Q-man
Member
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2011
- Messages
- 17
- Reason
- PALS
- Diagnosis
- 04/2011
- Country
- US
- State
- California
- City
- Fontana
Hi folks,
My 1st post.
About me: my name is ed. 62 yr old male; born and raised in southern calif. Married for 30 years to my beautiful wife Janice; one daughter, 29 yrs old, one son 24 yrs old. Retired in jan 2010 after 36 yrs with local phone company, at&t (originally pacific telephone, became sbc, became at&t). U.S. Coast Guard veteran, 4 yrs active duty, mar 1969 to mar 1973.
Got the als news in apr 2011. Right hand and arm symptoms since sep 2010, but in hindsight, my wife noticed speech changes before then. Now, right hand is basically useless, left hand can still hold a spoon and type with one finger. Speech is getting more difficult to understand, unable to hold my head up (goes forward), and some swallowing issues. No choking but docs have me on a pureed diet and I have to hold my head up when swallowing to prevent aspiration. (will be getting a peg in about a month.) I’m in the phase 3 dex trial at UC Irvine, going on 6 months now, can’t tell if I’m getting the real thing or not.
I want to give all my pals, cals, relatives, and friends on this forum a big thank you for sharing your experiences, wisdom, successes, and battles. I know it has helped me gain a better understanding for the future and, it might sound odd but, sort of a feeling of reassurance from being with others who know and can relate to what we are going through.
Be strong everyone,
Ed
My 1st post.
About me: my name is ed. 62 yr old male; born and raised in southern calif. Married for 30 years to my beautiful wife Janice; one daughter, 29 yrs old, one son 24 yrs old. Retired in jan 2010 after 36 yrs with local phone company, at&t (originally pacific telephone, became sbc, became at&t). U.S. Coast Guard veteran, 4 yrs active duty, mar 1969 to mar 1973.
Got the als news in apr 2011. Right hand and arm symptoms since sep 2010, but in hindsight, my wife noticed speech changes before then. Now, right hand is basically useless, left hand can still hold a spoon and type with one finger. Speech is getting more difficult to understand, unable to hold my head up (goes forward), and some swallowing issues. No choking but docs have me on a pureed diet and I have to hold my head up when swallowing to prevent aspiration. (will be getting a peg in about a month.) I’m in the phase 3 dex trial at UC Irvine, going on 6 months now, can’t tell if I’m getting the real thing or not.
I want to give all my pals, cals, relatives, and friends on this forum a big thank you for sharing your experiences, wisdom, successes, and battles. I know it has helped me gain a better understanding for the future and, it might sound odd but, sort of a feeling of reassurance from being with others who know and can relate to what we are going through.
Be strong everyone,
Ed