My second thread and requested updates...

[LifesWorthLiving]

So many folks asked for an update on how things are going with my appts. Well today was the new gp, he found weakness present in the right arm. He was quite sure of it. He noted my other symptoms. I told him i wasnt sure if i was over analyzing anything. His response was, not in my office, if you have a concern we address it. He sched. me an mri on thursday. From my understanding mri wont be diagnostic of als but can rule out many other things. Boat load of labs....which i had drawn immediatly after i left his office, and sent my papers to a neurologist for an emg i will probably have next week.

Do emg results get read by the neuro a bedside?

Scary but moving along...thanks for caring and wanting to know whats going on....

 

[momap53]

I had MRI of brain,cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. some with and without contrast to rule out other issues.

2 out of the three EMG/NCV I had done were performed by the Neurologist himself so the answers were immediately available.

Good luck!

 

[notme]

The EMG can be discussed with you immediately if it's done by the neurologist, which I highly recommend.

 

[LifesWorthLiving]

Its is being done by a neuro that specializes in mnds

 

[LifesWorthLiving]

One other update my uncle who died of als had and uncle that died from a neurological disorder. They never knew what is was exactly. Way to far back. The good news the uncle that died of an unknown was not als(ill explain)....well thats not good news but you folks know what i mean....it was something brought on by several surgeries on his spine and possibly numerous drug trials. Another note my perceived slurred speech, well i think i slur pretty regularlly, but i have symptoms in my arm as well. Als starts in the extremities or bulbar but not both. Something is wrong....and night sweats could indicate lyme. Or my gp said perhaps thorasic outlet syndrome....disc issues etc. i made an appt to see my ptsd doc for tomm. Little therapy never hurts to calm ya down......ill be in touch

 

[momap53]

Is anyone else noticing your "perceived" difficulties with speech? Many say that they themselves didn't notice the speech issues until someone else pointed them out.
Glad you're making a visit to your therapist. Good luck.

 

[LifesWorthLiving]

No ones noticed so to say but i have been getting a lot of "huhs" and "i thought you saids"......again its something i dont know if im over analyzing or not. The one person thats open and honest with me throughout...said she hasnt heard a change or a slur, my wife.

 

[LifesWorthLiving]

Honestly i think i notice it more than anyone....im very well aware chronic anxiety makes a tounge feel heavy and speech to feel slurred or actually slur.

 

[rott]

LifesWorthLiving...

I am in the same boat as you. My weakness, or perceived weakness, started in both knees. Along with my other symptoms that i won't go into, i also have a perceived problem with my speech. I have had this problem for several months now, and like you nobody has noticed (wife, pcp, neurologist).

I hope everything goes well.

 

[LifesWorthLiving]

Have the neuros sad maybe? Hows your emg look?

 

[rott]

My neurologist said he believes that i don't and should not worry about having ALS. My emg came back normal; it was of my right leg and right arm. Still very, very frustrating. I am going to another neurologist for a second opinion here in a couple weeks.

 

[LifesWorthLiving]

Yeah i understand frustration....i just hope this right arm thats been getting worse is just a pinched nerve or a slipped disc.

Anxiety....blows,
Als really blows.....
A pinched nerve or slipped disc is more common for what i have going on......i just keep reminding myself of that.....

 

[LifesWorthLiving]

update......mri and labs negative.......emg tommorow at 9am

 

[LifesWorthLiving]

the emg is a regular neuro but my doc would like me to see an als specialist in the area forr a second opinion. 1 to get a second set of eyes on the emg and 2 to put my fearss to bed......oh yeah 3, figure out what the hellis wrong with my right arm

 

[TedH5]

putting a "2nd set of eyes" on an emg is in my uneducated opinion worthless unless the 2 Dr's have a relationship and trust the others work. An "emg is not like an x - ray or an mri were you can take the "picture" with you and analyze the picture regardless of who took it. An EMG's results are really dependent upon the tester and their experience and skill level. Yes you get a print out but it is only a print out of what that tester found.

I do not mean to be rude but unless something comes up as questionable on the emg the additional appt seems like over kill.

I wish you luck and hope everything comes back normal.