asdf23
New member
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2017
- Messages
- 8
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- VA
- City
- Arlington
Hello,
My thread was closed but I thought I’d give an update. I️ had my EMG done on all 4 limbs, and which showed no issues (even in the bicep he had previously found an issue in). Neuro believed we could eliminate ALS. However, he couldn’t address the problem I️ felt in the back of my throat. What I realized after a while was I was actually experiencing vocal fatigue, causing a weak, hoarse voice after limited talking or vocal use.
So I️ went to the ENT. The ENT asked me questions about my symptoms, and after telling him everything he performed a laryngoscopy. He didn’t see anything, said the vocal cords looked normal, and that there was no sign of reflux or lesions. He then said to me in a cautious tone “given your neurological symptoms, I️ fear this problem may be neuromuscular in nature. There’s nothing I️ can do for you right now but recommend a speech therapist. We’ll have to re-evaluate in a few months” In other words, without explicitly saying it, he fears it could be ALS. I️ asked him if it could be due to my emotions (as they’ve been running out of this world high with my fears over this), and he said it’s possible. But in his report, he wrote he feared it was related to my neuromuscular symptoms.
My world has been shattered. I️ have read every. Single. Account. On this forum and BFS forum related to vocal fatigue and hoarse voice, and those with true vocal fatigue and weakness have always wound up having ALS. I️ don’t mean an occasional scratchy throat that clears up. I️ mean the muscles in my neck and throat ache after every small conversation, and leave me genuinely hoarse. The only way to get my voice volume back to working somewhat properly is to rest it; if I’m in a social situation where I can’t rest it, I’m left with using much more effort to get sound out, making the aching and fatigue much worse. I️ have submitted a request to John Hopkins for an appointment with their ALS Specialists. Truly, I️ believe this is it.
Thanks all for reading. Will update when I️ have updates.
My thread was closed but I thought I’d give an update. I️ had my EMG done on all 4 limbs, and which showed no issues (even in the bicep he had previously found an issue in). Neuro believed we could eliminate ALS. However, he couldn’t address the problem I️ felt in the back of my throat. What I realized after a while was I was actually experiencing vocal fatigue, causing a weak, hoarse voice after limited talking or vocal use.
So I️ went to the ENT. The ENT asked me questions about my symptoms, and after telling him everything he performed a laryngoscopy. He didn’t see anything, said the vocal cords looked normal, and that there was no sign of reflux or lesions. He then said to me in a cautious tone “given your neurological symptoms, I️ fear this problem may be neuromuscular in nature. There’s nothing I️ can do for you right now but recommend a speech therapist. We’ll have to re-evaluate in a few months” In other words, without explicitly saying it, he fears it could be ALS. I️ asked him if it could be due to my emotions (as they’ve been running out of this world high with my fears over this), and he said it’s possible. But in his report, he wrote he feared it was related to my neuromuscular symptoms.
My world has been shattered. I️ have read every. Single. Account. On this forum and BFS forum related to vocal fatigue and hoarse voice, and those with true vocal fatigue and weakness have always wound up having ALS. I️ don’t mean an occasional scratchy throat that clears up. I️ mean the muscles in my neck and throat ache after every small conversation, and leave me genuinely hoarse. The only way to get my voice volume back to working somewhat properly is to rest it; if I’m in a social situation where I can’t rest it, I’m left with using much more effort to get sound out, making the aching and fatigue much worse. I️ have submitted a request to John Hopkins for an appointment with their ALS Specialists. Truly, I️ believe this is it.
Thanks all for reading. Will update when I️ have updates.