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| My name is Ronald (Ronnie) Bryant. I am experiencing a lack of coordination, dizziness, unstableness, dementia and a loss of vision.� I have a diagnosis of �Spinocerebellar Ataxia, type SCA6 which is a movement disoreder similar to MS. I was diagnosed via a DNA gene test. The ataxia most likely has been inherited. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Symptoms: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Quality of life | ||||||||||||||||||
| My Quality of life has declined since the symptom started and progressively increased since 1998. I use to be involved in many activities, i.e. biking, tennis, skiing, repair rental houses and other activities involving coordination. I am currently receiving Social Security and private disability. Driving a vehicle has become more difficult, I do not drive if I am not aware of the area. If I do not concentrate my nytagmus (vison problems) makes it very difficult to track while turning to look behind me when changing lanes or merging onto a highway (special caution is always used, and I avoid situation that cause me problems). I am planning for a time soon, operating a motor vehicle is not an option for me because of safety reasons for me and others driving. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Unstableness, dizziness occurs with a change in body position | ||||||||||||||||||
| I use a walker all the time and sometimes a scotter or wheelchair. If I change directions very quickly, i.e. if I suddenly need to turn left or right, raising from a lying position and sudden elevation changes (steps, curbs) I become majorly unstable, feel uncoordinated and/or dizzy all the time. I do not notice any unstableness occurring as a result of any stress, anxiety. I am not dizzy to the point that the room spins however, I feel very unstable and I am always aware that I may stumble or fall because of my dizziness or unstableness. Constant concentration and being deliberate with my movement is the prevention I use to avoid falling. I can not walk in a straight line; I seem to veer to the right or left. The change continues to progress over time. | ||||||||||||||||||
| No time pattern | ||||||||||||||||||
| There is no particular time associated with the dizziness and/or unstableness, my symptoms are chronic. It is more noticeable when I rise up quickly from a lying position, I don't climb up on a ladder or use a apparatus like a stool to reach something or change directions quickly. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Vision, (most impact) | ||||||||||||||||||
| My vision is currently treated with glasses but, the glasses do not seem to fully correct the nystamus problems. I have progressive problems with my vision; things are blurred and text seems to jump around. I can not read or see small detail up close. I have some changing double vision; items that are double appear side by side. Sometimes images jump around on me; sometimes moving objects or images leave trails or afterimages. I see things out of position sometimes like, grocery shopping when looking back and forth on shelves are very difficult. I do not see other things that are there because they feel out of my limited field of vision. With one eye covered, my vision continues to be poor and/or blurred however, the double vision is better. I do not experience any eye pain. I do not reognize people until I am right up on them, so if you pass me an waive know that I am not being stuck I just did not see you. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Short and Long-term Memory | ||||||||||||||||||
| I have good long-term recall however my short-term memory is not adequate. I have problems with directions/instructions, if I do not write things down I have a tendency to forget. I also find myself checking many times on most everything I do. | ||||||||||||||||||
| My Energy & Strength Level | ||||||||||||||||||
| My energy and strength level has taken a tremendus decline during the past several years | ||||||||||||||||||
| My Speech | ||||||||||||||||||
| My speech is slurred, very weak and it is very hard to articulate thoughts. Talking for a long period is very ehausting. I get strangled when drinking liquids. | ||||||||||||||||||
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