View Full Version : Question about fasciculations
Hi everyone,
I saw the rheumatologist today that my pcp doctor sent me to for muscle cramping and back pain. When I told her about my twitching and weakness and my concern about als she said that my muscle twitching was not true fasciculations. She said that true fasciculations are much deeper than muscle twitches and that they are relentless, they never stop in als. She said she would see them all over my body as well as my face. She is a very nice, intelligent young doctor and I know this isn't her field, but I think she may be wrong about this. Can the twitching come and go? Is muscle twitching different from true fasciculations? Is weakness associated with either of these a symptoms of als? Thanks so much for answering. It's difficult for me since I don't yet have a neurologist. Keep your fingers crossed for March---if the ins. co. lets me go. Leslie
CBowman
02-12-2007, 08:28 PM
check your private messages
Hi Leslie. What she said about the fasciculations is not true in my case. I have had heavy fasic's for 3 years now from toes to chest and have never had them in my face. I did notice a general feeling of weakness as the fascic's got worse. Once mine started they never went away. I would think muscle twitching and fascic's would be hard to tell the difference if you hadn't seen a lot of either.
AL.
anna1980
02-13-2007, 06:17 AM
Leslie, my doc, say the same thing to me.Funny, that every time when im visiting my doc. my fasc. stopped, but I know that they are.I wonder if doc. can check do you have spastic pain or just we feel it?
anna1980
02-13-2007, 06:28 AM
By thae way my fasc. started in my calfs and after1,5 month i Have it everywhere-all over my body.
Hi Leslie -
My fasciculations were only present in my right arm before they started up in my left arm about six months later. Legs became involved about a year after that and I'm just now feeling them in my back, hips, and abdomen. Also - some days they are more active than others - one day things are pretty quiet and the next I'm a twitchy mess.
All throughout this forum we read of how these diseases progress at different rates and sometimes mimic other conditions. That's the confounding thing when you're trying to find out what's wrong - are you really having fasciculations or something else?, what's causing the weakness? It seems in many cases the watchful waiting and repeated testing is the only way to eventually get to a diagnosis. Hopefully you can get to a neurologist soon - that's probably where you will get this sorted out.
Liz
Thanks everybody for answering my questions. I have some of what all of you say. My fasicppt.s started 6 months after my initial problems. They started in my legs and like you Al I then got weakness that seems associated with them. Now the fasics are ribs, chest, abdomen, arms, a couple on the face, but mostly leg. This morning, for the first time I noticed my buttock pretty bad. The doctor thinks because I didn't have them in her office yesterday that they are not true fasics. The funny thing about it is I had them really pronounced in my right arm all day before my appt. Well, I know you are all right, its a waiting game, but the apprehension is terrible and the exhaustion is overwhelming, or else I would practice what I preach and take one day at a time getting on with my life. I'm really glad I found all of you. Thanks. Leslie
Glad you found us too, Leslie.
Looks like a snow day for most of New York state tomorrow. You can keep those kids of yours busy shoveling while you stay in and keep warm. :)
Take care,
Liz
CindyM
02-13-2007, 01:37 PM
Hello Leslie and Liz and all our other friends in New York. I hope you all have stocked up on milk and bread and have your long johns at the ready. We hear your snow is headed our way but over by the coast we will probably just get ice. Hot chocolate all around! Cindy
It is falling here now, fast and hard and icey. Kids are counting on no school. Happy Valentines Day everybody! Leslie
They say it will start any minute now here. My 11 yo won't go to sleep until it starts. Our plan for tomorrow is DVDs, Yahtzee, and nachos for dinner. That plus dad doing all of the work to get us dug out. :)
Have a peaceful day. Snow is pretty.
Liz
It's 3 am here and we've only got an inch or so. No big deal. AL.
Well, Al, if it's moving North, then watch out!! This am I am under 18 inches! :)
25 miles south they got 2 feet we only got 4 or 5 inches. We are in what they call the snow belt but it was a lot of lake effect snow so we missed it. The kid that shovels my snow was happy about that.
AL.
We topped out at 18" but they closed school again today because it is so windy the blowing snow is still causing white outs. So naturally I hopped in the car and came to work. Major roads clear but side streets no good. Walking through a couple of inches of snow with heavy boots on is hard. :neutral:
Liz
Hi Liz,
You are about 4 hours from me, but it's in the same part of NY. We have about 18" and it is 3 degrees this a.m. The wind chill is supposed to be 20 below all day.
I am curious and hope you don't mind if I ask you a few questions?! You mention that you are working and I wonder why my twitching and weakness gives me such an awful feeling of "unwell" so that I can't seem to get out. Also, the unbelievable lack of energy or fatigue or whatever term I should really be using. I want to work so bad. No because I'm a workaholic, but because I so badly wanted to make something better of myself and really had plans for my new degree. I wanted to be somebody, be able to take my kids places and buy them things. If I have time left, I would like to try, but where is the energy? Is there medicine to help or am I just being effected differently? I know I haven't been diagnosed yet, but there is no doubt it is an MND. Sorry for all the questions, but I am really trying to do the best I can. Thanks Liz. Leslie
Hi Leslie -
My progression so far has been mercifully slow so with some adjustments at work (from doorknobs to voice recognition software) I'm able to continue working and I will for as long as possible because we are supporting four school age kids and also because we will be needing funds to finance a move to a more accessible home. My energy level is OK. I put great stock in getting a good night sleep. Also, I'm not a single parent so my load at home is halved. Managing the household on your own - no wonder you're tired.
I don't know if this may apply to you or not but it isn't uncommon for someone facing down the possibility of having an incurable disease to become depressed. That effects people's energy level too. Might be worth exploring with the doctor.
It's freezing here today but we're all dug out. Taking the younger kids to see that Bridge to Terabithia movie today. Starting to have trouble eating the popcorn because it is hard to pick up but determined to find a way because it is so yummy. I figure we're sitting in the dark so if my manners aren't great, who's to know.
Happy President's Day! :)
Liz
Thanks for writing back Liz. I plan on talking to the neuro on Thursday about an antidepressant. I did try a couple before and they make me "speed" with a really fast heart rate, racing thoughts, etc. so my primary doctor quit trying them. I hope there is something else out there! I am not sure if that is why I am fatigued or not. I seem to get short of breath and just "rag doll" feeling and have to sit. But, they say depression can cause all kinds of things. The thing about me is that I am willing to try anything and to listen to different ideas. Who knows, maybe it could be something uncomplicated.et
Sleeping is terrible for me because I get foot cramps, my whole body vibrates and I get like electrical surges all night long. The feeling of vibrating is probably what bothers me the most But, I still get 6 to 8 hours and am then fatigued by noon or 1.
All three of my kids went on a ski trip today (they are in ski club at school). We had a rough morning start, but they are off. So, it's below zero, but I have the day to myself! It's supposed to get up into the 20's and by Thursday 40. Yahoo! Leslie
CindyM
02-19-2007, 10:23 AM
Hi Leslie- you mention a symptom that nobody else seems to talk about. I was beginning to think I was more unusual than people lead me to believe. (LOL) I feel terribly unwell when I am overtired, and nauseous as well. If I get about 9 - 10 hours of sleep I'm fine but if not I sometimes I feel too ill to eat. That's a red flag for me. I've always had a healthy appetite so if I don't feel like eating then it must be time to call out the Red Cross! :)
None of the usual suspects for these symptoms seem to make sense: it can come on a day when I am celebrating the completion of a great project at work, or the planned visit by my grandchildren. So depression doesn't seem to fit. I think that my nervous system is in overdrive and that explains why I feel horrid. Just a theory...
And a good theory it is...Overdrive explains it to a tee. It's funny that you say that because I had a 24 hour urine that had way too much norepinephrine, epinephrine and adrenalin. The doctors so far have not been able to explain that. First they thought I had an adrenal tumor, but the tests came up clean.
This week I have been eating two meals a day because that's all I can get in me. I just don't feel like it. Very strange.
