Hi Kat,

Thanks for writing. Generally the progression of dysferlin-deficient
muscular dystrophy is fairly slow, and I'm not aware of any reports
that it shortens life expectency significantly. There have been a few
reports of heart problems in patients with dysferlin deficiency in the
medical literature, but the general consensus is that they're not very
common, and usually not very severe when they do occur.

It's possible, of course, that assuming your friend's diagnosis of
dysferlin-deficient MD is correct, that he could have other medical
issues unrelated to the MD.

Everyone is different, of course, but I personally started having
symptoms of MD almost 30 years ago. I now use a wheelchair, but am
generally doing ok. It's no fun, but the prognosis isn't all that dire.

Best wishes,
Brad

--- In dysferlin@yahoogroups.com, "Kat Hanson" <wckitty@...> wrote:
>
> I'm in love with a man who has dysferlin muscular dystrophy. He is 20
> and told me he was diagnosed when he was 18. I tried to find
something
> on the web about it and came up blank except for this group. I need
to
> know as much as I can! he is always feeling sick, and has been in and
> out of the emergency room. he has now been diagnosed with congestive
> heart failure. I am into herbal remedies, and I know my mother when
she
> had congestive heart failure was taking CoQ 10, magnesium, and
> hawthorn. Will this help him? What can I do? What can i expect?
> Please...any information, no matter how grim, would be apreciated. No
> matter what i love him and will take care of him as long as he needs
me
> to.
>