Well I asked from a stand point of discouraging football not holding them out of all sports. If they really wanted to play I wouldn't stop them. But here in Oklahoma kids start playing really early like 6 yrs I think? There are several other reasons not to let them play football so i'm merely suggesting i push other sports and discourage football not that I would put an all out ban on it. There are plenty of other non contact sports I can encourage. He played T ball at 3 yrs and now plays soccer at 4 yrs. He also runs and jumps and plays like a maniac to which I give no thought of head injury and ALS. So please don't misunderstand I'm not some nut who wants to go into overprotective mode because I'm definitely not.
I do however want to make responsible decisions and if we are already have risk there I don't want to add any unnecessary catalysts.
As for me worrying about getting it, I absolutely do all the time. I actually was very seriously considering getting tested, in fact I posted here a few months ago asking for feedback on pros and cons of it but got no replies
I had made my mind up I WAS getting tested but my sister convinced me not to when she shared her reason for not. Her view was if you test and you're not a carrier then that is the greatest news a person can get but if you are don't you think you'll be a mess? And she's right, if I do have the SOD1 mutation then every single muscle twitch or body fumble I’d be sick to my stomach thinking THIS IS IT!
Of course I'm half way there now. I've mentioned to other posters I'm probably going to be taking a very long break from here because coming here puts ALS at the forefront of my mind all the time. I visited here very regularly when my mom first passed for support and realized after a point it wasn't mentally healthy for me to dwell on ALS so much.
The only reason I came back was to ask the question and get feedback on whether I should just get tested. Which shows its on my mind whether I'm here or not but being her definitely exasperates it.
The problem with getting tested is that even if I have the SOD1 mutation, its not a 100% guarantee I will develop the symptoms of ALS. So its very possible I can get tested and STILL not really know. The only real good that could come is I may get the news I am not a carrier which quite honestly would be life changing for me. I really am scared to death it will strike me. I know everyone will say just go on with your life and enjoy it and I really do for the most part. I probably enjoy life more than most because I know it may be cut short and I watched my mom's life cut short so I have a good attitude I just can't shake the fear deep inside me that ALS is in my future.
Thanks everyone for replying.