punt53
New member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2010
- Messages
- 6
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- OR
- City
- Portland
Hi Everyone -
My GP referred me to a neurologist after examining me and saying something to the effect of "whatever it is, I think we've caught it early." With that said, I have to wait 4 more weeks to see the neurologist (it's been three already) and time is weighing heavily on me.
I'd appreciate people's thoughts on my symptoms, and whether my symptoms relate to them. I'll try to be inclusive and list everything.
1. First symptom started in the beginning of August this year. I woke up and my left thumb was twitching. Thought it would go away, it didn't. The twitching (which my GP said were "fasciculations") have since spread everywhere in my body. Feet, calves, rear-end, arms, face, you name it. They vary from large thumpers that move the affected area a small amount, to tiny little repeated twitches.
2. Sore neck, back and left calf. The neck and back seem to have resolved. The left calf bothers me from time to time and feels like it's about to cramp up, but never has.
3. About a month ago I cut the hedge outside and the hedge trimmer seemed heavy-ish but I finished OK. When I put the trimmer down and went to text my Wife my right hand (that was holding the trimmer) went to all out tremors and I physically couldn't text. These shakes were very different from the usual twitches or fasciculations I get. After I rested for 10-15 minutes everything was ok.
4. Mouth Stuff - In the morning I typically wake up with a very dry mouth. This always goes away at some point and turns into excess saliva where I actually have to concentrate on swallowing. Sometimes my mouth - in terms of dryness/saliva feels more or less OK. Tongue seems to jump around a bit, and occasionally I think I have a slight lisp and perhaps even spitting when I talk. For around a week or two I also had the constant sense of drool at the corner of my mouth. This resolved, and I never actually drooled. Lately my voice has been pretty hoarse. It seems to kind of come and go. If I have a long stressful conversation I can start sounding like Dirty Harry. But other times I sound sort of OK. Depends on how much I've been talking. Drinking water actually seems to help soothe out the hoarseness. Speaking of drinking water, sometimes when I drink it, it feels like it's coming up my left nostril. Might just be in my head, but I do feel as though I need to blow my nose sometimes after drinking water (not so much with thicker liquids).
Thanks in advance for all who take the time to respond. Those of you who have been diagnosed, my thoughts are with you. I can't imagine the difficulties of walking the ALS path.
My GP referred me to a neurologist after examining me and saying something to the effect of "whatever it is, I think we've caught it early." With that said, I have to wait 4 more weeks to see the neurologist (it's been three already) and time is weighing heavily on me.
I'd appreciate people's thoughts on my symptoms, and whether my symptoms relate to them. I'll try to be inclusive and list everything.
1. First symptom started in the beginning of August this year. I woke up and my left thumb was twitching. Thought it would go away, it didn't. The twitching (which my GP said were "fasciculations") have since spread everywhere in my body. Feet, calves, rear-end, arms, face, you name it. They vary from large thumpers that move the affected area a small amount, to tiny little repeated twitches.
2. Sore neck, back and left calf. The neck and back seem to have resolved. The left calf bothers me from time to time and feels like it's about to cramp up, but never has.
3. About a month ago I cut the hedge outside and the hedge trimmer seemed heavy-ish but I finished OK. When I put the trimmer down and went to text my Wife my right hand (that was holding the trimmer) went to all out tremors and I physically couldn't text. These shakes were very different from the usual twitches or fasciculations I get. After I rested for 10-15 minutes everything was ok.
4. Mouth Stuff - In the morning I typically wake up with a very dry mouth. This always goes away at some point and turns into excess saliva where I actually have to concentrate on swallowing. Sometimes my mouth - in terms of dryness/saliva feels more or less OK. Tongue seems to jump around a bit, and occasionally I think I have a slight lisp and perhaps even spitting when I talk. For around a week or two I also had the constant sense of drool at the corner of my mouth. This resolved, and I never actually drooled. Lately my voice has been pretty hoarse. It seems to kind of come and go. If I have a long stressful conversation I can start sounding like Dirty Harry. But other times I sound sort of OK. Depends on how much I've been talking. Drinking water actually seems to help soothe out the hoarseness. Speaking of drinking water, sometimes when I drink it, it feels like it's coming up my left nostril. Might just be in my head, but I do feel as though I need to blow my nose sometimes after drinking water (not so much with thicker liquids).
Thanks in advance for all who take the time to respond. Those of you who have been diagnosed, my thoughts are with you. I can't imagine the difficulties of walking the ALS path.
