witzz
Member
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2007
- Messages
- 19
- Reason
- Loved one DX
- Diagnosis
- 06/2007
- Country
- US
- State
- NY
- City
- New York City
Hi all,
Thanks for your support these past months. My mother died of ALS in February 2008 and I miss her like crazy. It's good to know that there are people out there who understand.
I'm writing today because I have a friend who's been having symptoms that scream "ALS!" to me. It started out that she was having problems with her voice, and also with breathing. She went to an ENT and they didn't know what was wrong with her. They recommended a neurologist, who also looked at her and couldn't figure it out. Some months later, she fell while exercising. Her leg just gave out. Some time after that, she was getting out of a car and dropped her purse. Now she says she's having trouble writing and doing things with her hands, that her "fingers don't work." Her voice comes and goes and she still has problems breathing.
I listened to her and did everything short of grabbing her and saying "you must see a motor neuron specialist NOW!" But I suspect that ALS could be a possibility for her and I know that the diagnosis is hard, but it comes with a lot of help and services.
But I guess what I'm wondering is, how do I KNOW she has ALS? Am I just finding it under every rock because of my mom? And even if she does, how hard should I press her to go see someone who's knowledgeable about this stuff?
What would you do in this situation?
Thanks so much,
Witzz
Thanks for your support these past months. My mother died of ALS in February 2008 and I miss her like crazy. It's good to know that there are people out there who understand.
I'm writing today because I have a friend who's been having symptoms that scream "ALS!" to me. It started out that she was having problems with her voice, and also with breathing. She went to an ENT and they didn't know what was wrong with her. They recommended a neurologist, who also looked at her and couldn't figure it out. Some months later, she fell while exercising. Her leg just gave out. Some time after that, she was getting out of a car and dropped her purse. Now she says she's having trouble writing and doing things with her hands, that her "fingers don't work." Her voice comes and goes and she still has problems breathing.
I listened to her and did everything short of grabbing her and saying "you must see a motor neuron specialist NOW!" But I suspect that ALS could be a possibility for her and I know that the diagnosis is hard, but it comes with a lot of help and services.
But I guess what I'm wondering is, how do I KNOW she has ALS? Am I just finding it under every rock because of my mom? And even if she does, how hard should I press her to go see someone who's knowledgeable about this stuff?
What would you do in this situation?
Thanks so much,
Witzz