bellaxo
Member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2011
- Messages
- 13
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- new york
- City
- new york
I'm currently extremely stressed out about what my diagnosis will turn out to be but I know something's going on.... A little about me:
24/f
For the past 2,3 years (but much worse recently) I've been suffering from extreme fatigue (physically & mentally), brain fog, hair loss, dull headaches and severe anxiety. Just a week ago tested positive for Lymes with 1 reactive iGM band (23). Everything I've read indicates this is probably a chronic case of Lymes which wasn't caught early enough (which would explain the on going symptoms) and I have an appointment with an established Lyme's doctor in 2 weeks to hopefully begin long term Antibiotics right away.
My problem is I've noticed some obvious similarities to my own symptoms and ALS and I was hoping for some insight. I FREAKED out when I read mercury can be a potential trigger as I currently have 4 silver fillings in my mouth. I know Lymes can mimic ALS but I don't think it can mimic the hand ATROPHY seen in both of my frail painfully thin hands. I never even thought to consider the fact that my 24 year old hands look like a 50 year olds! when I look at my hands palm facing me the only bulge apparent is my thumb base muscle (?) the rest of the palm is almost completely flat, actually the palm even slopes inwards in the centers...After looking at pics of myself from even 2 years ago, it's very obvious they have thinned out (no weight change) I also have quite a bit of webbing (excess skin) in between my thumb & forefingers... I'm petrified..... Another odd symptom is on & off dull/numb feeling on the inner forearm of my right arm (like where they would put an IV or take blood) that area has been giving me a weird sensations, I wouldn't say pain or weakness but almost like someone tied a rubber band around the arm and is cutting off circulation and it feels kind of tingly like I can feel the blood rushing through my arms. This has also occurred in my left arm in that spot, sometimes both, gets worse when stressed but I know I'm not imagining it. Does this sound like ALS? I wouldn't have suspected it if it weren't for the hand atrophy/mercury fillings.
Also, what type of Doctor typically diagnoses this disease?
Any help/insight would be MUCH appreciated
Pics coming in next post..
24/f
For the past 2,3 years (but much worse recently) I've been suffering from extreme fatigue (physically & mentally), brain fog, hair loss, dull headaches and severe anxiety. Just a week ago tested positive for Lymes with 1 reactive iGM band (23). Everything I've read indicates this is probably a chronic case of Lymes which wasn't caught early enough (which would explain the on going symptoms) and I have an appointment with an established Lyme's doctor in 2 weeks to hopefully begin long term Antibiotics right away.
My problem is I've noticed some obvious similarities to my own symptoms and ALS and I was hoping for some insight. I FREAKED out when I read mercury can be a potential trigger as I currently have 4 silver fillings in my mouth. I know Lymes can mimic ALS but I don't think it can mimic the hand ATROPHY seen in both of my frail painfully thin hands. I never even thought to consider the fact that my 24 year old hands look like a 50 year olds! when I look at my hands palm facing me the only bulge apparent is my thumb base muscle (?) the rest of the palm is almost completely flat, actually the palm even slopes inwards in the centers...After looking at pics of myself from even 2 years ago, it's very obvious they have thinned out (no weight change) I also have quite a bit of webbing (excess skin) in between my thumb & forefingers... I'm petrified..... Another odd symptom is on & off dull/numb feeling on the inner forearm of my right arm (like where they would put an IV or take blood) that area has been giving me a weird sensations, I wouldn't say pain or weakness but almost like someone tied a rubber band around the arm and is cutting off circulation and it feels kind of tingly like I can feel the blood rushing through my arms. This has also occurred in my left arm in that spot, sometimes both, gets worse when stressed but I know I'm not imagining it. Does this sound like ALS? I wouldn't have suspected it if it weren't for the hand atrophy/mercury fillings.
Also, what type of Doctor typically diagnoses this disease?
Any help/insight would be MUCH appreciated
Pics coming in next post..