orangecorpsman
New member
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2013
- Messages
- 2
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- NC
- City
- Laurel Park
I'm hoping I can get some insight to some recent events. I'm 58. About 2 years ago, fatigue sort of...not bad. Clumsy, dropping stuff, stumbling, not staying balanced but not bad. I continued to be active, in shape, some weightlifting, jogging. Weight good, eat balanced meal, take supplements. Moderation, some wine, occasional cocktail.
Last year I had a major problem with TMJ...still a problem, in pain a lot, soft diet now. The doctors give me a mouth guard but doesn't help. They say there's nothing else they can do. With this comes awful tinnitus.
So I'm still going along, jogging, some weights, lots of walking. A few weeks ago I notice I'm exhausted just walking to kitchen. Maybe exhausted isn't the right work. I'm having trouble breathing. I'm very fatigued, almost panting. This is happening a lot now and I try to jog and it's awful. No weights. Walking not too bad and it's the only exercise I'm getting so I have to do something because I can't stand not exercising. Mowing the yard is exhausting and last week, standing and cooking I thought I'd not make it. Every moment of the day I am aware of my breathing. It's labored and I'm struggling to breath. It's not like I'm hyperventilating, it's the opposite, like I can't get the muscles around my chest to expand fully without a lot of effort. This has been really difficult because I'm a singer. Sitting and singing is painful but standing is better because I'm using the diaphragm and the chest is less engaged.
I used to have a benign tremor and strangely, it's gone.
For several days now everything hurts. Not tingling but just a generalized ache, everywhere. I don't have a cold or flu either. My arms are tired too, so are my legs. Even typing this is tiring. I have to stop frequently and rest my hands and arms.
I'm not as strong lately as I've usually been. Ok, so I've been a bit clumsy all my life, but it's worse now. I have to really pay attention to everything around me or it gets knocked on the floor. I also stumble, lose my coordination and bump my shoulder or arm into the wall. My grip isn't as good as it used to be either.
I don't want to have ALS so I'm hoping I'm being a hypochondriac. But this breathing stuff is really scaring me. I just had my physical at the VA and blood-work was pretty normal, at least not a sign of ischemic heart disease or blood gas problems. It's not Parkinson's either...I don't have a tremor or shaking, at least for now. But like I said, these weird things going on with my body are spooking me.
My doctor has ordered an EKG and I've asked for a pulmonary treadmill stress test. I'm thinking I should look outside the VA for a neurologist.
I've read several posts here (thanks for the information) and I've done some other researching. So I'm posting because I'm not sure what to do next. Thoughts?
Last year I had a major problem with TMJ...still a problem, in pain a lot, soft diet now. The doctors give me a mouth guard but doesn't help. They say there's nothing else they can do. With this comes awful tinnitus.
So I'm still going along, jogging, some weights, lots of walking. A few weeks ago I notice I'm exhausted just walking to kitchen. Maybe exhausted isn't the right work. I'm having trouble breathing. I'm very fatigued, almost panting. This is happening a lot now and I try to jog and it's awful. No weights. Walking not too bad and it's the only exercise I'm getting so I have to do something because I can't stand not exercising. Mowing the yard is exhausting and last week, standing and cooking I thought I'd not make it. Every moment of the day I am aware of my breathing. It's labored and I'm struggling to breath. It's not like I'm hyperventilating, it's the opposite, like I can't get the muscles around my chest to expand fully without a lot of effort. This has been really difficult because I'm a singer. Sitting and singing is painful but standing is better because I'm using the diaphragm and the chest is less engaged.
I used to have a benign tremor and strangely, it's gone.
For several days now everything hurts. Not tingling but just a generalized ache, everywhere. I don't have a cold or flu either. My arms are tired too, so are my legs. Even typing this is tiring. I have to stop frequently and rest my hands and arms.
I'm not as strong lately as I've usually been. Ok, so I've been a bit clumsy all my life, but it's worse now. I have to really pay attention to everything around me or it gets knocked on the floor. I also stumble, lose my coordination and bump my shoulder or arm into the wall. My grip isn't as good as it used to be either.
I don't want to have ALS so I'm hoping I'm being a hypochondriac. But this breathing stuff is really scaring me. I just had my physical at the VA and blood-work was pretty normal, at least not a sign of ischemic heart disease or blood gas problems. It's not Parkinson's either...I don't have a tremor or shaking, at least for now. But like I said, these weird things going on with my body are spooking me.
My doctor has ordered an EKG and I've asked for a pulmonary treadmill stress test. I'm thinking I should look outside the VA for a neurologist.
I've read several posts here (thanks for the information) and I've done some other researching. So I'm posting because I'm not sure what to do next. Thoughts?