[FORWARDED MESSAGE-DON'T REPLY TO PROXY SENDER] >Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2000 19:07:55 -0700 >From: "Brenda Messer" <[email protected]> >Subject: Inherited medical conditions in the Messer lineage. This is of >utmost importance. > >Dear Friend and Family > >I am currently working on a project with a neurologist. We will probably >start working with a physician from a research facility sometime in the near >future > >There are some medical conditions that are hereditary in the Messer lineage >and the neurologist has found a new gene that has never before been found >for two of these conditions in the Messer family. I am working on the >genealogy part of the research with him and will continue with the physician >from Duke. I am trying to help them identify persons who are living in the >Messer lineage who have the symptoms and persons who are deceased who were >diagnosed with either of the conditions [as well as those who most likely >were afflicted with the conditions that were not diagnosed]. > >I am asking everyone in the Messer family that will participate to give me a >medical genealogy [known medical conditions and observations of possible >conditions] for both living and deceased family as far back as possible. > >The conditions are Charcot - Marie - Tooth Syndrome {CMT} and Trigeminal >neuralgia {TN}. There have been many studies of these conditions over the >years with different groups {families]. A group of Messer families >participated in a study in 1975 and I have found that a large group of the >family members of the participants in that study are afflicted with one or >both of the conditions. The neurologist that I am in contact with has >isolated a rare {never before found in any group that has been tested} and >is needing help in getting the family medical information that is so vital >to further the research of these conditions. > >CMT wasn't recognized as a distinct entity until 1886 when Charcot and >Marie, and Tooth independently, published their papers; so any references >before about 1900 in the family records would be to funny feet, peculiar >walking, or "the family curse." I have a more detailed description if >anyone would like to receive it. >"The trigeminal nerve is the fifth cranial nerve; if you sawed the face off, >from the top of the head to the angle of the jaws just ahead of the ears, >that's the territory of the nerve; it has a scalp-forehead eye branch, a >cheek and a lower jaw division on each side. Typical TN involves either the >second or third divisions, the first less rarely, and multiple or bilateral >areas very rarely. The typical neuralgia is a single blast of enormous pain, >recurring every few seconds or minutes for a while; stopping; and starting >up again. Typically, bouts last days or weeks at first, disappear for a >while, then come back. Almost every patient has trigger points where a >touch, shaving, putting on makeup, touching the gum with the tongue etc. >will be likely to induce a burst of pain during an attack. The typical >patient has the disease in isolation; about 5% of patients have a family >history. Very rare families have been reported in which TN occurs along with >CMT. TN can be accompanied by twitching, twisting or other facial movements >called hemifacial spasm; or by other neuralgias. This is considered to be >one of the most painful conditions known to man, so it would be had to >overlook." >If anyone has already been diagnosed and is seeing a physician and would be >willing to talk to this physician and / or have their medical records >relating to these conditions to him, please contact me and I will give you >the address. > >With the data that he has already shared with me [with the patients consent, >of course], I have been able to determine that these conditions are quite >prevalent in two of Christian Messer's children's direct lines. Most likely >when I have contacted others and gotten more information, we will find it in >the rest of the lineage. >I currently have three Messer families in my database that I, nor the >members of these families, have been able to connect to Captain Robert >Messer and his descendants who settled in Haywood County, NC in the later >part of the 1700's. I am asking those who are connected to these other >lines to please look into your lineage, both past and present and see if >there are any of these conditions and share your medical lineage with me. >I realize that this research will most likely not help most of the persons >who are living with these conditions today, but hopefully it will help our >future generations. > >The neurologist that has discovered this new gene will be at the Messer >Family Reunion on October 7, 2000 at Panther Creek Baptist Church in Haywood >County, NC. Everyone who has an interest is welcome to attend. > >Any and all help will be appreciated and your confidence will be upheld. > >Regards > >Brenda Messer >828-433-7003 >[email protected] >Messerville Mayor Home Page >http://members.fortunecity.com/messervillemayor/ > >Messerville Gazette Pages >http://www.fortunecity.com/millennium/ironbridge/1170