27 yo looking for answers

[ucla2004]

Hi there,

I would like to first thank everyone for all the advice and support. I am in search of answers because the medical community has fallen short of this. I have not been diagnosed with ALS, but I am experiencing similar symptoms to the one everyone describe in these forums. Please could you help me ease my anxiety. I am a 27 yo male in search of what is causing my widespread twitches and perceived weakness (not clinical weakness yet). I mostly have them in my abdominal area, but I also have felt them on my biceps, triceps, quads and eyelids. When ever I try to do a situp my entire body shakes like crazy. Whenever I try to life an object my proximal muscle will shake, followed by twitches. I do not know what to do anymore. No one believes me, docs won't do anything about it. I do not know if these related to anxiety, but I am having difficulty taking a deep breath. I feel as if I have to think about each breath I take. However, I am able to sleep well without waking up at night or experiencing any headaches when waking up. Your advice would really help.

Thanks

[jimercat]

ucla-

Have you been evaluated by an ALS specialist? Most neurologists are not well versed in ALS, as it is a "rare" disease. That would be the first place to start. Get an appointment with the nearest ALS clinic. There are many tests that will have to be performed in order to rule out anything else.

hope you don't have it!

cj

[kman543210]

How long have you had all these symptoms ucla, the twitching and weakness? All I can say is hang in there buddy because from what I've heard about any neurological disease, it takes a while to diagnose. I've been going through my ordeal since July 2004 without any diagnosis or treatment whatsoever. I am 30, and it's taken over the last 3 years of my life. I'm 6' 7" and only 130 lbs now. I have definitely abnormalities in my motor neurons in my legs, muscle weakness from my legs, hands, arms, jaw, swallowing, and now breathing. I also just started getting twitching in mid February of this year, but it isn't that bad and is the least of my concerns. What's frustrating about any motor neuron disease is that not only does everyone have different symptoms at different times, but it takes so long to diagnose.

[GodIsGood]

Hi Hon..

My experience..have you talked to your General Practioner. What you sound like that you are describing is a benign syndrome. A lot , PRACTICALLY MILLIONS of AMERICANS experience it...some just dont pay attention to it. The best thing I can offer you is google it and check it out. I dont want to break the rules here and post a web site...so all I can say is google... It will pop up. Your symptoms do not coincide with ALS in my opinion however I am no doctor. Have you been to a doctor at all? I would start with a NEURO before you go searching for a ALS clinic hon. Its a good place to start to get a baseline.

I think You are FINE! God Bless!

[Sammantha]

Okay i have all that too and i am two years into it and still have full use of everything. Neurologists will first put you on an anti anxiety med because that may cause the twitching and possible tremors. They will not even consider ALS until they visibally see muscle wasting, my first neuro almost diagnosed me with carpal tunnel on the spot, but i said my GP noticed wasting in my foot and ankle also. So he set up a NCS and EMG not expecting to find anything on the EMG... The NCS turned out normal but the EMG did not, now hold on because a EMG done at a university hospital was normal. I can relate to the shaking during sit ups, that is how i first noticed weakness in my left hip and leg. I always thought that side was weak because i used it less so i would excersize it twice as much with no results. I would go to the secluded part of the gym for woman to do my abdominal excersizes because i would shake so bad it was embarassing. Come to find out i think it is more of my lower back weakness than just abdomen because when i am hunched over i takes a few minutes to straighten up and it is painful. I think there is a subset to the whole ALS thing because so many people are having the same experiences. I know that i was working eight hours a day at a high stress job without so much as a water or pee break.... That can do a lot of damage to your body, being physically active and not hydrated. So dont get mad if the docs reccomend cutting back and drinking lots of fluids, it certainly cant hurt. Keep in touch with your symptoms... Lots of luck, Sammantha........ PS>>Anxiety medication has been very helpful to me but i cannot take anti depressants not only am i not clinically depressed (situational) i have the exact opposite response with even one anti depressant I become very depressed and experience panic attacks.... So if you do start new medications take a day off to see how they will react.... Best Wishes, Sam