MangiPNG
Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2009
- Messages
- 11
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- OR
- City
- Portland
At this point drs say I don’t have ALS but I’m curious to hear your opinion about my recent breathing issues. I’m a 35 yr old male and my condition started rapidly in November 2008 with mild cramping in the calf, diffuse muscle twitching (no pattern, rapid, and head-to-toe), lots of burning pain, and later developed sever globus in my throat. I’ve had all the usual tests (EMG/NCS x2, both normal), MRIs, barium swallow/nasal scope, blood work, etc. etc., etc...all unremarkable.
Overtime my condition seems to have improved but in November 2009 my tongue started twitching and shortly thereafter I developed a strange and unexplained cough that last for a couple months. Now, I’ve developed this breathing issue where it feels like my breathing is stuttering when I inhale e.g., kind of like when someone cries really hard and they breathe in increments...if that makes sense. The severity and intensity varies but I have been woken up at night sleep because of it. It hasn't prevented me from working out but it's really odd and somewhat of a concern.
My PCP suspects I might be dealing with esophageal spasms because I also have intermittent chest pain associated with it, and I’m scheduled to have an endoscopy, a manometry study (checking motility) and a 24 hour pH study in the esophagus starting next week. I’m NOT slurring my words or having trouble swallowing and there doesn't appear to be atrophy in my tongue (although it looks weird, but I guess all tongues do). I'm still dealing with the diffuse muscle twitching, but it's mellowed out a lot, and my calf muscles have felt like they chronically have lactic acid build up in them for the past few days (a somewhat recent addition to my condition, and no, I haven't been excessively working out).
Any clues as to what might be causing the breathing issues? Anyone dealt with a similar problem? Any advise?
Thanks!
Overtime my condition seems to have improved but in November 2009 my tongue started twitching and shortly thereafter I developed a strange and unexplained cough that last for a couple months. Now, I’ve developed this breathing issue where it feels like my breathing is stuttering when I inhale e.g., kind of like when someone cries really hard and they breathe in increments...if that makes sense. The severity and intensity varies but I have been woken up at night sleep because of it. It hasn't prevented me from working out but it's really odd and somewhat of a concern.
My PCP suspects I might be dealing with esophageal spasms because I also have intermittent chest pain associated with it, and I’m scheduled to have an endoscopy, a manometry study (checking motility) and a 24 hour pH study in the esophagus starting next week. I’m NOT slurring my words or having trouble swallowing and there doesn't appear to be atrophy in my tongue (although it looks weird, but I guess all tongues do). I'm still dealing with the diffuse muscle twitching, but it's mellowed out a lot, and my calf muscles have felt like they chronically have lactic acid build up in them for the past few days (a somewhat recent addition to my condition, and no, I haven't been excessively working out).
Any clues as to what might be causing the breathing issues? Anyone dealt with a similar problem? Any advise?
Thanks!
