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Possible causes of MND (including inherited forms of MND)
Most people who develop MND have no family history of the condition, and it is extremely unlikely to develop in other family members. (See below...
Most people had a partner or other close relative with them when they learnt the diagnosis. Afterwards, they had to decide who else needed to know, and when and how to tell them. Most people wanted to tell close family straight away, but this was often difficult and emotional to do, especially dealing with the different reactions of their children and other relatives. A few did not have their partner present and had to tell them too.
Parents of younger children had to decide how much to tell them, depending partly on their age and personality. One woman told her colleagues immediately about her diagnosis, but waited till the summer holidays to tell her children, when she could spend time with them. Some people wanted to be as open as possible with their children and thought they would guess anyway, while others wanted to shield them. One man felt asking his teenage son about his feelings might upset him more, so they avoided the subject. He told his son he might live as long as Stephen Hawking. Several referred to a booklet on talking to children provided by the MND Association (see resources for links).
Some people had to tell their own parents that they had MND. One man waited several months to tell his parents and advised them not to look at the internet. One woman said her mother was sad about it but had her own illness to cope with at the time. Another woman explained that most of her friends reacted positively but her mother was angry – at the diagnosis, at the lack of a cure and at the thought that her daughter might die before she did. One man also said his mother reacted angrily.
Many people talked about the dilemma of how to tell wider acquaintances and old friends they saw less often. It could be upsetting to have to keep explaining and dealing with people’s reactions.
One woman who was already unable to speak put an article in the parish magazine so everyone in her village would understand. Several people wondered whether to put something in their Christmas cards and what impact this would have on their friends.
A few were saddened that some old friends seemed unable to cope with the news and stopped contacting them. As one woman said, “Some people that we thought would be here and supporting us seemed to be hiding.” Another woman got only two responses to the Christmas letter she sent out explaining her diagnosis. She said, “People don’t know what to say and you certainly find out who your real friends are pretty quickly with this business.” Some people chose not to tell everyone they knew.
One woman said although some people didn’t know how to react, “friends have emerged who really have that quality of empathy, who really can understand what you’re going through… And that’s been the most amazing thing – good things happen through all this horribleness.”
Deciding when to tell work colleagues was another issue for many people, particularly if they thought their employer might not be supportive. One man found the matter-fact way some of his work colleagues reacted really helpful.
Experiences of staying at work or deciding to stop working are explored in more detail in ‘Work and career’.
The MND Association provides information sheets and guides to help families communicate about MND, including sheet 4A: Communicating about MND to children and young people.
Most people who develop MND have no family history of the condition, and it is extremely unlikely to develop in other family members. (See below...
The only medication licensed for the treatment of MND is riluzole. Other medication may be prescribed to help relieve various symptoms associated with MND, and...