Thanks in advance

[omgkutsu]

...for dealing with wireless like me daily.

I would first like to state that I have read the stickies! Also, I am in awe of the patience and fortitude that so many of the users here clearly possess.

With all that said, I still have a few questions about my symptoms. About a month ago, I began feeling extremely tired. My muscles would be sore for two days just from walking up a single flight of stairs, and my arms would ache and feel intensely heavy from washing my hair, or holding the TV remote out in front of me. It was difficult to work out, and now three weeks later it just seems gradually to be getting worse. My legs feel like jello when I walk, and my arms tire out at the slightest use. My muscles get sore very easily, and I have lost maybe 5-6 lbs. As of today, part of my face around one side of my mouth feels heavy and numb, though I am not slurring yet.

I found it weird that this came over my legs and
my shoulders at once, and my neck too. I know ALS often starts in one place, yet one needs three affected areas for a diagnosis. I can't pinpoint one area that came first, but does my last month sound like ALS to anyone else? I know my
weakness may just be perceived, but it isn't normal for a 21 year old to barely be able to hold up a laptop. I also don't know how fast ALS generally spreads in the beginning.

Thanks everyone.

 

[omgkutsu]

"for dealing with WORRIERS*..."

Sorry for the autocorrect on my phone.

 

[trfogey]

No, your symptoms don't sound like ALS, and I have no idea why you would think that they do. ALS doesn't start all over your body at once. It begins in a hand or a foot or in your tongue and progresses toward the rest of the body from there.

Go to your primary care physician and get a thorough physical.

 

[omgkutsu]

Well, I did visit him about 1.5 weeks ago. My CBC was checked, along with my thyroid and total metabolic counts (kidney and liver function). I don't necessarily think this HAS to be ALS, but weakness is my primary symptom. G o o g l e will tell you "AAAAALLLLLSSSSS!1" based on "weakness." I guess I was wondering if clinical weakness is preceded by "reduced tolerance."

I lean towards the hypochondriacal side-I freely admit. It's just a bit unnerving when some sources say that "ALS initially presents differently in each individual." Perhaps this explains the abundance of otherwise intelligent folk who misinterpret their symptoms? Besides, nobody is going to worry himself sick or obsess over
a disease that isn't fatal!

Thank you for your feedback; I am not disagreeing! I just generically worry. But it's true that nothing is paralyzed yet, but people say it "creeps in slowly." How exactly would that even feel?

 

[ktmj]

There are many treatable things that DO come on that fast with weakness. ALS does not. Persist with your GP until you head in a direction where you find the help you need. It might be neurological, but not necessarily. And it is not ALS.

 

[trfogey]

I don't necessarily think this HAS to be ALS, but weakness is my primary symptom. G o o g l e will tell you "AAAAALLLLLSSSSS!1" based on "weakness." I guess I was wondering if clinical weakness is preceded by "reduced tolerance."

You have to pass over a lot of other causes of muscle weakness before you get to ALS on the search engines. At your age, you're far more likely to have something like post-viral syndrome or chronic fatigue syndrome than you are to have ALS or any MND.

Besides, what you describe here isn't weakness, but rather a lack of muscular endurance (loss of stamina) or possibly exercise intolerance. They are very different concepts and, obviously, have other causes.

I lean towards the hypochondriacal side-I freely admit.

Seriously entertaining the possibility of having ALS at your age and with your symptoms isn't leaning toward hypochondria: it's a headlong leap off the cliff into health anxiety. You should consider getting some help with that.

It's just a bit unnerving when some sources say that "ALS initially presents differently in each individual." Perhaps this explains the abundance of otherwise intelligent folk who misinterpret their symptoms?

What sources say that? While ALS progresses differently in each individual, the types of initial presentations are actually quite limited and vary mainly by body part affected and the type of motor neuron damage causing the symptoms.

But it's true that nothing is paralyzed yet, but people say it "creeps in slowly." How exactly would that even feel?

Body parts simply stop working properly. In my case, the first manifestation was the inability to button a particular button on a shirt with one hand. It's not quite "one day I could do it and the next day I couldn't", but it surely does feel like it sometimes.

 

[omgkutsu]

My Internet is down, and I am doing this from my phone. I can't provide you the link, but alsa.org states:

"The initial symptoms of ALS can be quite varied in different people." I've seen several others that state this, though granted it's such a vague description.

I was really worried about the side of my mouth, too. It's feels funny like after one returns from the dentist and it is paralyzed/numb. One side of the mouth won't frown, though this just came on today. I am hoping it will go away. Considering that my arms and legs are both FEELING weak, I guess this doesn't point to ALS. I wouldn't be experiencing weird body performance all over at this point.

 

[omgkutsu]

I sincerely do hope that the facial numbness/heaviness isn't a symptom of ALS. It just happened suddenly and feels like I just came from the dentist! It could also be anxiety-induced though I suppose.

 

[trfogey]

My Internet is down, and I am doing this from my phone. I can't provide you the link, but alsa.org states:

"The initial symptoms of ALS can be quite varied in different people." I've seen several others that state this, though granted it's such a vague description.

Well, given that there are at least six regions of the body (two arms, two legs, bulbar, and respiratory) and three types of motor neuron involvement (LMN only, UMN only, and both LMN and UMN involvement), we start with 18 basic presentations. Take into account the possibility of subclinical findings in other regions through EMG and the possibility of quicker than normal progression leading to multiple regions being involved early and the number of variations rises very quickly.

I was really worried about the side of my mouth, too. It's feels funny like after one returns from the dentist and it is paralyzed/numb. One side of the mouth won't frown, though this just came on today. I am hoping it will go away. Considering that my arms and legs are both FEELING weak, I guess this doesn't point to ALS. I wouldn't be experiencing weird body performance all over at this point.

As I recommended before, go see your primary care provider and get his/her evaluation of your situation. If you need evaluation by a specialist, you'll get the referrals you need more quickly that way. A computer and an Internet connection is no substitute for a doctor's evaluation and can, in fact, make it more difficult for your doctor to come to a diagnosis.

Good luck to you.

 

[lydia]

Omg, if part of your mouth is not working, and you can't frown on one side, you need to get to the doctor's office. Call and tell the nurse, she will probably fit you in for a visit today.
Good luck-

 

[kmendsley]

Your symptoms are waaayyy to fast for ALS. I am not saying that there is not something wrong...I am saying that you don't have ALS. Has your dr. checked into Guillian Barre Syndrome? Also get your: Viatmin levels checked...specifically B12 and Potassium...these have to be ordered special ..they are not done in a 'normal' blood test scan.

Numbness is a sensory issue that is NOT related to ALS. Again...look into Guillian Barre Syndrome if your symtpoms are progressing that quickly. And your weakness you won't know if it is perceived until you go into dr. and have them check your strength. They will be able to tell you if you have 'clinical weakness' or 'perceived fatigue'. Good luck to you.

 

[notme]

Kellbell
, almost any routine series of bloodwork does include a potassium level. It is almost always checked in any panel. Electrolytes and CBC are the most common tests ordered. Potassium is one of the four done, along with sodium and glucose.

for the new poster. ALS would not have the sudden symptoms you describe, but if you have sudden omset of partial paralysis in your face...CALL your doctor. It can mean nothing, but it can also be very serious.

 

[kmendsley]

notme yes that is true that is does include it usually. I usually bring it up though because for some odd reason when I went through blood tests no one cared to include or maybe look at the potassium which led to it going so dangerously low that my heart stopped. I just wanted to inform those that might not know that it is important to 'double check' and make sure potassium is okay on the blood test...thanks for the input

 

[tdamess]

i hope you get to see a good doctor , has he got any explantions as to what is happening or more test send you to a specialtist , most of it sounds like thyroid but not all maybe other regions of the thyroid system and numbess may be a little low i get that when i fall aslep sitting up with out my bi-pap on something is going on for sure but , it is not als push doctor to find a root cause of your problems