Pregnant and terrified! Please, I need some brutal honesty

[Zaranataly]

Hello,

I posted in this forum a few months ago. I think I was 8 weeks pregnant at the time. I am now 24 weeks, and I am still having the same symptoms. They started last year during the summer. I started getting dizzy spells, headaches, and what not but it wasn't until September of 2011 that the fasiculations started all over my body. At first it was very scary and concerning but as the months have gone by I have "almost" gotten used to them. I have so many in a day it's in the range of 100+. Well I could fine and well with the fasiculations but I also have another frightening symptom... It's hard to chew and eat normally or speak. If I could record myself right now you could hear what I am talking about. I also quit my job 3 months Ago hoping for an improvement but I'm still the same. Well, the thing is that I worked with mentally I'll patients and they are not afraid to be honest. So, this one patient tells me "why do you always mumble?" and I was pretty embarassed! "enunciate the words, speak up, don't mumble!" and she had a fit of rage but that's another story. But it was after that that I realized how other people really hear me. I avoid recording myself because I just sound so awful.. And my husband thinks I have a sweet little voice ad encourages me to speak louder! I am getting really really scared. Well, besides that English is my second language and I learned it a few years ago, it's getting harder and harder to pronounce it. I can also live with a slurred speech, and fasiculations but here's another symptom: it's hard to chew and swallow. If I avoid foods that require a lot of chewing (pizza, breads, hard vegetables, apples etc) because my mouth gets tired faster and I choke easily when this happens. Weird uh?
And labour two weeks ago I started feeling pain in my left leg (the joint to be exact) and when this happens and I wake up I walk weird. I walk like a penguin when I have these pains... I would have to compare legs or ask someone to take a picture to see of there is muscle atrophy or something. So, the obgyn told me to wait until I deliver and what not but I don't think I can or I should. So next week I am finally going to a general doctor to start with the referrals to specialists.

I know none of you can diagnose me over the Internet, and that most of you talk from experience and from what yoi've read... I guess I am just looking for support and your valuable opinion on what I "might" have. Please be brutally honest with me!

I am 25 yrs old/ non-smoker/

 

[notme]

What did the OB/GYN find on exam? Anything suspicious? Did they note the slurred speech you think you have or not? ALS for someone in your age group would be beyond rare.

ALS wouldn't cause joint pain in your leg. The speech issues could be an entire host of things. See your GP. No one here can tell you anything--but I can tell you that stress isn't good for YOU or the child you're carrying.

Most with ALS choke on liquids--not solids at first. They also don't have trouble chewing--not early on. It's swallowing--so those are also things that point in your favor. They don't have headaches, either. Normally, fascis are a late sign--not an early one. Have you looked into BFS? Most common cause of twitches.

My question to you is this: If these symptoms are so worrisome, why have you not seen your GP by now?

 

[Zaranataly]

The obgyn dismissed my symptoms the same way he dismissed my silly questions and concerns about pregnancy (not very helpful doctor)

And you're right I meant that I have trouble swallowing, I get tired by chewing for log periods a
And when it comes to swallowing its hard. I have choked on liquids lots of times specially my own saliva. For example: I was drinking water yesterday and I felt as if the swallowing muscles don't touch to push the liquid/food down... You know what I mean? It's really weird.

And the slurred speech.. Oh well that is very obvious to my family now. They ask me to repeat myself over and over and yet they don't ask me if something is wrong! Maybe because hey have heard the slow decline and are adapting to it? Ughh..

Oh and the fasiculations well... As far as weakness goes my hands have felt weaker than usual. And I have some strange twitching that I hadnt felt before! About two weeks ago I grabbed a cup only to see my thumb twitching so weird like it was literally moving involuntarily. Same on my other hand.. I think it's getting worse (the over-all symptoms)

 

[notme]

And again--see a DOCTOR. There are a lot of things that can cause twitching--BFS is the most common. Twitching is a LATE sign of ALS. It happens when the muscle is dying--not early. It's accompanied by atrophy--that your doctor would have seen.

It's not ALS, I don't think=--doesn't mean there can't be something going on--even blood sugar issues since you're pregnant. No one here is going to be able to tell you more. See your personal doctor--not your Ob/Gyn

 

[HelenL]

I agree with notme, that it doesn't sound like ALS... but the swallowing could be caused by thyroid issues, which a pregnancy can bring out. Have you had a talk with your pc to see what your TH levels are? If not, I would start with that, it's simple blood test. Anxiety could be causing a lot of your symptoms to appear worse, especially if you have more time on your hands. Try to get out and get some fresh air, think about decorating the baby's room, anything to get your mind off of yourself. And make an appt with your regular doctor.

 

[KissJ]

Your symptoms don't seem like ALS. My husband has ALS and I have watching him progress, read, and learned a great deal along the way. You do need a specialist! Go to the very best that you can find! You are in my prayers! Keep us updated.

 

[Alyoop]

You do not have ALS

You are suffering from, in part, a obgyn who is not listening to your concerns, brushing you off. This should be a fantastic time for you, being pregnant.

Demand a referral, to at least put your mind at rest in regards to your fears.

 

[sadiemae]

And if you had real clinical weakness versus perceived weakness u could not even hold a coffee mug

 

[Toto's Dorothy]

Z,

I'm going to give you my 2 cents (that's about what I would pay for doc tor go og le). Surely you do realize your body is ever changing. Every day that the wee one inside of you is taking bits from you to survive. You mention how you get tired chewing your food, its possible that wee one is taking a little bit more and not leaving enough for you. Have you been checked for anemia, gestational diabetes (that's usually done about this time), blood pressure to rule out pre eclampsia? Easy tests and standard at most OB/GYN's. Also, remember wee one isn't so wee anymore and the larger the baby gets is going to add more stress on your body. I mention this because you talk about your gait issues. This will only get worse but its NORMAL, until after the baby is delivered.

You have a precious gift from GOD and you have been selected to care for him. Please don't waste this time. Its a happy time. See your GP and end the fears. And then IF you continue to have problems (remember to give your body time to recover from childbirth) then see a spec ial ist. Just don't waste the here and now. Good luck and enjoy your child. JMO

 

[Zaranataly]

Oh well.. I guess no one not even the doctor understand that my symptoms starte in September of 2011. And I got pregnant on late December of 2011. I'm going to have to risk going to the GP and waste my time to get a condescending pat on my back. "there, there neurotic pregnant woman you're just resisting the whole maternity experience"

Double face-palm!

 

[Alyoop]

Why did you come to an ALs site?
What group of symptoms do you have that makes you think you may have it?
What exactly did your doctor say?

No need to be condescending, when a bunch of sick dying people or their caregivers try to give you advice and stop you being so dramatic. Wasn't it you who wanted honesty? I dont think you do ? Your doctor has probably been honest with his opinion, but are you listening? Probably not

I told you to go insist on a referral, so stop feeling sorry for yourself and go get that referral. You need to listen and stop diagnosing yourself off the Internet.

 

[seaside]

Why have you not mentioned anything about your neurological exam on Feb 17?