Re: "THE BRAIN" ON PBS TV
I June, I've caught parts of the series. Eyes either wouldn't work or something else was going on. What I was able to watch and listen to was quite interesting. Keep us posted.Shirley in Arkansas
Re: "THE BRAIN" ON PBS TV
Hi June,I too have been watching the PBS series. It really is fascinating isn't it? When you begin to see just how amazingly complex our brains are I think it helps to understand why the doctors and scientists can't just hand us the answers we so desperately want! It always amazes me when I read the inserts on my prescriptions. Most of the drugs that I'm taking contain statements that basically say it is not understood how the drug benefits the patient but that it is believed to act on one area of the brain or other. Kinda scary huh? Still, things have improved. Imagine how people like us (with dystonia) might have been treated back in the middle ages! Have a great day!
Squrimmy
Re: "THE BRAIN" ON PBS TV
actually, i've seen at least 2 paintings from the 1800-1900's that are portraits of people whose eyes are in a similar condition. having this myself, i noticed this right away.
Re: Dystonic Portraits
I, too, have seen paintings of people with dystonia from around the same time period - they wre brought to my attention by our Dystonia support group. I have never seen beb portayed - that would be interesting.June in Toronto (beb/meige)
Re: Dystonic Portraits
the 2 i saw were of beb, i think. one was of Matisse's Lorraine and the other of a blind shepherd under a tree, with his eyes closed. the second one i saw at the High Museum here in atlanta.
--modified by kathy at Tue, Feb 05, 2002, 06:36:45
Re: Artist Van Gogh
My husband just remembered (for me) that it was Van Gough who painted the Dystonia people - neither of us remember the titles.June in TOronto (beb/meige)
Re: Artist Van Gogh
did he really? i didn't know that. i read an entire book on Van Gogh , i guess i didn't notice. His early drawings and pen and inks tho, are exquisite and i don't think many people have seen them.
i can't find the Matissian portrait in my matisse book, so maybe i saw that at a museum also.
Re: Artist Van Gogh
The copies of the paintings I saw (2) were of people with generalized dystonia I would think - very obvious to even me. I should try and get the titles sometime. Glad you enjoyed the book and pen and ink drawings - must have been fascinating.June in Toronto (beb/meige)
Re: Dystonic Portraits
The Flemish painter Peter Bruegel depicted some Meige patients (so we call them) in some paintings of the 15th century. The condition is still called Bruegel's Syndrome in some places. I don't recall any portraits of any kind, except a singular self-portrait, done by van Gogh. He was mostly into landscapes, flowers, etc. --- Lynn
Re: Dystonic Portraits
his landscapes are very beautiful and also some of his interiors of cafe life, as well as his flowers. i always found his portrits somewhat disturbing, except for the very intense one he did of himself, such strong bones. you know that a lot of artists of that time painted with lead-based paints without adequate skin protection or ventilation. i'm pretty sure this accounts for a lot of their supposed "crazinesses".
Re: Dystonic Portraits
Kathy, a professor in an art appreciation class I took in college brought out the lead paint contamination to painters theory. I'm sure there is a lot to it. But they did create some beautiful pictures for us to enjoy.Sally in North Idaho BEB/Meige
Re: Dystonic Portraits/sally
oh my gosh! masterpieces! and forever.
Re: "THE BRAIN" ON PBS TV
"Breughel's Syndrome" is a word I remembered seeing some time ago. It refers to some dystonias. He was a painter, who evidently did some pictures of people who obviously have some sort of dystonia. Mary
Re: "THE BRAIN" ON PBS TV
mary, i think you are right! and also that maybe is the name of the artist who painted the shepherd with his eyes closed that i saw.there were also several other artists who had problems with their eyes, themselves, during the 1900's i remember in some of my art readings. They never said what it was that afflicted them. maybe they didn't know.
Re: ARTISTS DEPICTING DYSTONIAS
I just saw on the web that Peter Brueghel (1525-1569 (didn't live long did he?)) painted "De Gaper" "described the condition now commonly referred to as Meige's Syndrome II, or blepharospasm-oromandibular dystonia. The term Brueghel's syndrome is used when extensive mandibular involvement is a major component of the disease".They suggested that for more information on Pietr Brueghel" see any good encyclopaedia". June in Toronto who can't do anymore computing now as have to go get my botox injections.
Re: ARTISTS DEPICTING DYSTONIAS
interesting. i remembered the name of one of the artists with eye problems, Camille Pissaro.
Re: "THE BRAIN" ON PBS TV
yes june, i'm interested . is it on during this week ?
Re: "THE BRAIN" ON PBS TV
The last show is on tomorrow night (Tuesday) at 9pm here - its on the adult brain and I'm really hoping they will discuss MS or Parkinson and the brain. I couldn't hope that they will discuss dystonia but who knows.... Perhaps the whole 4-hour series will show another time as well. The teenage brain was super interesting (as were the others) - taking in adolescence and their mood swings, learning, memory, lack of sleep, organizational and awareness, changes in hormones, etc. Also drug addicts - one young man who took the drug and was shot in the legs and became disabled, took Baclofen for his trembling legs - and it worked and he was able to get off cocaine. Baclofen is now being researched for addicts. They also talked about and with the cartoonist Jim Borgman (with Gerry Scott) who depicts ZITS that, apparently, is all about teenagers - I don't know this cartoon, perhaps its only shown in the U.S. I'm really enjoying the series, albeit I have to watch tv lying down from the bottom slits of my eyes - oh well at least I manage it! June in Toronto (beb/meige) who gets her botox injections (hooray) on Wednesday
Re: "THE BRAIN" ON PBS TV
"The Secret Life of the Brain" is airing here locally for me in the Central Time Zone in the US at 8 pm on the local PBS station. I'm going to make a point to try to watch it or tape it. Our station sometimes re-airs things on the weekends. They also usually show a series such as this more than once.June, I have to sit up and tuck my chin down so that my eyes are looking straight ahead or up in order to watch TV. If I lie down or recline back my eyes go ahead and shut. Must have to do with my apraxia. And that only works on a good eye day. Shirley Barr (yes, really)
Re: "THE BRAIN" ON PBS TV
thanks june, sounds very interesting. however i had such horrifically painful side effects from my injections yesterday, i might have just as well crossed that day right off the calender. we had very strong winds (again i am INSIDE) and have started upping my celebrex so hopefully it won't happen again today. boy am i exhausted!!
Re: Injections and Exhaustion/Kathy
Sorry you had such bad side effects, Kathy, from your injections - hope they go away asap or sooner! I get mine tomorrow and am not looking forward to going out in our (also) very strong, cold winds - but am looking forward to getting some relief from the eye spasms which are rally bad now. I usually get 4-6 weeks of side effects but once through that, I am reasonable for another 4 months. We all differ so much don't we? Take care of yourself.June in Toronto (beb/meige)
Re: Injections and Exhaustion/Kathy/severe weather
well since the temperature dropped in the 20's here and we are now having freezing rains, this partially explains the pain i felt, i'm pretty sure, along with those strong winds. Since the weather doesn't seem to bother anyone else as much, i'm again feeling like some sort of weather witch.
Re: Weather Witch
I am also a weather witch. Whenever the weather changes cold to hot, hot to cold, dry to humid etc., I get a lot of pain. This started when I was young and the weather changes would bring on asthma attacks. Now its pain - sometimes through out my whole body. It was so bad last year I was told I had fibromayalgia - which I don't. It's mostly due to changes in the barometric pressure. I live in Maine, so I know what those cold rainy days can do to you. It usually takes a day or two for my body to adjust. Drink lots of warm liquids, take warm bahs and stay as warm as possible. One of my favorite things to do is put a polar tech jacket in the dryer for a few minutes and put it on while its still nice and warm - very comforting.
I have also started with accupunture - which has really helped. They actually have needle patterns that address cold and wind!
Take care
Denise
Re: Weather Witch
oh my gosh, these same things happen to me. Last time it was not so pronounced. we had rain that came from the south of where i live that did not bother me , but anything from the west or north i can feel sometimes 2 days in advance. i think i would have a problem with acupuntcure, tho, facing those needles as often as i have is enough for me!
Re: Weather Witch/Kathy
Kathy, acupuncture is totally different from getting injections. You barely feel those needles at all. They are nothing to be afraid of --
really !Christel in Ca.
Re: Weather Witch/Kathy/christel
well also enough of you have tried it and said it did nothing for them, i don't think so. thanks for your input tho.
Re: Weather Witch/denise
what good suggestions you have! a warm bath is the quickest and most effective way to get warm, they altogether make one feel better.are you the one whose doctor suggested haloperidol? make sure that he know's exactly what he is treating and is familiar with dystonic reactions.
Re: Weather Witch/kathy
Kathy,
I just was told I have Blepharospasm on Jan 7th. I'm am seeing the motor disorder specialist for the first time next Thursday the 14th. Some Valentine huh? I have never heard of haloperidol from any of my doctors, but I'll be aware of it now.
Thanks
Denise
Re: Injections and Exhaustion/Kathy/severe weather
Dear sister witch (witches were actually healers and were very sensitve women). My eyes and fibromyalgia are made worse by extreme changes in weather. Cold, wet, windy is terrible for both. The first year with BEB I could really tell when the barometric pressures changed. It doesn't seem to be as noticeable now. In TN the weather changes frequently. We have a saying if you don't like the weather today, just stick around it'll change tomorrow.
Re: Injections and Exhaustion/Kathy/severe weather
pretty funny, delaine. i was only using a "figure of speech" to describe what you are now describing too. yes , i've heard that about them. we just have had cold, wet, windy, miserable weather here for about 5 days now and it's not good for anything except the water table.
Re: Injections and Exhaustion/Kathy/severe weather
i mean as far as the physical changes in weather. there are also some witches who are not too cool and are into really bad things. i had a friend a long time ago who started to get into that stuff and that's when i became really wary of our relationship.
--modified by kathy at Fri, Feb 08, 2002, 06:36:29
Re: baclofen
i thought baclofen was used for bladder infections.?
Re: baclofen/Shirley
Shirley should be able to tell us about Baclofen, but I believe its one of the drugs used for dystonias.June in Toronto (beb/meige)
--modified by June in Toronto at Tue, Feb 05, 2002, 07:51:37
Re: baclofen
Baclofen is a muscle relaxant and antispastic. I took it for a while. "Relaxed" is not the word for it. I only took about half the full recommended dose and I could have slept half my life away.
Virginia in AL
Re: baclofen
okay then, it has other uses. i had to take someone to a physician's immedite aid place with severe menstrual cramps and that is what they gave her. this happened many years ago, obviously, when i was able to drive.
Re: baclofen
You are thinking of Bactrim (sp), which is an antibiotic. Baclofen is a muscle relaxer.
Re: "THE BRAIN" ON PBS TV/ADULT BRAIN
I watched (not very intently as the eyes were causing a problem) last night's section on the adult brain. I will need to watch the whole series again that's for sure. The adult brain show was on: stroke victims (one man had no emotions left in the brain-seen as a void in the brain itself. He was able to think but was emotionally depleted (hard on him in his general life as well as his family). Depression (no physical damage seen in the brain)-Prozac, or similar drugs given to release seretonum (sp?) in the brain to help control. Post Dramatic Stress Disorder (PDSD) (an emotional disorder--fear, anger and control) in which beta blockers (given in the hospital emergency ward asap helped toweaken/stop PDSD. The next show is on the 12th here and is on the aging brain. No mention of MS, Parkinson or Dystonia yet.....still hoping! June in Toronto (beb/meige)
Re: "THE BRAIN" ON PBS TV/ADULT BRAIN
thanks, june. you are very good at giving brief yet effective synopsisis of what you have seen or read! i could not watch or even find it.
Re: "THE BRAIN" Links to PBS
PBS - TV Schedule
http://www.pbs.org/whatson/index.htmlThis link will take you to PBS, where you can find the schedule
according to the area where you live. The Secret Life of the Brain : About the Series
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/brain/about.html This link will take you to the series
There are many click on's where you can read and hear about the series,
and much more about the brain.
Mindy in NY
Re: Queen of the Links is Back
Hi ya Mindy,
Thanks for the links. I love your links! Surely Shirley in Arkansas with BEB/Apraxia :-)
Re: "THE BRAIN" Links to PBS/mindy
thanks, mindy. i would like to see this later when my eyes are better. the print is too small to read without a struggle right now.
Re: "THE BRAIN" ON PBS TV/ADULT BRAIN
Thanks June for filling us in on The Brain, I missed the whole series, hope to catch the Aging Brain next week, especially since I'm afflicted with one.:-)If they show the series again, please let us know ahead of time, or anyone else for that matter, I will try to keep a watch, but miss things easlily these days. Christel in Ca.
Re: "THE BRAIN" ON PBS TV/ADULT BRAIN
I found one part of the episode especially interesting. They were talking about high levels of stress causing the maturing brain (from infancy to adulthood) to not develop normally and thereby possibly causing any number of problems (like depression)in later life. I would think that this might also leave one susceptible to other neurological conditions or to have a pre-disposition for them at any given time, especially if more stress was introduced.I had a very stressful and unhappy childhood so this little tidbit caught my attention.
Just food for thought. Shirley in Arkansas where the snow is quickly disappearing. :-(
Re: "THE BRAIN" ON PBS TV/ADULT BRAIN
I intend watching the whole series again, Shirley - I must have missed that part. I had a particularly good childhood even though both parents were ill. My mother had chronic asthma due to my birth (always knew I was a trouble maker:-)) and the dust from WW2, and my family had an accident as a fire fighter during the war and was disabled. So both my parents were home and spent so much time with me that I could not have asked for a more loving home life - poor though, but happy. My stress came later on - divorced, single parent with 2 children and not one family member living in this country - it was tough. There's no doubt about it that stress can bring on any disease that is in your body - but whether stress actually causes it or not I don't know.June in Toronto (beb/meige) who notices that Shirley doesn't put what she has after her name anymore!
Re: Signing Off
What can I say June? I'm inconsistent. I still sign off with BEB/Apraxia part of the time but not always. I just try and mix things up a bit. Shirley in Arkansas with BEB/Apraxia :-) 10 months post upper limited myectomy
Re: "THE BRAIN" ON PBS TV/june
did they say what part of the head or brain the neurons had to be attached to?
Re: "THE BRAIN"/NEURONS/KATHY
I'm not sure what your question refers to Kathy. The posts are getting so muddled up. We really should start a new post for each new subject. Anyway....perhaps you mean attching the neurons in the baby's cataract operation. If so, I don't remember - I didn't take it all in - and will have to rewatch what I've taped after my botox injections settle down a bit (and that could be a month as I get lots of side effects). I also intend making notes this time as I watch each segment - that should reinforce it in my brain!June in Toronto(beb/meige)
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