What did everyone do for a living?

[fiddleplayer51]

Hello BlueEyes,
I know you must be overwhelmed. I can't imagine being a mother of small children with this diagnosis. You must feel devastated and helpless. You'll be amazed at the help and encouragement you will receive from people on this forum who are going through this devastation with you. Some of them are young mothers like yourself. Keep reading the posts. You will be greatly encouraged and feel much less isolated and at the same time you will learn many valuable tips which will help you to feel as if you have some control over what's happening to you. It will give you strength and inspiration to manage your life. Write whenever you need to. There are so many people here who care and will help you.
Blessings to you and your family. Take just one day at a time.
All the best,
Jane

 

[RICHPD]

My Dad is a WW2 veteran who later did factory work then indoor carpentry making doors and windows in bulk. He retired almost 25 years ago and is looking forward to his 89th birthday in a couple of weeks.

 

[gifogif]

I worked in Health Care Financial Management for 27 years, always a minimum commute of 50 miles each way. I got to the point where I simply could not do it. Luckily a Business Manager position opened up at a Church 2.9 miles from my home. I guess I did something right.

 

[happy]

Just curious

I have read through this thread and noticed a couple of posts said that they believe this disease began because of injury. Car accident or back trauma of some sort. I was under the assumption that ALS was an auto immune disorder. Can someone explain how an injury can cause ALS.
Thanks
Robin

 

[sironside]

I am in the process of being diagnosed with something neuromuscular/neurological.... but in the mean time i am in nursing school. It's very difficult to keep up with the demanding school work and doctor's visits. This friday I finally get an EMG and I'll find out what's going on. I'm only 22 and if it's ALS I'll be devastated. I would quit school and probably suffer depression for a while... trying not to jump ahead here but it's hard to walk, eat (nausea), breathe (short of breath sometimes when resting),and twitch in one spot on my arm and throughout legs. If it is ALS, I think it's bulbar onset...

 

[judylyne]

My husband made Lifesavers candy for 23 years. He hated making Butter Rum.

 

[Omar]

I am a Graphic Designer

 

[AHands]

I have read through this thread and noticed a couple of posts said that they believe this disease began because of injury. Car accident or back trauma of some sort. I was under the assumption that ALS was an auto immune disorder. Can someone explain how an injury can cause ALS.

(i'm not a dr, rn, lpn, or anything...just another PALS. but nobody else answered your question, so i'll offer a stab at it. take my opinions for what their worth.)

i don't think its known that als is an auto-immune disorder--just a hypothesis.

i think they generally talk of a "cascade" of events that lead to als--those events possibly including: genetic predisposition, exposure to toxins, viral infection, trauma (especially head/neck).

i think our own antibodies would destroy our own neurons given a chance. we have a "blood-brain barrier" (and a "blood-spinal cord barrier"?) that keeps the brain, spine and nerves isolated from the "normal" blood supply. many drugs cannot cross the bbb, so pharmaceutical researchers spend a lot of time figuring ways to get pharmaceuticals to cross, or develop alternate molecules that cross freely. pharmaceuticals that cannot be made to cross the bbb can instead be administered by lumbar puncture (aka spinal tap) most infections cannot cross, but if you do get an infection in the brain or spine its bad news because antibodies cannot cross. I THINK this is why the brain often fights infection with a fever.

so, if the bbb can be damaged by head/neck trauma, it might allow antibodies to cross into the brain/spine and attack the neurons. i guess thats the auto-immune aspect of als.

the body probably normally has a way of dealing with a bbb disruption, but something else may be going wrong to prevent recovery.

 

[happy]

Ahands..

I did a little research on blood brain barrier infections what you said makes sense. I wonder why it is so random? There are many people that have had neck injuries. Also, I believe it is farfetched, but Im curious what acupuncture would have on the effects of nerves repairing themselfs and also bowen therapy...just a couple of thoughts

 

[AHands]

...I wonder why it is so random? There are many people that have had neck injuries.

When this first started in one arm, my first thoughts were that it may have had something to do with a bicycle crash that scarred that shoulder, but I talked to people who'd been involved in bicycle racing for decades and they'd never seen such a result from injury. Surely moto-cross racers and boxers suffer much worse, yet their arms don't shrivel up.

I think the deal is that there are a number of things that have to happen, e.g. head/neck injury plus pesticide/toxin exposure plus some infection plus lipid imbalance plus low body fat/muscle ratio plus genetic propensity plus ... Of course exactly which of those factors are relevant is still completely unknown. And this all just my understanding and interpretation of what i've read and been told, which may be all wrong.

Also, I believe it is farfetched, but Im curious what acupuncture would have on the effects of nerves repairing themselfs and also bowen therapy...just a couple of thoughts

I've tried a couple acupuncturists. I didn't notice any benefit, but you might. I'd never heard of Bowen Technique but I see theres a Wikipedia article...doesn't mention neuropathy though., I think...

 

[AHands]

employment and other possible causative or contributing factors

Regarding the original question: "What did everyone do for a living?"

My answer: software development (computer programming).



Since this thread seems to be looking at possible causative or contributing factors:

No head/neck injury at work, but I did have a two bad falls while bicycling, which included hitting my head, and I've two bad disks in the lumbar (neck) portion of the spine.

I did breathe a good bit of rosin-core (lead) electrical solder maybe 15 or 20 years ago.

I did stick one arm in an operating microwave oven around the time this started.

I did get a lot of exercise, lose a lot of weight, strain my body with respect to lack of sleep, over exposure to sun, maybe dehydration. (but i felt great!) middle age athleticism after a mostly sedate/obese youth. maybe breathed a lot of car fumes and ground level ozone?

i was drinking quite a bit of coffee, red wine, eating a lot of nuts and cheeses, indian and middle eastern food and spices and eating no meat. no soft drinks.

we had the house sprayed once for termites, but other than that i can't recall any significant pesticide exposure. there was also some black mold exposure at home.

no long term rx meds (no blood pressure med, no diabetes med, no cholesterol med) until after als began.

spent a little vacation time on the alabama coast (it seems parts of southern alabama are a hot-bed of als?)

never in the military. own a cat. traveled internationally just a little before als (much more afterwards) too much time on the computer...

 

[happy]

Adrian,

Good info, a lot to think about. Me too guilty of over exercise, low body fat, minimal nutrition, cheese, fruits, spirits, beer mostly probably not enought protein.Lots of sun too much! Little sleep in life running ragged most of the time.( Till now. )Lots of vaccinations for third world country travel yearly flu shots, also I am ashamed to say so, but in my teens(1970's) I contracted herpes which I am not sure helps my immune system. Exposure to germs via hospitals. Fell off a horse hit my head injured my neck at c6, c7. that was 4 years ago. I wasn't really a computer junkie until now either..

I read your profile and it says you are still seeking diagnosed...is that still the case?

 

[DeeMichelle]

Really interesting question Donna. We have familial ALS in our family and almost everyone worked in heavy engineering industry with a lot of exposure too pollution.
Best
D

 

[DeeMichelle]

Hey there to all out there. I am new to join the group. I was recently diagnosed in August 2007 after going to the Mayo clinic in Minnesota. I was a spinning instructor, cheerleading coach and an administrative assistant for an accounting firm. I had sprained my ankle in one of my classes in July 2006. I went to a orthepedic for about 3 months, and he said I need to go see a neurologist. I went to several different neurologists and was not getting any better. In January 2007 went to the Cleveland Clinic in Weston, Florida to a new neurologist. I was on crutches and my left ankle was now gowing up my left leg. After being treated with IVIG gammuglobin for Feb., March, April, May,June I was not getting any better, in fact it was entirely in my left leg and my right leg was becoming weaker. I was told I need to go to the mayo clinic, and there they told me I had ALS and had 2-5 years to live. I am only 36 with 2 small children and divorced. I was devastated, still am. I am confined to a wheelchair and unable to move my lower extremities. If any of you have any advice for me, I would greatly appreciate anything. I am in severe depression, and my children are scared for mommy. I am so greatful for finding this website, and hope to make friends who are going through the same thing. This is very overwhelming. Thank youfor listening.

Hey to you seeblueeyes
I don't really have any great pearls of wisdom, but I really just want to touch base with you.
I'm really sorry to hear your story you are so young. I really hope you get the support and friendship you need from here and other support organisations.
Dx

 

[DeeMichelle]

Hello BlueEyes,
I know you must be overwhelmed. I can't imagine being a mother of small children with this diagnosis. You must feel devastated and helpless. You'll be amazed at the help and encouragement you will receive from people on this forum who are going through this devastation with you. Some of them are young mothers like yourself. Keep reading the posts. You will be greatly encouraged and feel much less isolated and at the same time you will learn many valuable tips which will help you to feel as if you have some control over what's happening to you. It will give you strength and inspiration to manage your life. Write whenever you need to. There are so many people here who care and will help you.
Blessings to you and your family. Take just one day at a time.
All the best,
Jane

Jane you give such good advice!
Dx