What did everyone do for a living?

[DonnaJ]

Hello all,

I was just curious what everyone did or does for a living that are diagnosed with ALS.

I know they don't know what causes ALS, but my husband was a Class A Machinist and 2 years after he was diagnosed another guy that worked 25-feet from him in the same shop got diagnosed with ALS as well. Talk about the men in the shop getting a little nervous about what they were being exposed to. Unfortunately, my husbands friend and co-worker only lived about 3 years. Whereas, my husband is still fighting it to date, 8 years later. We have always been blown away that two men out of the same machine shop got ALS. I know that the military is diagnosing the military personnel with ALS as well.

It's funny how after all these years I'm still looking, hoping, searching for some kind of reason.......that maybe just maybe I'll find an answer.

Anyway if you would like to share with me what your occupation was I would appreciate it.


Donna-WV

[kmgy]

my father was a computer systems analyst for the federal gov't.

[Marjorie R. Wilcox]

Rick has ALS... DX at age 60. He has three degrees, had 21 years totaled active and reserve in the Navy, has been a counselor at a juvenile prison, has been a caregiver at a home for the mentally handicapped, has been a comptroller for municipal housing and has substitute taught in the public school system. His mom had "something." His ALS is considered familial, however in two tours in Vietnam and all those innoculations he had then, anything could be possible. Sorry to hear about you and your coworkers. Sounds fishy to us too.

[bdyle]

I was a cryogenic operator in a plant, was working on my 20th year when dx with ALS.

[trying to stay positive]

My DH was carpenter/construction for the past 17 years or so. He did alot of rehab jobs on older buildings in downtown Chicago. Long before his DX I used to worry about all the things he was exposed to, like asbestos and such.

[hopingforthebest]

My husband worked as Industrial Engineer for 30 years and retired and became a Health Inspector. Still working.

[Gina]

Hi ! My husband worked in a steel factory for 38 yrs....his job was entitled ...computerized plasma burning machine operater , in other words he cut steel and other metals underwater on a huge machine.He used to tell me about all the fumes that came off this machine !He was also raised on a farm and very athletic....very muscular and had a body that everyone admired for his age...57 when he was diagnosed.Another rather disturbing thing is that we live in a semi for 29 yrs. the woman on the other side of our semi died exactly the same day as my husband and the man across the street died of brain cancer as well...i dont get it thier has to be a connection somewhere.I also developed a movement disorder called dystonia about 20 yrs ago although now it seems to have improved ....We had to sell our house and move to a wheelchair acessable unit...........Gina

[Carolan]

My mom was a very talented musician, which is more athletic than it might sound. She had quite bulky muscles from playing various instruments, and I wonder if this is why we didn't notice her muscle atrophy right away. Now her leg muscles are pretty much gone, but she still has some upper body bulk, just without the strength. I miss her voice--I rarely hear it now that she is vent-dependent.

[kelly]

My husband worked as a marketing person for a plastics company....mostly office work...but also plant visits. He also has traveled the world. Was very physically fit....before this disease. He would lift, cycle, or run daily.

[delb]

I was manager at a backup power supply company. But ALS came probably from my mother who died of it 30 some years ago.

[pmbenb83]

Very interesting topic. Thanks for starting this thread.

My husband started out as a heating and a/c mechanic and removed asbestos from old buildings in Old Town Alexandria for a few years. He did that job for about 12 years. Now he is a federal police officer and works in very old buildings with a lot of metal detectors and special alarms.. not sure what type, but they put off some kind of "radio waves". Several officers have also been diagnosed with pituitary/brain tumors, as well.

[Jamiet]

I worked at a skating ring for 3 years, then slun pizzas in the family pizza buisness for 12 years, then....to a CPA firm 2 years, since then, now 9 years as CFO of my company. I wonder if me traveling and staying in 3rd world countries had anything t o do with my issues.

rgds,

Jamie

[Icanmanz]

Hi Donna! Thanks for asking such an interesting question. My son worked for a company in Houston that dealt with fiberglass, and other stuff. After he left that place he joined his brother selling and installing home sound equipment. That's about it, other than the little hamburger joints when he was younger, and still in school.

Irma

[jdale949]

My mother was Mrs. Boise Idaho beauty queen when she was 20. She married my dad who was in the airforce and traveled awhile. She had 5 children and got her master's degree in social work and was director of social services for about 10 years. She then retired and 2 years after my dad died in 2004 she was diagnosed with ALS. She died a month ago today. I'd give anything to have her back and healthy. I miss her.:cry:

[reacree]

Hi,
I was an aircraft electrician for 36 years. Eight in the Air Force, 23 at a Naval Rework Depot, and 5 for Raytheon. I was at Eglin Air Force Base for 5 years during the Nam era, an Eglin is a armament development and testing base. ( agent orange was tested there ) I worked on aircraft returning from Dessert Storm, cleaning all the sand out of the wiring and equipment.
Bob.

[Nene]

Hi all,
I worked as a hairdresser for 30 years before being dx

[freddiesnetty]

My husband was a musician, he fell from a stage and landed on his neck on the trailer hitch, after that he said his hands weren't working right...He was signed to sony records and this happened, I think the fall triggered all of this stuff...Some people tell me "Well he had the ALS and that is what triggered him to fall... I doubt that very seriously. You can check him out on YOUTUBE. His name is Freddie Everett. God I hate this disease, I have not been on here for awhile..........I AM SO DEPRESSED!!!!! I think this disease takes a toll on ALL involved, I find myself just hating life....
I do try to keep my chin up...
Hey Irma,
There is going to be a benefit for Freddie at the Firehouse Saloon on April 19th, so could you let everyone know...I know you are from here and have heard of my sweet husbands talented self, he thinks he can sing, But you know what I think he really is going to do it, He never gives up, even though his frail little body makes me wonder, He is relying on the lord to help him through that day.
Thanks to all for your support, sometimes I don't post...............I just READ....that helps me for now.
Netty

[Icanmanz]

Hi netty, it is so nice to hear from you. Yes, my brother has been asking me about you and Freddie on several ocassions. I keep telling him you have not been online. I gotta tell him I heard from you, and yes I know he would love to go to that benefit for Freddie. I will tell him about it, so he can pass it on to Freddie's friends, okay. I will check him out on YouTube, thanks for sharing. May God bless you and Freddie. Tell Freddie I will keep him in my prayers. Bye for now!

Irma

[ZenArcher]

The last couple years have been management positions but prior to that I did 6 years of field service working all over the country in various industries from paper manufacturing to NASA. The 8 1/2 years before that I was in the Navy as a nuclear electronics technician/reactor operator. I'm a Gulf War vet and participated in Operation Allied Force and Southern Watch. Prior to that I was a printing press operator.

[Al]

I was a full time firefighter and then Captain for 32 3/4 years and a volunteer F/F for 2 years before that. Worked at various part time jobs. The longest being with a large cleaning and disaster restoration company for 17 years. Lots of chemicals there.
AL.

[Vicki S]

I worked at Webster University in the mailroom. I retired in 1999 because my husband retired. We moved to Daphne, Al in 2004. I was diagnosed in 2007. The health department is getting into checking the environment because so many people are getting cancer and nuero muscular diseases more than the rest of the country. Personally I think it's the bay.

[sisgldnhr]

My husband is still employed after 17 years at a flour mill company. He worked as the leader in shipping/handling dept. The company hires an outside company to come in and fumigate their facility 2 times a year. The entire plant is locked down for this. My husband was one of the men that worked the overtime to go in and clean up all the dead stuff and debree from the fumigation. They call it a 'blow down'....when all the flour and stuff hit the ground from the blowers then they shovel it into dumpsters.

He was also in Vietnam.

Before the flour mill, he worked at a company that made condensors (sp) for air conditioners (he worked there for 15 years before they closed the plant).

sis

[kelly]

I also forgot to mention that prior to my husbands symptoms, he worked in a home office with a improperly installed propane stove. He was breathing incomplete propane combustion for 3 years....ahhhhhhhhhhhh!

[dona jean]

i was in the grocery/food service industry for 35 years...ranging from owning my own
gourmet market in coconut grove, fl., to working for large supermarkets such as hannaford bros., and kroger as assistant manager for some 15 years until my dx.

[hboyajian]

My dad was a biology teacher for 30 years, then a shopkeeper for the next 25. He was also in WWII in artillery, and worked in a machine shop before that for a few years. He did a lot of overseas travel and taught in India also, so had many vaccinations. He also had 2 injuries from falls several years before diagnosis, but these may have been caused by ALS imbalance. There are so many factors that could have been involved, it is impossible to determine what factors were significant if any.

[LisaM]

My dad was a mechanic. He ran his own garage for most of my life. From very vague stories it seems like his father had something similar though he died in the '50's or 60's so it's hard to know. They have run very extensive genetic tests which came out negative.

Looking back it seems like my father was an anxious person who somewhat suppressed though feelings. I wonder if the untreated anxiety could have equated to this many years later...but, I am just fishing for answers i guess.

[Paty]

Hi Donna and everybody on this thread:

My husband Jorge was a duster pilot for twenty three yrs. applying pesticides and herbicides; I have blamed that for his getting A.L.S.


Paty
Baja California, Mexico
CALS to late husband Jorge

[tmasters]

I've been working in Electronics for 30 years. At first, a lot of lab work, now mostly on the computer. I was diagnosed last month.

If I try to guess what toxic hazards I've been exposed to it has to be lead in all the solder I've handled. I used to use my mouth to hold the solder while my hands held the soldering iron and the parts to be attached. Pretty supid, I know.

I dunno, could be anything though. They really don't know what causes or triggers ALS, right?

My urine testing showed zero lead level. Arsenic was detected, though. Have no idea where that came from.

-Tom

[northerngirl]

Mom was a RN, I think whiplash ( 3 rear end in her life) started the damage. She think MSG and aspartame could contribute. But you would think more diabetic would be have problems.

[rick/Wpg]

My husband was dx 02/01/2008 with ALS. He worked on his dad's farm as a teenager. He then went into the carpet/flooring installation business for many years. He has always done alot of gardening and fishing as well.

[rick/Wpg]

I forgot to mention that in my husband's 20's he was in a very serious rear end collision and he ended up in the hospital.

[sbleifus@cablelynx.com]

My dad has had a small livestock farm forever. He worked at a papermill all of his life. dx at age 70 last week.

[citytom]

Psychologist for the Veterans Administration for 22 years.

[Sammantha]

I have what looks to be ALS to my neurologist and Doc, but have not gotten that diagnosis yet... I was diagnosed as having a neuromuscular disorder. That being said, when my symptoms first appeared i was working a new job at a building that flooded and was full of toxic mold. I got sick right away but pushed myself to work, i stayed sick for two years in that building before we figured it was the mold. I worked when i should not have and i pushed myself to finish my degree by going to school full time at night. I would work eight hours with no break, in the mold building, then i would race home cook supper, do homework with the kids and then go to the college and get home at 11pm. On weekends i would do all my assignments and studying plus all the other things that go along with being a wife and mother... I would tell myself this is what it takes to get ahead in life, and i have to do it. So many other people do it, look at our doctors for crying out loud. Well i was sick the whole time and my body finally MADE me slow down................That was really hard to come to terms with, i still feel inadequate and useless but deep down i know i cant help it... But it is hard not to feel that way... I had the best performance reviews at work and i made straight A's. Now my cable got shut off and my husband is going to have a nervous breakdown from working seven days a week so we can "not Make it" That being said, I also have two beautiful boys and the sun is shining and i can still walk talk and complain!! I have a lot to be thankful for and this forum and ALS make me realize that. I wish my husband wasn't so stressed....... It is not weird that you want to find out how your husband got sick, you love him and want to make sense of all of it. How can you make sense of something that has no known cause or cure for that matter??

[patricia1]

I was a medical assistant for gasto and cardio MDs Pat1

[panamokapal]

i was a produce manager in a supermarket on long island for the past twenty years

[paula-jane]

My mum worked in a photographers studio back in the 1960's and then stayed home to raise our family until the mid 80's. She worked for the CBC for about 10 years in the 90's. Just before her diagnosis, she worked as a home installations manager. She was active and completed a half marathon about 6 months before onset of symptoms. She had a severe month long virus and 8 hour migraine just weeks before symptoms started. Which were symptoms of the other? Who knows... great thread though!!

[LindaB]

I am a retired financial assistant for JCPenney. I am 64 and have just been diagnosed, after having two major back surgeries .My husband and I traveled out of the US two times a year, and we had just returned from the Caribbean when symptoms started.
Linda

[hkohlman]

HI my dad was in sales all of his life. Mostly heating and airconditioning. Who knows how he got this stupid disease. I hate it. It has been tough taking care of him. Now we are forced to look into a hospice home or nursing home for him. He still weighs 200 pounds. Mom and I have not the strength to move him around and the hoyer lift is going to be hard to manage in their house. I am very upset over this I still want him at home as does mom. :cry:

[msde302]

My mom did volunteer work while my brother and I were growing up, mostly with youth empowerment and HIV/AIDs education. She volunteered at our summer camp for years. Prior to her diagnosis she was doing conference and convention planning for government agencies. She was a perfectionist and worked like a dog. So, no strange pesticides or exposure to other sorts of things. Just crap luck it seems like!

[seeblueeyes1108]

Hey there to all out there. I am new to join the group. I was recently diagnosed in August 2007 after going to the Mayo clinic in Minnesota. I was a spinning instructor, cheerleading coach and an administrative assistant for an accounting firm. I had sprained my ankle in one of my classes in July 2006. I went to a orthepedic for about 3 months, and he said I need to go see a neurologist. I went to several different neurologists and was not getting any better. In January 2007 went to the Cleveland Clinic in Weston, Florida to a new neurologist. I was on crutches and my left ankle was now gowing up my left leg. After being treated with IVIG gammuglobin for Feb., March, April, May,June I was not getting any better, in fact it was entirely in my left leg and my right leg was becoming weaker. I was told I need to go to the mayo clinic, and there they told me I had ALS and had 2-5 years to live. I am only 36 with 2 small children and divorced. I was devastated, still am. I am confined to a wheelchair and unable to move my lower extremities. If any of you have any advice for me, I would greatly appreciate anything. I am in severe depression, and my children are scared for mommy. I am so greatful for finding this website, and hope to make friends who are going through the same thing. This is very overwhelming. Thank youfor listening.

[Al]

Hi there. Welcome to the site but we are sorry that you have to be here. Have you registered with ALSA/MDA?
They have support groups and people that can come out and explain options and programs available for help for you.
AL.

[cajuntexusa]

My husband Charlie was working as a delivery driver for FedEX when he experienced dropping boxes, etc. He quit this and went to work as a CSR (Customer Service Rep) at home and now he is unable to do this due to his voice.

Now we are applying for disability with our company, along with SSDI.

I checked with my family doctor and he said it is a toxin in the environment.

[Peg B]

Hi,

I was an mental health care person, educator and sometimes waitress, including teacher, consutant, assistant principal and part time college instructor. Family bread winner with stay at home husband/parent - two daughters. Also Working on my PhD (1/2 done) when had to retire due to ALS DX. Peg

[jimercat]

My husband owned a pest control business, then an industrial radiator shop and then worked in the moving industry in sales. He thinks he became poisoned by pesticides. After all, have you seen what pyrethrum can do to an insect?

[fiddleplayer51]

Hello BlueEyes,
I know you must be overwhelmed. I can't imagine being a mother of small children with this diagnosis. You must feel devastated and helpless. You'll be amazed at the help and encouragement you will receive from people on this forum who are going through this devastation with you. Some of them are young mothers like yourself. Keep reading the posts. You will be greatly encouraged and feel much less isolated and at the same time you will learn many valuable tips which will help you to feel as if you have some control over what's happening to you. It will give you strength and inspiration to manage your life. Write whenever you need to. There are so many people here who care and will help you.
Blessings to you and your family. Take just one day at a time.
All the best,
Jane

[RICHPD]

My Dad is a WW2 veteran who later did factory work then indoor carpentry making doors and windows in bulk. He retired almost 25 years ago and is looking forward to his 89th birthday in a couple of weeks.

[gifogif]

I worked in Health Care Financial Management for 27 years, always a minimum commute of 50 miles each way. I got to the point where I simply could not do it. Luckily a Business Manager position opened up at a Church 2.9 miles from my home. I guess I did something right.

[happy]

I have read through this thread and noticed a couple of posts said that they believe this disease began because of injury. Car accident or back trauma of some sort. I was under the assumption that ALS was an auto immune disorder. Can someone explain how an injury can cause ALS.
Thanks
Robin

[sironside]

I am in the process of being diagnosed with something neuromuscular/neurological.... but in the mean time i am in nursing school. It's very difficult to keep up with the demanding school work and doctor's visits. This friday I finally get an EMG and I'll find out what's going on. I'm only 22 and if it's ALS I'll be devastated. I would quit school and probably suffer depression for a while... trying not to jump ahead here but it's hard to walk, eat (nausea), breathe (short of breath sometimes when resting),and twitch in one spot on my arm and throughout legs. If it is ALS, I think it's bulbar onset...

[judylyne]

My husband made Lifesavers candy for 23 years. He hated making Butter Rum.

[Omar]

I am a Graphic Designer

[AHands]

I have read through this thread and noticed a couple of posts said that they believe this disease began because of injury. Car accident or back trauma of some sort. I was under the assumption that ALS was an auto immune disorder. Can someone explain how an injury can cause ALS.


(i'm not a dr, rn, lpn, or anything...just another PALS. but nobody else answered your question, so i'll offer a stab at it. take my opinions for what their worth.)

i don't think its known that als is an auto-immune disorder--just a hypothesis.

i think they generally talk of a "cascade" of events that lead to als--those events possibly including: genetic predisposition, exposure to toxins, viral infection, trauma (especially head/neck).

i think our own antibodies would destroy our own neurons given a chance. we have a "blood-brain barrier" (and a "blood-spinal cord barrier"?) that keeps the brain, spine and nerves isolated from the "normal" blood supply. many drugs cannot cross the bbb, so pharmaceutical researchers spend a lot of time figuring ways to get pharmaceuticals to cross, or develop alternate molecules that cross freely. pharmaceuticals that cannot be made to cross the bbb can instead be administered by lumbar puncture (aka spinal tap) most infections cannot cross, but if you do get an infection in the brain or spine its bad news because antibodies cannot cross. I THINK this is why the brain often fights infection with a fever.

so, if the bbb can be damaged by head/neck trauma, it might allow antibodies to cross into the brain/spine and attack the neurons. i guess thats the auto-immune aspect of als.

the body probably normally has a way of dealing with a bbb disruption, but something else may be going wrong to prevent recovery.

[happy]

Ahands..

I did a little research on blood brain barrier infections what you said makes sense. I wonder why it is so random? There are many people that have had neck injuries. Also, I believe it is farfetched, but Im curious what acupuncture would have on the effects of nerves repairing themselfs and also bowen therapy...just a couple of thoughts

[AHands]

...I wonder why it is so random? There are many people that have had neck injuries.

When this first started in one arm, my first thoughts were that it may have had something to do with a bicycle crash that scarred that shoulder, but I talked to people who'd been involved in bicycle racing for decades and they'd never seen such a result from injury. Surely moto-cross racers and boxers suffer much worse, yet their arms don't shrivel up.

I think the deal is that there are a number of things that have to happen, e.g. head/neck injury plus pesticide/toxin exposure plus some infection plus lipid imbalance plus low body fat/muscle ratio plus genetic propensity plus ... Of course exactly which of those factors are relevant is still completely unknown. And this all just my understanding and interpretation of what i've read and been told, which may be all wrong.

Also, I believe it is farfetched, but Im curious what acupuncture would have on the effects of nerves repairing themselfs and also bowen therapy...just a couple of thoughts

I've tried a couple acupuncturists. I didn't notice any benefit, but you might. I'd never heard of Bowen Technique but I see theres a Wikipedia article...doesn't mention neuropathy though., I think...

[AHands]

Regarding the original question: "What did everyone do for a living?"

My answer: software development (computer programming).



Since this thread seems to be looking at possible causative or contributing factors:

No head/neck injury at work, but I did have a two bad falls while bicycling, which included hitting my head, and I've two bad disks in the lumbar (neck) portion of the spine.

I did breathe a good bit of rosin-core (lead) electrical solder maybe 15 or 20 years ago.

I did stick one arm in an operating microwave oven around the time this started.

I did get a lot of exercise, lose a lot of weight, strain my body with respect to lack of sleep, over exposure to sun, maybe dehydration. (but i felt great!) middle age athleticism after a mostly sedate/obese youth. maybe breathed a lot of car fumes and ground level ozone?

i was drinking quite a bit of coffee, red wine, eating a lot of nuts and cheeses, indian and middle eastern food and spices and eating no meat. no soft drinks.

we had the house sprayed once for termites, but other than that i can't recall any significant pesticide exposure. there was also some black mold exposure at home.

no long term rx meds (no blood pressure med, no diabetes med, no cholesterol med) until after als began.

spent a little vacation time on the alabama coast (it seems parts of southern alabama are a hot-bed of als?)

never in the military. own a cat. traveled internationally just a little before als (much more afterwards) too much time on the computer...

[happy]

Adrian,

Good info, a lot to think about. Me too guilty of over exercise, low body fat, minimal nutrition, cheese, fruits, spirits, beer mostly probably not enought protein.Lots of sun too much! Little sleep in life running ragged most of the time.( Till now. )Lots of vaccinations for third world country travel yearly flu shots, also I am ashamed to say so, but in my teens(1970's) I contracted herpes which I am not sure helps my immune system. Exposure to germs via hospitals. Fell off a horse hit my head injured my neck at c6, c7. that was 4 years ago. I wasn't really a computer junkie until now either..

I read your profile and it says you are still seeking dx...is that still the case?

[DeeMichelle]

Really interesting question Donna. We have familial ALS in our family and almost everyone worked in heavy engineering industry with a lot of exposure too pollution.
Best
D

[DeeMichelle]

Hey there to all out there. I am new to join the group. I was recently diagnosed in August 2007 after going to the Mayo clinic in Minnesota. I was a spinning instructor, cheerleading coach and an administrative assistant for an accounting firm. I had sprained my ankle in one of my classes in July 2006. I went to a orthepedic for about 3 months, and he said I need to go see a neurologist. I went to several different neurologists and was not getting any better. In January 2007 went to the Cleveland Clinic in Weston, Florida to a new neurologist. I was on crutches and my left ankle was now gowing up my left leg. After being treated with IVIG gammuglobin for Feb., March, April, May,June I was not getting any better, in fact it was entirely in my left leg and my right leg was becoming weaker. I was told I need to go to the mayo clinic, and there they told me I had ALS and had 2-5 years to live. I am only 36 with 2 small children and divorced. I was devastated, still am. I am confined to a wheelchair and unable to move my lower extremities. If any of you have any advice for me, I would greatly appreciate anything. I am in severe depression, and my children are scared for mommy. I am so greatful for finding this website, and hope to make friends who are going through the same thing. This is very overwhelming. Thank youfor listening.

Hey to you seeblueeyes
I don't really have any great pearls of wisdom, but I really just want to touch base with you.
I'm really sorry to hear your story you are so young. I really hope you get the support and friendship you need from here and other support organisations.
Dx

[DeeMichelle]

Hello BlueEyes,
I know you must be overwhelmed. I can't imagine being a mother of small children with this diagnosis. You must feel devastated and helpless. You'll be amazed at the help and encouragement you will receive from people on this forum who are going through this devastation with you. Some of them are young mothers like yourself. Keep reading the posts. You will be greatly encouraged and feel much less isolated and at the same time you will learn many valuable tips which will help you to feel as if you have some control over what's happening to you. It will give you strength and inspiration to manage your life. Write whenever you need to. There are so many people here who care and will help you.
Blessings to you and your family. Take just one day at a time.
All the best,
Jane

Jane you give such good advice!
Dx

[TBear]

... my wife was a kindergarten teacher for 24 years until she could no longer walk safely. Before that a swim instructor. Had three kids and raised 4 (if you include me too).
t.

[MtPockets]

I worked as a fireman for about 10 years, drilled oil wells for an oil company, and was a Safety Engineer in Alaska on the Valdez Oil spill disaster.

[AHands]

...two bad disks in the lumbar (neck) portion of the spine...

Doh!
That should read "two bad disks in the cervical (neck) portion of the spine."

[claudiamedic]

Lots of emtional stress throughout my life
Carrier of Fragile X Syndrome and mother of three affected kids
Biology major...and helped hubby do graduate work including working with formaldehyde
Took statins (cholesterol meds)
Firefighter/paramedic
Flight paramedic/RN (jet A fuel)
ER paramedic/RN - meds, disinfectant exposures galore

Who knows.... we live in such a polluted world, unfortunately and I've always been a city dweller....

Claudia
PALS
Bulbar onset at age 43

[Al]

Welcome Claudia but sorry about your luck.
AL.

[Icanmanz]

Hi Claudia! Such a tender age my friend, and been through so much. God bless you. Welcome!

Irma

[AHands]

Who knows.... we live in such a polluted world, unfortunately and I've always been a city dweller....

Unfortunately, living outside the city may not be much better, e.g. my mom built a house with a big tin roof way out in rural Louisiana. When the crop duster swoops over the fields, you hear rata-tat-tat as the pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer bounces off that tin roof.

[stilljoyful]

I was one of the dreaded 'telemarketers'.

[PDaddy]

I still am a Product Manager for a software company, but I don't know for how much longer the way my arms are fading. ;-(

[patricia1]

medical field

[joejoe]

I have been in the supermarket industry for 24 yrs,grocery clerk,dairy frzn mgr, ast mgr, store manager.All years with the same co.

[citytom]

Psychologist with the Veterans Admin.

[jrienecker]

My father (diagnosed age 50) was in the marines for 4 years from 1975-1979 and spent 2 of those years in Japan (which is what some think may have helped this along). He worked for IBM for 26 years in New York City as a technical support manager for the new york/new jersey region.

[Carolrose]

I was a Medical Laboratory Technician, working in Microbiology. I was exposed to various chemicals, bacteria, viruses, molds, fungus, and parasites.. I often wondered if it was somehow related to being diagnosed with ALS, though I haven't heard of any other lab techs having it.

[conniej]

My brother was diagnosed in July 2005- He worked for over 20 years as a machinist. He worked for several stainless and metal working companies. I, too, thought it might be connected to the metal work. As his sister who loves him very much this all makes me very very sad.