concernedinOhio
New member
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2011
- Messages
- 3
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- Ohio
- City
- Delaware
Having been to my GP and a Neurologist and now awaiting an EMG, I am looking for some insight from those who have been through this before and hope you'll indulge a bit of back story.
I'm a 35 year-old father of two. About eight weeks ago I thought I was detecting some oddness in my speech. As an attorney, I'm talking pretty much all day and sensed that I was having some elongated S's. I'm not sure whether I would call that slurred speech or not. Neither my co-workers nor my wife and children noticed anything odd.
After about four weeks, I called my doctor. He did a quick examination in the office and, noting I had no signs of muscle weakness ordered blood work and a head CT. Both were normal and he told me "no follow-up is necessary". I wasn't satisfied with that answer and he referred me to a neurologist.
My Neuro appointment was eight days ago. The neurologist conducted what seemed to be a very thorough exam in her office. She noted no weakness or atrophy of my tongue or facial muscles and also noted no speech issues (and I didn't feel they were present in her office). She told me that she thought I was fine, but considering my high anxiety level she would order an EMG for my piece of mind.
The speech problems continue. They seem to be confined to the letter S in combination with other consonant sounds- ST, RS, etc. Words like "first" are the worst and feel flattened out at the back of my tongue. Even when I feel like I've slurred a word and point it out to my wife she says it sounded totally normal to her.
About five days ago I started to notice that I was hoarse at various times throughout the day and that I'm doing a LOT of throat clearing particularly in the 30-60 minutes after eating. I'm not having any trouble swallowing nor am I choking when eating, etc. I am clearing gunk out of my throat at times. The trouble does not occur after every meal, but after many and there is some dry cough too.
I should point out that I am very anxious about this and the potential for my anxiety to make these symptoms worse is very real. What the neuro noted eight days ago remains true. I can stick out my tongue, touch it to the roof of my mouth, swish it quickly from side to side, pooch out my cheeks with it, curl it, roll my R's with it, etc. I can recite tongue twisters and such. Today I even served as the narrator for a concert being done by my local symphony and while I got lots of pats on the back for that, no one said anything about my speech. In fact, when I'm able to concentrate on something else, my speech seems normal, then later it seems awful again.
I was ready to stop worrying, but then the hoarseness, coughing and throat clearing started and now I'm as anxious as before the neuro appointment. EMG is on April 7th.
Any insight that can be provided by those who know more about this than me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your wonderful assistance!
I'm a 35 year-old father of two. About eight weeks ago I thought I was detecting some oddness in my speech. As an attorney, I'm talking pretty much all day and sensed that I was having some elongated S's. I'm not sure whether I would call that slurred speech or not. Neither my co-workers nor my wife and children noticed anything odd.
After about four weeks, I called my doctor. He did a quick examination in the office and, noting I had no signs of muscle weakness ordered blood work and a head CT. Both were normal and he told me "no follow-up is necessary". I wasn't satisfied with that answer and he referred me to a neurologist.
My Neuro appointment was eight days ago. The neurologist conducted what seemed to be a very thorough exam in her office. She noted no weakness or atrophy of my tongue or facial muscles and also noted no speech issues (and I didn't feel they were present in her office). She told me that she thought I was fine, but considering my high anxiety level she would order an EMG for my piece of mind.
The speech problems continue. They seem to be confined to the letter S in combination with other consonant sounds- ST, RS, etc. Words like "first" are the worst and feel flattened out at the back of my tongue. Even when I feel like I've slurred a word and point it out to my wife she says it sounded totally normal to her.
About five days ago I started to notice that I was hoarse at various times throughout the day and that I'm doing a LOT of throat clearing particularly in the 30-60 minutes after eating. I'm not having any trouble swallowing nor am I choking when eating, etc. I am clearing gunk out of my throat at times. The trouble does not occur after every meal, but after many and there is some dry cough too.
I should point out that I am very anxious about this and the potential for my anxiety to make these symptoms worse is very real. What the neuro noted eight days ago remains true. I can stick out my tongue, touch it to the roof of my mouth, swish it quickly from side to side, pooch out my cheeks with it, curl it, roll my R's with it, etc. I can recite tongue twisters and such. Today I even served as the narrator for a concert being done by my local symphony and while I got lots of pats on the back for that, no one said anything about my speech. In fact, when I'm able to concentrate on something else, my speech seems normal, then later it seems awful again.
I was ready to stop worrying, but then the hoarseness, coughing and throat clearing started and now I'm as anxious as before the neuro appointment. EMG is on April 7th.
Any insight that can be provided by those who know more about this than me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your wonderful assistance!