Need your opinions and advice

[TStewart31]

@Joel....Sorry i apologise for that i will explain myself properly to give a clearer picture so you can give me an honest opinion.

-I do have difficulty swallowing on a consistent basis.
-I do have to clear my throat a lot due to excessive saliva
-As far as food and drink are concerned i do occasionally choke on liquids and food but i do not choke everytime i eat and drink, Yesterday i choked on 2 drinks out of around 10 and choked on 1 meal out of 3, Today i haven't choked on liquids and have choked slightly on 1 meal out of 3.
-Speech is normal, No nasal tone and no slurring to my knowledge.
-I have quite severe mouth..throat..and facial pain...this started at the beginning of this week and i keep having to take painkillers.
-I have also developed some twitching in the face...shoulders...jaws....and neck.
-Tongue feels uncomfortable and feels really big.
-Talking can feel uncomfortable and tiring and my cheeks can ache when talking and my tongue feels kind of strange when i talk.

What do you think?......

 

[TStewart31]

Dam i missed a couple of things out.....

-I have asthma....however recently i have become more out of breath....would you get breathless at the beginning of bulbar?
-A constant sore throat which i have had for 2 weeks solid and shows no sign of disappearing.
-Really achy face when eating.
-Some chest discomfort.
-My hands feel weak....yesterday i could not open a bottle top.

My main issues or concerns are related to my mouth....throat and breathing....

 

[joelc]

The first sign of Bulbar is slurred speech that other people will notice when you think you are talking just fine.
Any form of MND you do not have excess saliva.It only feels like it because you can't properly swallow it.
Twitching mean nothing and is not used to diagnose.
Breathing issues come later.
Things don't feel weak, they are weak and this happens gradually over time.
You stated this came on 9 weeks ago. That can't be from MND/ALS as it does not happen that fast.

I really think you should be looking for another reason.

 

[TStewart31]

@Joel.....Thanks.....I was ok in June/July time and never complained about an swallowing difficulties or any other mouth or throat problems....It was around end of July/August time when things started so it could actually be 9-12 weeks as i cannot remember exactly when this started but know it was definitely around that time.

I was thinking maybe i feel like i have excess saliva because i cannot properly swallow it? But wouldn't i choke all the time? People would notice that wouldn't they?......So i wouldn't have breathing problems in the early stages or before swallowing or speech difficulties?

I guess i feel weak but i am not sure just how weak my throat...mouth and tongue actually are.

So your opinion is that it is not bulbar or M.N.D then?....hopefully it is something else and something not too severe.

 

[TStewart31]

I also have to mention that i get tremors in my hands, and i think i have restless legs as i always bounce my legs especially my left leg a lot of the time i cannot keep it still it's just habit.

And.....I have had shaking in my arms....The other day i had really bad shaking in my left arm while i was in bed.

But as i said above my main problems or concerns are to do with my mouth....throat and face.

 

[TedH5]

Your leg bouncing sounds more like anxiety and nervous energy. Since you said you need a referral to see a neuro and your GP said you were healthy, if you are not satisfied seek a second opinion. I just need to warn you that trying to self diagnose is not healthy nor wise.

 

[TStewart31]

@TedH5.....Cheers again......Apparently according to my ex partner i have always bounced my legs since i have known her which is nearly 6 years i guess it's just a habit or they are restless...That's not related to M.N.D anyway is it?

I keep noticing what looks like bite marks the inside of my left cheek near my bottom teeth, Does that mean i am biting or chewing my cheeks? Well i have noticed 3 marks over the past 5 or 6 weeks....That has worried me now.....Would someone around me be able to tell if i was biting my cheeks when eating?

I will try again this week to get referred to a neuro....Hopefully they will do it this time.

 

[Alyoop]

Does not sound like you need a neuro appt. You mentioned facial and throat pain. It sounds like a very large dose of anxiety. See your GP and talk about your anxiety. If you are anxious then you can grind your jaw and chomp on yourself. It causes facial and jaw pain, excess saliva etc. You do have ALS!

 

[Tokahfang]

Aly meant "do NOT have ALS", she has typing dysfunctions here and again.

Joel is right on, weeks is not the time onsets of MND are measured in.

Pain in your face, jaw, and throat all at once is also a great sign of not having MND. Widespread symptoms (face, shaking arms, etc) are too! Weakness doesn't "feel" weak... in fact, feeling it is almost proof it isn't actually motor neuron related. People with MNDs trip, fall, drop stuff, choke, etc because they feel like they did the motion right and strongly, but they didn't actually.

If your GP finds clinical weakness, be assured, he will follow up. Just keep him/her abreast of the situation, and relax. Your worry will do terrible, terrible things to you. The best thing you could do is go outside your house, leave your computer home, and do something you enjoy.

 

[Danijela]

Dear all,

GPs in the UK do not perform Babinski tests. If they suspect mnd they refer a patient to a specialist. Why would a GP perform such test if somebody came to see them with throat issues? Makes no sense. The person from the UK forum, whom we have supposedly mistaken for this guy, claimed to have performed the test himself.

I bet if the moderators of the uk forum and us forum compared notes about location of the computer of this poster, they would find they match.

D

 

[TStewart31]

@Alyoop....Your reply is welcomed.....What makes you think it is anxiety related though?....bearing in mind i am having swallowing difficulties...constant clearing of the throat....twitching all around the face...neck...and shoulders as well as shortness of breath and bad pain in the mouth...face..and throat? as well as a few other issues?....

 

[TStewart31]

@Tokahfang.....I am glad that you say that face...jaw & throat pain is not related to M.N.D....My General Practioner cannot have seen any weakness....but they only checked the reflexes and not really around the face...tongue area.

 

[TStewart31]

@Dani.....I can assure you that my GP examined me and did what i think was the babinski test....i was also complaining of leg weakness and my reflexes were looked at and my feet were scraped.....It seems like you have a problem with me or something?.....I am just seeking advice i do not see what is wrong with that.....

 

[Alyoop]

Thanks beky. I often make mistakes cause I use my iPhone to type and have bad eyesight. Ha ha.

All your symptoms can be anxiety related that's why I said it.

 

[Alyoop]

Dani's attitude is understandable considering your odd changeing questions. Some of which you can answer yourself. Eg would Simone be able to see me chewing my cheeks. Believe me, sort your anxiety( or whatever the issue is) first