Re: OT: To test or not to test...what would you do?

On Sat, 22 Apr 2006 13:57:51 -0700, "Nexis" <nexis1@xxxxxxx> wrote:

I'd like a few opinions if I may....

If there was a chance that you had a hereditary disease that you could find with a
few tests, but is incurable....would you do the tests?

I have 2 brothers that have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It's a hereditary condition
that involves a thickening of the heart muscles. Not only do they thicken, which
causes the heart to have to work harder to pump the oxygenated blood, but the cells
are in disarray, which eventually causes the affected segments to become unstable,
causing erratic heart rhythm.

As many of you know, I went to Minnesota a couple months ago for my brother's heart
surgery. At that time the doctor suggested the remaining siblings be tested. At
first, I was intending to do just that...at least, until I began reading up on it.
Basically, what I learned is, if it is going to affect you, it is just simply going
to. There's nothing really preventative you can do, not until it is bad enough to
require treatment.
So given that it wouldn't benefit you to know, and may in fact cause stress, would
you do the test?

Thanks for anyone who responds, and no, I'm not looking for anyone to make my choice
for me...I'd just like to know what others would do.

kimberly

I would have the test only if:
a. something could be done to prevent or slow the condition, OR
b. it would affect my decision to have children, OR
c. getting a positive result would NOT affect my ability to get or
retain health insurance in the future, OR
d. symptoms develop that require treatment.

In the absence of a, b, or d, the only beneficial result would be the
peace of mind from a negative test. So I would have to balance "c"
vs. getting the test for the chance of peace of mind. If I didn't
have the test, I'd worry for sure and follow news of treatment, etc.
closely, but would retain some hope that I didn't have it. If the
test came back positive, I'd worry much more, but now the hope would
only be that a cure would be discovered.

When there is nothing to be done and there are some negatives to a
test, I personally can live with the uncertainty of not knowing.

Sue(tm)
Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!
.

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