Having Very Strange Symptoms

[hieveryone]

Hi Everyone,

I am a 27 year otherwise healthy male, and just wanted to reach out and ask if anyone has experienced anything similar or might know what is going on with me.

My symptoms started about 2 months ago with a pins and needles feeling in my foot which quickly spread over the course of a couple days to include my left leg and foot, my arm my chest, neck, and face. The numbness was felt on both sides but was more prominent on my left. I also had considerable lower, middle, and upper spine (where the spine meets the base of the skull) pain. Rapid heart rate and the perceived inability to swallow on one occasion, and considerable fatigue I couldn't do any sort of physical activity without being out of breath.
My symptoms would to me seem like they came in waves or sudden attacks where for a good portion of the day I would feel fine then all of a sudden I would feel the numbness creep up and the other symptoms would follow.
This prompted me to first see a general doctor who said they found low levels of vitamin D, B12, and signs of an autoimmune disease. A couple days later symptoms got so bad I went to the ER where they did a CT scan which was fine and bloodwork which was also fine. He referred me to a neurologist.

Now here's where ALS comes to mind.

I put off seeing a neurologist because my symptoms seemed to subside for about a month's time where I felt pretty normal, still felt fatigued but and still had a bit of foot numbness but for the most part felt fine.
Fast forward to now and my symptoms have returned but now I am having even more symptoms and they feel as though they are rapidly progressing.
I started having bodywide muscle fasciculations about a week ago my legs, arms, back, face etc would all twitch. The twitches seemed to had settled in my legs for a while but now are all over again. I get them in my temples, above my ear, back, arms all over.
I now feel like I can barely stand for more than a short period of time without my legs feeling like rubber. The bottom of my feet feel a sort of numb pain.
My feet will feel very cold, and almost like they are wet at times but this comes and goes.
I also get a burning sensation in my thighs as though I've worked out the muscle when I haven't.
Nausea/Lightheadedness - I feel slightly nauseous some of the time my just an uneasy sickness sort of feel.
Stomach - My stomach will make lots of gurgling noises, it seems like it twitches with everything else and I feel like I have urgency to go to the bathroom.
Stiffness - I feel very arthritic most mornings especially after I wake up it feels like my joints are very stiff and it takes some stretching/moving around to loosen them up. This usually only lasts in the morning. I've also noticed the ring and pinky fingers on my left hand seem to be stiff and starting to curl in, as I wake up in the mornings. But this also goes away after a short period.

I've read up on a lot of different disorders that could present the same symptoms i.e. lupus, lyme, MS, but I am not getting any of the tell tail signs of any of those disorders.

So my question is maybe someone has had similar symptoms and could possibly point me in the right direction.

Thanks

 

[vickim]

I would go see the neurologist. They will test for everything. It is a process of elimination and may take a while to pin down. Try not to stress too much about it because that can make your symp toms worse. I know easier said than done but stress can make you really sick.

Keep a journal of your symp toms... when they start, how long it lasts, what you were doing. this gives the dr a timeline and helps when you are being bombarded with questions and trying to recall from memory.

 

[hieveryone]

Hi Vicki thanks for the reply.

I try not to stress out about it but at times it is very hard not to.

And thanks for the advice I will start to write down all of my symptoms when they happen so I won't forget.

 

[sadiemae]

Go to aboutBFS.com. Benign Fasticulation Syndrome. Sensory issues point away from ALS.

 

[notme]

HI

If your blood tests suggest an autoimmune disorder you need to see a Rheumotologist. (Probably spelled that wrong) but they are specialists in autoimmune conditions.

ALS doesn't cause numbness and/or tingling. It also doesn't strike one entire side of the body with issues from the face down.

It also doesn't 'come and go' it comes and STAYS and progresses.

All that said--low B-12 can and does cause all kinds of issues--so be sure to treat that. Most of your issues are sensory--which is a good thing as far as ALS goes--as ALs doesn't cause sensory issues.

it certainly sounds like something is going on and I'd want to get to the bottom of it--but your gp is the place to start for a referral to a Rheumy, I think.

Good luck to you

 

[hieveryone]

Hi thanks for the responses,

So ALS is not autoimmune related then? I have an appointment to see a neurologist for the fasciculations but I should also get an appointment to see a rheumatologist.

 

[notme]

ALS does not alter any of the blood work that checks for autoimmune. Yes, see a Rheumy-soon. Personally with your symptoms, i'd see a rheumy and nix the neuro.

Fasciculations aside, you don't have ONE symptom on that list that resembles ALS thankfully.

You may find that a lot of them clear up with the B-12 when it's normal--but remember the damage from low b-12 can take some time to go away even when it's normal again.

Don't ignore autoimmune disorders. They can be deadly. See that Rheumy and write down an objective (NOT exaggerated) list of symptoms so they can diagnose you.

ALS is not the culprit for an elevated autoimmune marker, I promise.