Re: Genetic Counseling - to Cindy

[Guest guest]

--- cindy kruser <tigerboy@...> wrote:

> What good does it do to have genetic counseling if

> there's absolutely

> no history of any hereditary neuropathy disorders in

> your family

> whatsoever, as in my case?

Hi ;

Good point, but actually one doesn't know that without

some form of genetic counseling. In other words we do

a form of genetic self counseling while we are looking

for traces of disease in our family. You would be

surprised at the number of people out there who are

ignorant of the various modes of inheritance(x-linked,

autosomal, dominant, rescessive etc)until they have a

problem turn up. (I must include myself in this group)

Amazing how something like this can change ones whole

outlook! I had done extensive research and new that my

problem was an autosomal dominant and had traced it

back to a Great Grandmother, but to see it actually

graphed out really makes it much simpler to

understand. Since we can show that male to male

transmission is evident, it rules out x-linked, since

no sign of this problem is on my mothers side it must

be dominant etc. etc. Genetic counseling is a

diagnostic tool.

A funny aside, my first thoughts were; " Why do I need

this? I'm 52 years old, pudgy, bald, ugly and walk

funny, like I'm going to father any children soon

huh! "

Hugs to you

Jim Nash in Ohio