BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers

Subject: BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 06:07 PM

I heard Terry Pratchett being interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning, about his embuggerance and £500,000 donation for research into Alzheimers. He said he was having difficulty typing, but otherwise his symptoms were similar to those of friends having senior moments....

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 06:41 PM

Because of the publicity caused by his donation...perhaps research into the affliction will be much more regognised and maybe those drugs which already have been found to alleviate the problems will become more widely available.
Good on him I say but I guess I hope I don't get it!!
Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers
From: Bee
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 06:55 PM

Awful affliction, which doesn't run in our family - and it does seem to run in families. Good on Terry Pratchett, and I hope they find some really effective remedy soon.

Subject: RE: BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 06:56 PM

I don't read Pratchett - I have tried but it doesn't work for me - my husband and daughter are huge fans and quote at each other all the time. Many years ago, my mum died at 58 from what I am quite convinced is early Alzheimers although then they did not call it that. It was totally horrible to see and I wouldn't wish it on another soul. Perhaps just a billion or two could be spared from the war to research this horrible thing.

Way to go Terry on the donation. Fight it as long as you can.

Subject: RE: BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 09:14 PM

"embuggerance?" :-)

I didn't know he had Alzhiemers. I just finished the Good Omen recently. Good for him for the donation and I wish him long and cogent health...a cure in time would be nice.

Subject: RE: BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers
From: Bearheart
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 12:48 AM

We had heard that he had it We've been fans for more than 15 years and were quite downcast, but he seems to be very positive about the whole thing. Which is probably for the best. Nice that he's doing something about it -- we've certainly bought lots of his books, for ourselves and to give away :) Many many good laughs thanks to him.

Subject: RE: BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers
From: autolycus
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 01:00 AM

I did a US book a while ago linking Alzheimer's to eating junk food, especially beefburgers (despite the beef aka hamburgers)


Ivor

Subject: RE: BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers
From: My guru always said
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 05:17 AM

Was so sorry when I heard in December that Terry had this disease and was very glad about his donation and associated publicity and also hopefully the extra funding this will bring for research to help sufferers and their families!

I couldn't help wondering whether Terry, as such a prolific author of complex storylines, had noticed the signs of the disease fairly quickly and had been able to get a dignosis earlier than most sufferers? Not a critisism at all, just a thought....

Subject: RE: BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 11:20 AM

It's more likely being able to afford private medicare and able to pay for the tests that show these things for what they are. Catching most diseases early seems to be the important thing, but with the NHS in the state it is, even their 'short' waiting list of 3-6 months can be too long for some of the more rampant cancers and degenerative illnesses.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers
From: Morticia
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 12:00 PM

He said that trying to get Aricept ( alzheimer 'helper' medication) was harder than getting hold of crack cocaine. He's right too.

Alzheimers cannot be diagnosed when someone is alive, only a brain biopsy can determine Alzheiemers, what Mr Pratchett has is 'alzheimer like presentation' which is as much as any practitioner will commit to.

Subject: RE: BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers
From: folk1e
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 12:14 PM

This will help (but not by much) to research the desease!
We need a major change to affect the treatment!
At the moment we force doctors to decide between various remedies / cures at the cost of others!
One triple heart bypass or two hip replacements? It's an immoral world out there!

Best of luck to T.P.   ..... and his family (who will need it more)!

Subject: RE: BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers
From: The Walrus
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 02:01 PM

"...This will help (but not by much) to research the desease!..."
But the publicity may help more than the actual funds.

W

Subject: RE: BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 14 Mar 08 - 03:58 PM

Article about Terry Pratchett in today's Guardian

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 19 Apr 08 - 05:09 PM

This is an unofficial website and people may prefer to donate direct, but I think the T-shirts would be good publicity for the cause.
Match it for Pratchett website

Subject: RE: BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 19 Apr 08 - 05:23 PM

At least Terry is doing something.....are you?

Subject: RE: BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 20 May 08 - 11:45 AM

Terry Pratchett was interviewed by John Humphrys about his Alzheimer's for Radio 4's "On the ropes" this morning - the programme will be repeated this evening at 9.30pm, or you can hear it on listen again

It's worth listening just to hear Terry Pratchett being Terry Pratchett - and to hear what he didn't actually say about J K Rowling!

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 21 May 08 - 01:04 AM

thank you for posting - great listening......

Subject: RE: BS: Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 21 May 08 - 01:28 PM

Is anyone else wearing the lilac on May 25th?
you can get official pins too now.