD can destroy your vision!!  Berta’s experience with Wet AMD was totally different from what I experienced with Wet AMD.

Within two or three days of noting a vision change, Beta began treatment with retina specialist. After two injections of Avastin hemorrhaging had stopped and there was no sign of Wet AMD.  Even with her immediate seeking medical treatment in eight weeks, or less, she lost macular vision in one eye.  Upon detecting Wet AMD in my right eye, my retina specialist began injection my eye with Eylea.  These injections were give every six to eight weeks for nearly two years. Then last September, Wet AMD was no longer detected.  Since then, no Wet AMD has been detected in three subsequent exams.  There has been no scar tissue formed and limited macular vison has been maintained.  Why the difference?  Two possible reasons come to mind.  First, my Wet AMD was detected in its early stages, while Berta’s was not detected soon enough.  Second, we are all different and each person’s body reacts differently to health issues.

Prostate Cancer-Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. Usually prostate cancer grows slowly and is initially confined to the prostate gland, where it may not cause serious harm.  However, while some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal or even no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly.

Prostate cancer screening can be accomplished with a PSA blood test or a digital exam by a physician. Should the PSA or digital exam indicated the probable presence of cancer, a biopsy can be accomplished for a more exact diagnosis.  There are several treatments for prostate cancer from “watch & wait”, to surgery and radiation

Robert O. Price– Whether Dad had prostate cancer is not really known.  Dad had continuous difficulty with kidney stones.  I remember he had kidney stones in the early 1940s through the late 1960s.  In late 1960s he had surgery to remove his prostate.  Unfortunately, I failed to ask why he was having his prostate removed. A real failure on my part, because it would have helped fill in family medical history.  After the surgery, Dad no longer experienced kidney stones. What removing the prostate had to do with kidney stones, I have no idea.  This incidence highlights why questions need to be asked!

Royal Price– PSA blood tests were started in 2007 or 2008 with normal results.  In 2011 PSA results were beyond normal and an out-patient biopsy was performed.  The biopsy indicated the presence of prostate cancer.  An appointment with a urologist at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital in Salt Lake City resulted in accepting the “watch and wait” treatment.  This treatment approach was selected primarily because statistical data indicated that other causes were more likely to end one’s life than prostate cancer.  PSA blood tests were taken every six months until October 2014.  At that time, the urologist prescribed Avodart and I started a three month PSA test cycle.  Avodart has slowed the cancer’s growth and reduced the PSA to an acceptable, low level. At present, the PSA test and exam are every six months.  The “wait and watch” treatment continues.

Bladder Cancer- Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers, affecting men more frequently than it does in women and usually affects older adults, though it can happen at any age.  Bladder cancer most often begins in the cells that line the inside of your bladder. Although it's most common in the bladder, this same type of cancer can occur in other parts of the urinary tract drainage system.  About seven out of every 10 bladder cancers diagnosed start out at an early stage — when bladder cancer is highly treatable. However, even early-stage bladder cancer may recur in the bladder. For this reason, people with bladder cancer typically need follow-up tests for years after treatment to look for bladder cancer that recurs or advances to a higher stage.

Russell Price– Russ was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2013.  Russ had bladder surgery to remove the tumor.  Subsequent exams have revealed that the cancel has not recurred to date.

One could conclude that the Pricemen have a urinary system weakness.  There has been cancers and kidney stones. While a separate listing for kidney stones has not been listed, in addition to Robert O. Price, Darry Pricehas passed a kidney stone in the early 1990s.

Skin Cancer- Skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer.  There are several types of skin cancer but the ones I have familiarity with are Melanoma, Basil cell and Squamous Cell skin cancer.  Melanoma is a serious deadly cancer that can lead to death. Very dark or black moles are potential sources of Melanoma and should be checked, or removed.  Basil and Squamous cell cancers are probably more common and usually easily treated.  However, if not treated early can have serious consequences.

Pauline Price– Mom developed a growth on her left eyelid that caused it to droop.  When she had it checked, the diagnosis was that it was a beta cell cancer.  The only treatment available was surgery to remove part of her eyelid.  The surgery did not remove all of the cancer cells, which required another surgery on her eyelid.  The surgeon warned us that all the cells may not have been removed by the surgery and that it was possible that one or more cells may be in her eye. Unfortunately, he was correct, and Mom had to have her left eye removed along with some of the eye socket.

Royal Price– Over the years several pre-cancerous lesions have been treated with liquid Freon, basically “freezing” these lesions to kill them. These lesions were usually on my face and caused by the sun.  When I started biking, applying sunscreen was a necessity since most rides meant at least two hours in the sun.  Even using sunscreen these lesions developed.  Living in Golden and Jackson Hole, the sun seemed more intense due to the altitude, and I began seeing a dermatologist on an annual basis about 2007 to have the lesions frozen.  In 2011, a lesion on my scalp appeared suspicious and a biopsy was taken.  This lesion was a squamous cancer cell, and it was removed in early 2012.  Bike helmets have air vents and I did not use sunscreen in my hair.  Since removal of the cancer, I have a visual “full body” scan by adematologist every year.  To date the cancer has not returned.

Asthma- Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.  For some people asthma is a minor nuisance.  For other it can be a major problem that interferes with daily activities that can lead to a life-threatening asthma attack.  Asthma cannot be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled.

Royal Price?– Not sure I had asthma, but there was a span of time in my early 20s when I experienced wheezing and difficulty breathing.  While I experienced the asthma symptoms, I was never diagnosed as having the ailment. In my late teens and early 20s, I was having allergy issues and receiving regular allergy injections. After graduating from college and attending graduate school, the wheezing episodes had ceased and the allergy injections stopped.  Allergy “attacks” occurred but consisted essentially as sneezing and running nose. These attacks still occur, usually in the Spring.

Russ Price– Russ did not develop asthma until about age nine or ten. Best that I can recall, we believed he had serious allergies before the asthma developed.  Bev may have a better recollection than me.  Russ was tested for a number of allergies, and the results indicated he was allergic to the world at large!  The doctor, Dr. Carnahan, prescribed a special diet to prevent triggering his allergies.  After a few months of sticking to the diet, Bev and I decided this is “crazy” and questioned if it was possible to maintain this diet for a lifetime.  We decided that would be next to impossible to maintain, and Russ returned to the diet of everyone else in the family.  In a sense, we believed Russ would have to adapt to the world.  Right or wrong that was our decision.

Perhaps this decision resulted in his developing asthma, but who knows?  As previously mentioned, Russ began asthma attacks age nine or ten, perhaps not until he entered 6^thor 7^thgrade.  Russ was athletically active from eight years old and never let the asthma effect playing Little League baseball and Pop Warner football.  He had medication to take for attacks while at school. At home, we put a cool mist vaporizer in his bedroom.  Since Russ and Darryl shared the same bedroom, Darryl breathed the same cool mist. About once a week, Russ would have a severe nighttime attack and he could not breathe or sleep.  Bev would take him into our bathroom and turn-on our shower so he could breathe hot moist air.  This hot moist air usually enabled him to stop wheezing and breathe normally again.  About every four to six weeks the hot mist air did not provide relief, Bev called Dr. Carnahan and I drove Russ to St. Jude’s Hospital ER in Fullerton.  Russ would receive an injection of epinephrine, or adrenalin, that stopped the asthma attack.  This ER trip was usually at 2 AM, or 3 AM.  Russ would go back to bed sleep until it was time to eat breakfast and go to school.  Rarely did he miss a day of school due to an asthma attack.  I do not know how he made it, but it was probably the mystery of youth. Eventually, the attacks subsided and became infrequent. However, he has experienced some more issues after moving to Northern California where there are different pollens than in Orange County.

Blake Price– I just leaned my Great-Grandson has asthma.  Now I really feel guilty that I may be the culprit that started this aliment.  Unfortunately, Blake has experienced asthma at an earlier age than either Russ or myself.

Dementia & Alzheimer’s– Dementiais a general term for loss of memory and other mental abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life.  It is caused by physical changes in the brain.  There are different types of dementia that include Lewy Bodydementia, vasculardementia, frontotemporaldementia, Alzheimer’sdisease, as well as other types.  Alzheimer’sis a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior.  Alzheimer’sdisease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases.

Pearl Jest– Bev’s Grandmother had dementia that affected her short term memory.  She would tell and re-tell the same story to everyone.  She did not remember telling the same story and these stories were repeated over and over.  I have no information to indicate she progressed to any more severe dementia or if she had Alzheimer’s. How severe her dementia became is unknown, but other than repeating stories, she was always pleasant and did not display any behavior issues.

Faye Wilhite– Initially, Faye’s dementia seemed similar to that of Pearl Jester, her mother.  Faye’s dementia became more severe and was coupled with other medical problems.  Plus, Faye’s behavior became very testy and angry, especially with John.  Whether she had Alzheimer’s is debatable, because her dementia was never diagnosed as Alzheimer’s.  Faye spent the last 10 or 12 years in a nursing home until her passing.

Gomer Wilhite– Gomer was John’s younger brother, who developed Alzheimer’s in the early 1990s.  Gomer spent the last two or three years in an Alzheimer’s facility until his death in 1996.

After final editing and preparing to post this essay, two other medical conditions were remembered that should also be included: Psoriasisand Seizures.  My annual “full body” scan was completed in June 2018.  I asked the dermatologist if psoriasis had a hereditary component, and the answer was yes.  Seizuresmay or may not have a hereditary component.  Epileptic seizures are more likely to have such a component.  It is unclear that if a seizure is a singular event, it raises the question is it hereditary or an outlier?  Since such an event occurred, it seemed reasonable to include the event in this essay.

Psoriasis- Psoriasisis a common skin condition that speeds up the life cycle of skin cells. It causes cells to build up rapidly on the surface of the skin. The extra skin cells form scales and red patches that are itchy and sometimes painful. Psoriasis is a chronic disease that often comes and goes. The main goal of treatment is to stop the skin cells from growing so quickly.  There is no cure for psoriasis, but you can manage symptoms. Lifestyle measures, such as moisturizing, quitting smoking and managing stress, may help.

Robert O. Price– Dad was periodically plagued with psoriasis   Most obviously, it was on his arms and sometimes in his scalp.  If the psoriasis was too irritating, he applied a white salve to his arms, and I do not believe the salve was used on his scalp.  “Sheep dip” was his name for this salve.  My dermatologist guessed the salve was probably a steroid.  Dad was a cigarette smoker, but quit smoking several years before his passing.  I do not remember his use of the “sheep dip” after he quit smoking.  It must be noted that this memory is rather fuzzy and could be classified as a wishful observation.

Seizures– A Seizureis a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. It can cause changes in your behavior, movements or feelings, and in levels of consciousness. If you have two or more seizures or a tendency to have recurrent seizures, you have epilepsy.  There are many types of seizures, which range in severity.  Seizure types vary by where and how they begin in the brain. Most seizures last from 30 seconds to two minutes. A seizure that lasts longer than five minutes is a medical emergency.  Seizures are more common than you might think. Seizures can happen after a stroke, a closed head injury, an infection such as meningitis or another illness.  Many times, though, the cause of a seizure is unknown.  Most seizure disorders can be controlled with medication, but management of seizures can still have a significant impact on your daily life. 

Royal Price– Yes, one morning in late summer of 1980 I had a seizure.  I was sitting at the breakfast table about to leave the house for a flight to Dallas when the seizure occurred.  Darryl was in the family room and heard me groan when the seizure happened. With the seizure, I lost consciousness. Whether I had tremors is not known, but I did not bite my tongue.  When I regained consciousness, I was on a gurney being taken by EMTs to an ambulance. The EMTs to me to the ER of a hospital located on Lakeview at Riverdale.  As the ER doctor was checking me, he asked me to name the U.S. Presidents in reverse order. He stopped me when I reached Harding and said, “I could not do that!”  I was moved from the ER to a room for further observation.  I felt fine and was waiting for lunch that had been order. Lunch had just arrived when I had another seizure and lost consciousness.  At least I believe I had another seizure because when I regained consciousness, I was in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit).  Thus, within almost four hours I had two Gran Mal Seizures.  A Gran Mal Seizure is defined as a seizure that results in losing consciousness.

Prior to these seizures, I did not have any doctor and had not seen one in several years.  Since there was no doctor to contact, the hospital arranged for a local doctor to see me. There were doctor offices in a building adjacent to the hospital, a doctor was contacted to attend to me. This doctor was Dr. Robert Landman, who became my family physician.  Dr. Landman called a neurologist for assistance.  The neurologist’s name has been lost to history, even though he treated me for about a year afterwards.  

After regaining consciousness, I was given an EEG (electroencephalogram), probably ordered by the neurologist.  An EEG is similar to an EKG (electrocardiogram), except it measures brain activity as opposed to heart activity.  Details of my time in the ICU are very fuzzy.  To say my memory was fuzzy is an understatement.  When your brain short circuits, short term memory immediately after is lousy and my brain short circuited twice!  It is a pure guess, but it is believed I talked with the neurologist while in the ICU.  Best I can recall, I remained in the ICU for a couple of days and was released.  

The neurologist prescribed phenobarbital, which I took for a year. State law required the neurologist to report my seizures to the DMV.  My driver’s license was not taken away, but was threatened.  The phenobarbital prescription and a letter from the doctor that allowed me to continue driving.  Driving privileges were fully restored after being released by the neurologist one year after the seizures.

Comments:  Most importantly, there have been no seizures since these events! The neurologist’s diagnosis was that the seizures were caused by STRESS!  Although I have accepted this diagnosis, there is perhaps another explanation for the seizures.  Prior to the seizures, I had been seeing a Migraine Headache doctor.  I had been taking a variety of prescriptive medications for preventing these headaches.  I made the decisions to stop this process and quit using the current prescription.  Sometime after I stopped using the medication, the seizures occurred.  Stopping medications can be another cause for seizures. Is this what happened?  No way to know, but it is another possible cause of the seizures.

According to Mayo Clinic’s definition of seizures two or more seizures shows a tendency toward epilepsy, the neurologist did not make such a diagnosis. I have no idea the duration of unconsciousness following the seizures.  A wild guess might be around 15 minutes.  Lastly, it was about two weeks before returning to work.  These seizures totally drained my reservoir of energy and took several weeks to fill the tank.

After reading this essay you may say: “Yikes, our families have not been very healthy.”  That thought crossed my mind, but medical technology has continued to advance such that there are successful treatments for all the conditions listed.  As such, I hope this information has been helpful and informative.  Should you have any questions, or would like clarification do not hesitate to contact me, I would be more than happy to respond to any questions you may have concerning the information in this essay.