2021 BRN Discussion, page-10099

Hi @Nannapat,

Thanks so much for reaching out. The folk here are such a caring, thoughtful bunch (once you put the nuisances on Ignore) that I wasn't too surprised. I really enjoy the time I spend reading these posts each day - great for information and for entertainment!

Yes, I'm doing ok, and thanks for asking. I live in the Hills district of Sydney's northwest in the home where my wife and I raised our six children. It's a great place to live and raise a family. I can really feel for @Fact Finder with his vision problem. I can understand the stress of the possibility of deterioration hanging over you.

My problems are less stressful in that they are reasonably stable. I've had cerebral palsy since birth that effects my right side, and developed dysphonia and retrocollis in my 40's - forms of dystonia. That's a poorly understood neurological condition that, in my case, makes it an effort to talk and causes continual muscle neck spasms that try to jerk my head backwards. Very exhausting, quite painful, and the meds cause unpleasant side-effects.

It was my dystonia that first spiked my interest in BRN. One develops dystonia if the chemical neurotransmitters in the brain become unbalanced and some connections in the brain start to fire up when they shouldn't, sending signals to selected nerves, causing muscle contraction. At present the treatment of last resort is to have electrodes implanted in your brain to fire off a weak signal that disrupts the brain and stops it sending out the false signals. I've opted to avoid having holes drilled through my skull.

I've lived with it for about 30 years, and am used to it now. A heart attack 18 months ago with open heart surgery and a quintuple bypass did slow me up a bit, but I'm over that now and back to my normal self.

The stock market has been a blessing for me. Maths was always my strong suit, and I can manage short periods at the computer to read up what is happening in the companies I invest in. I've done ok and have been able to help 3 of my 6 children buy their homes and should have enough to help the other 3 when they are ready - especially if BRN delivers.

So that's my story. Thanks again to all the great contributors on here. I've learnt a lot while enjoying your banter and appreciating the caring nature of the group. Best wishes and good luck to you all!

Jeff