whoknows
New member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2013
- Messages
- 5
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- UK
- State
- London
- City
- London
Hi guys.
I'd just like to start with saying that I have read through the stickies, and completely understand your frustrations and commend you all for offering people like me sage reassurance whilst your experiencing such a difficult time. I'd also like to state that I do not claim to have ALS, to be honest, after months upon months of Internet search, reading medical documents and books, I still feel no where near closer to a diagnosis. You're probably thinking 'why didn't he go to the doctors?' But I have been on various occasions for various symptoms, and am currently awaiting a referral to a gastroenterologist.
I will lay it out, and admit that I do tend toward the 'hypochondriac' behaviour. I will concede that anxiety has and is playing a role in my symptoms. However, I know that it isn't the sole cause, as certain symptoms have been identified as due to a condition. I initially feared having a neurological disorder (well actually it was MS) due to muscle twitches and tingles, loss of balance, muscle weakness (which I think is perceived from what I'm reading here, but I do actually shake?). I later found that these symptoms - particularly the peripheral neuropathy - to be down to a vitamin b12 deficiency (hence the gastro referral).
However, these don't encompass the extent of my symptoms. So, here are the questions I pose to you all, in hopes that some can find the time to reply . Please forgive me if some of my questions could be easily answered with a bit more research, or if I come off really naive - I just haven't looked into ALS much, and I feel that personal experience is more valuable than a generic web page.
I'm just going to explain some symptoms which I have been unable to correlate with any of the suspected illnesses I've wondered if I had. I have been getting blurred vision in one eye (the left). It is pretty transient, probably 30 minutes tops. Then there's these other weird sensations. I get this pain usually somewhere in the lower half of my body, like my foot or leg (I haven't taken enough notice to see if it is bilateral or not) which is then followed by a WEIRD tingling/crawling in my upper body, usually around my neck. Like I stated earlier I have peripheral neuropathy and these tingles are different to what I experience from that. It's quite a horrible sensation to be honest.
I also get this heavy feeling in my forearm from time to time. And it feels as though something is inflamed but I dunno what it is? It's like a vein or something? Lol! You can't see it but you can feel that it's hard. & when I'm laying in bed at night, eyes shut, I sometimes get this feeling which is really hard to describe, but I guess it's as if I'm dropping? It's pretty brief but not pleasant.
Finally, I was wondering what are the effects of ALS on the skin (if any)? & is there any link between it and joint pain/clicking?
Wow, this is long winded, well done if you made it this far! if anyone gets a chance to reply I'd be eternally grateful. My best wishes to you all. You're all such inspirational people
I'd just like to start with saying that I have read through the stickies, and completely understand your frustrations and commend you all for offering people like me sage reassurance whilst your experiencing such a difficult time. I'd also like to state that I do not claim to have ALS, to be honest, after months upon months of Internet search, reading medical documents and books, I still feel no where near closer to a diagnosis. You're probably thinking 'why didn't he go to the doctors?' But I have been on various occasions for various symptoms, and am currently awaiting a referral to a gastroenterologist.
I will lay it out, and admit that I do tend toward the 'hypochondriac' behaviour. I will concede that anxiety has and is playing a role in my symptoms. However, I know that it isn't the sole cause, as certain symptoms have been identified as due to a condition. I initially feared having a neurological disorder (well actually it was MS) due to muscle twitches and tingles, loss of balance, muscle weakness (which I think is perceived from what I'm reading here, but I do actually shake?). I later found that these symptoms - particularly the peripheral neuropathy - to be down to a vitamin b12 deficiency (hence the gastro referral).
However, these don't encompass the extent of my symptoms. So, here are the questions I pose to you all, in hopes that some can find the time to reply . Please forgive me if some of my questions could be easily answered with a bit more research, or if I come off really naive - I just haven't looked into ALS much, and I feel that personal experience is more valuable than a generic web page.
I'm just going to explain some symptoms which I have been unable to correlate with any of the suspected illnesses I've wondered if I had. I have been getting blurred vision in one eye (the left). It is pretty transient, probably 30 minutes tops. Then there's these other weird sensations. I get this pain usually somewhere in the lower half of my body, like my foot or leg (I haven't taken enough notice to see if it is bilateral or not) which is then followed by a WEIRD tingling/crawling in my upper body, usually around my neck. Like I stated earlier I have peripheral neuropathy and these tingles are different to what I experience from that. It's quite a horrible sensation to be honest.
I also get this heavy feeling in my forearm from time to time. And it feels as though something is inflamed but I dunno what it is? It's like a vein or something? Lol! You can't see it but you can feel that it's hard. & when I'm laying in bed at night, eyes shut, I sometimes get this feeling which is really hard to describe, but I guess it's as if I'm dropping? It's pretty brief but not pleasant.
Finally, I was wondering what are the effects of ALS on the skin (if any)? & is there any link between it and joint pain/clicking?
Wow, this is long winded, well done if you made it this far! if anyone gets a chance to reply I'd be eternally grateful. My best wishes to you all. You're all such inspirational people