Flip4it
Member
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2012
- Messages
- 14
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- Maryland
- City
- Myersville
I'm hoping to meet some people on here that may be going through the same thing as me. For at least a year I repeatedly complained to my doctor about weakness in my hand. He kept ignoring me. Last summer I still went camping canoeing etc...worked an average 14 to 15 hours per day. Starting in October in addition to my hands, my left arm went weak then my right hand and right arm. Now it's almost February. I'm unable to work. I am suffering from severe muscle waste in my forearms, hands, biceps and shoulders. I look like a skeleton above the waist. Now my left foot is atrophying and the muscles in my calves are very thin. It looks disgusting. I still have an appetite. I have been referred to the University of Md. I went to the emergency room a couple days ago because my speech became so slurred my son demanded that I go. They acted pissed off because I showed up before my appt. It's taking forever to get an appointment. Just hurry up and wait as I am wasting away. This is crazy! I'm so scared because now you can see what looks like a worm crawling under my skin....it's my muscles doing this. Something is ravaging my body. I hold my arms close and clenched to my body because in December I have delveloped severe twitching and muscle spasms. They get so bad I swear to God I look like Linda Blair on the bed. I am so upset because I can't seem to get these doctors to understand this is an emergency. I just hear "Oh it takes a while to get an appointment". Neurologist referred me to U of Md. with a "nueromuscular movement disorder" but afraid to tell me what it is. My body just seems to do what it wants and no matter how hard I try, I can't stop it. Now my left foot turns inward and my arms and legs are so rigid with no relief. I don't want to believe that I have ALS but the lesions on my mri aren't typical of MS. I'm scared to death because without question there is something terribly wrong. I can still swallow but have difficulty speaking and my tongue feels thick. Doctors keep asking me about swallowing. How long does it take to get diagnosed? Do you ever have relief from constant muscle rigidity and twitching with ALS? My family is so upset because I don't even look the same. I get sick when I look at a picture that was just taken last September. Definitely not a hypochondriac...ya can't fake severe muscle atrophy. What the hell is wrong with these doctors? It's all driving me to the brink of insanity. Every day....I think.....am I going to get better? So desperate, I'm ready to fly to Mayo Clinic. Any suggestions?:?: