robg
New member
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2011
- Messages
- 5
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- UK
- State
- North Somerset
- City
- weston-super-mare
I have been worried about als for years, about 20 years in fact, but it's really only now that it is proving impossible to get over my fears. For the last 8 years I have had a range of symptoms -weakness and stiffness, which I have managed through exercise and careful allocation of my time to working and resting activities. However, recently, the stiffness I experience around my forehead area has become almost intolerable -it gets worse the more I read/write/speak, and my diaphragm/intercostal muscles have become weaker and sort of 'thicker', less responsive.
I can feel a muscle, whichever one it is, getting progressively more strained and stressed, then it 'gives' and I usually get a rush of adrenaline, fear, panic, etc (although this was particularly bad before, it is less so now). This spirals down into further anxiety and insomnia, more fatigue, etc. There is no nerve pain, although I do have lots of twitches which I disregard mostly -it's the severe stiffness around my forehead that I can't tolerate.
I have had several emgs, the last being about 4 years ago, and this was clear. However, in the light of the recent changes, I may go to the doctor and ask him for another. It's the stiffness I can't stand, although more subjective stuff like diaphragm weakness is also scary, and there seems to be a link between the two muscle areas, which is very odd.
Does anyone have any ideas about how to relax this area -I seem to find that the more I relax it, the stiffer it later feels, and this drives me mad. I have tried meditation and I am good at 'imaging' the area to try and relax it, but really nothing seems to change the discomfort, and as mentioned, often makes it worse. There isn't really any muscle there as such, which makes it hard to relax.
I know I am currently lucky compared to the incredible bravery of the people on these boards, I know that ALS tends to be more rapid than this and believe me I do NOT want this illness, I know there is an element of anxiety involved in this, but I also know there is an underlying and generally gradually progressive issue underlying my state. But if it's not ALS, what is it? Any advice or comments to give any kind of insight would be really welcome.
Thanks
Rob
I can feel a muscle, whichever one it is, getting progressively more strained and stressed, then it 'gives' and I usually get a rush of adrenaline, fear, panic, etc (although this was particularly bad before, it is less so now). This spirals down into further anxiety and insomnia, more fatigue, etc. There is no nerve pain, although I do have lots of twitches which I disregard mostly -it's the severe stiffness around my forehead that I can't tolerate.
I have had several emgs, the last being about 4 years ago, and this was clear. However, in the light of the recent changes, I may go to the doctor and ask him for another. It's the stiffness I can't stand, although more subjective stuff like diaphragm weakness is also scary, and there seems to be a link between the two muscle areas, which is very odd.
Does anyone have any ideas about how to relax this area -I seem to find that the more I relax it, the stiffer it later feels, and this drives me mad. I have tried meditation and I am good at 'imaging' the area to try and relax it, but really nothing seems to change the discomfort, and as mentioned, often makes it worse. There isn't really any muscle there as such, which makes it hard to relax.
I know I am currently lucky compared to the incredible bravery of the people on these boards, I know that ALS tends to be more rapid than this and believe me I do NOT want this illness, I know there is an element of anxiety involved in this, but I also know there is an underlying and generally gradually progressive issue underlying my state. But if it's not ALS, what is it? Any advice or comments to give any kind of insight would be really welcome.
Thanks
Rob