New here advice needed please.

[GuyFromTheUK]

32 year old male from the UK here.

Concerned about several issues such as:

*Shallow Breathing/Constant Yawning and Gasping
*Sometimes having trouble getting words out
*Pain in the left leg mainly in thigh/knee
*Twitching mostly in the left leg but also in other areas

I've had constant and excessive yawning for at least 4-5 years or more, the gasping for air/shortness of breath I have had for around 3 years now, I have had Asthma for nearly 30 years, although I know these issues aren't due to Asthma and I don't have wheezing/coughing. I am seeing a Respiratory Specialist in 2 months time.

I do always feel tired all the time and have done for around 8-9 years, some doctors have said in the past that I might have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and or Fibromyalgia.

Also, since October, I have had a lot of pain in my left thigh and knee which causes some problems walking sometimes, like I limp a little, I have seen a Rheumatologist due to some pain issues and he found I was severely deficient in Vitamin D and have been on high dose supplements for 8 weeks now but no difference so far.

I get lots of twitching in my left leg particularly in the thigh/knee, this really concerns me because I have pain in the same leg.

The same month this started (October) I went to see a Neurologist because of Headaches, I also mentioned the leg twitching, he tested my reflexes and everything and he seemed happy enough that everything was ok, I had a Brain MRI was was completely normal.

I also struggle quite often to get words out properly and kind of stutter but not slur.

If my leg issue was the start of MND then would it have got to the point where i'd be falling over a lot more by now?

I also get twitching quite a lot in my left arm and in my eyes and other places.

All this really concerns me, what are your opinions on this?

Thank you for reading and thank you for your time.

 

[Janie H]

My symptoms started with choking on liquids, then slurred speach, faculations everywhere, started on my tongue, now breathing is my biggest issue. I can still walk and no muscle issues, I just can't breath well enough to walk far, I'm 9 months from diagnoses with bulbar ALS

 

[Barbie]

none of this sounds like ALS. there are many, many things that could be going on and the Asthma is probably the biggest red flag. relax and sit tight till you see your RT. in the mean time stop trying to diagnosis yourself--the internet is dangerous and will lead you to a fatal illness as fast as to a chest cold. keep an honest journal of what is going on and when it happens and share that at your next appt.

 

[GuyFromTheUK]

Hi all, I've come back as I want some more advice.

As you know I yawn and sigh a lot every day but i've had this for a few years.

Is pain a symptom of MND? I have been having pain in my left thigh, calf and ankle for around 6-7 months now, also I get lots of twitching, I don't always feel it but it happens in the feet, arms, thighs, face, eyes, neck, lots of places really although I'm getting it a lot in my chin the last 2 weeks even when I talk.

I've also had a hoarse voice for nearly 3 weeks, looking on Google it says this can be caused by MND? Really? I never would have thought that was a symptom of MND?

Other symptoms are a lot of pain and twitching in my left arm, my balance is not great and my legs feel weak and I've nearly fallen over a few times, also my left hand hurts and it feels like the grip is going and the strength in my left hand!

I walk 2 miles 3 times a week, I've read about exercise being possibly linked to MND? I wouldn't say fast walking 3 times is excessive is it?

I'm just really worried.

 

[Dusty7]

If the yawning was from bulbar ALS, you would have known it was MND long before "a few years".

Pain is your friend. It is sensory and MND is motor, not sensory.

Twitching is basically non-diagnostic. It can come from too much caffeine, too much anxiety, fatigue, over-exercising and many other things.

I have never heard that hoarseness is a symptom of ALS.

The kind of exercise that has been linked to ALS, I believe, is football and other head-banging sports, not walking.

Your neurologist isn't worried. Why not relax and trust him?

 

[Atsugi]

GuyFromTheUK, thanks for being so detailed in describing your symptoms. It doesn't sound anything like ALS/MND.
Let your doctor diagnosis you. The internet will just raise your anxiety level.
Good luck.

 

[GuyFromTheUK]

Hi all, I need to follow this up, I've got quite a lot going on and I want some opinions.

To add to the above:-

As you already know, my left thigh has been hurting since October and i do get twitching there and in the calfs and the left knee and calf and ankle as well as other places, but I have been having terrible pain in my left calf and ankle as well recently for a few weeks, is pain a symptoms of MND/ALS?

Also, as you know my breathing hasn't been good for quite a while too, I do have Asthma, I've had it 30 years, my lung age is 74 and my FEV level is only around 65%, I had my SP02 level done a few days ago and it was 97, does the SP02 level actually get affected if ALS/MND is affecting the lungs?

Another thing is my ribs are hurting a lot over the past month as well and that's worrying as well, is that a possible symptom of ALS/MND? I just wondered if it was affecting my diaphragm? I am getting twitching in the upper stomach/rib area too which i've had on and off for a while now too.

Other problems are that I've had hoarseness for around 6 weeks now and a sore throat, sore throat isn't a symptoms of ALS/MND is it? but on this website which is a popular website with doctors here Symptom Checker, Health Information and Medicines Guide | Patient.co.uk | Patient.co.uk, if you look at hoarseness, ALS/MND is listed as a neurological cause for hoarseness.

I have difficulty getting words out of my mouth a lot, and kind of stuttering if you know what I mean, I just can't seem to find the right word a lot recently but no-one has mentioned anything about slurring?

I also have swallowing issues and can choke on food and drink and when eating it feels like my mouth/tongue is weak and struggling to move food around but my tongue seems ok and doesn't appear to be twitching.

Been having a lot of lip twitching too which seems to happen even when I am talking.

The rheumatologist said when I saw him about some pain issues that I might have Fibromyalgia?

I'm just wondering whether any of this sounds like ALS/MND?

Thanks for your time.

 

[Dusty7]

It's obvious just from reading the first few lines that you didn't read my response of 4/17 or any of the other replies, so I won't bother answering this post........................

 

[Atsugi]

is pain a symptoms of MND/ALS? --- NO.

does the SP02 level actually get affected if ALS/MND is affecting the lungs? -- ALS doesn't start in the lungs.

ribs are hurting a lot -- NOT a sign of ALS.

getting twitching in the upper stomach -- Sounds totally like stress anxiety.

sore throat isn't a symptoms of ALS/MND is it? -- Right. It's not a symptom of ALS.

ALS/MND is listed as a neurological cause for hoarseness. --

can't seem to find the right word -- Nervousness, stress.

I also have swallowing issues -- Could be anything.

lot of lip twitching -- Could be anything, especially stress / anxiety.

The rheumatologist said when I saw him about some pain issues that I might have Fibromyalgia? -- Pay attention to your doctors.

HAVE YOU HEARD about the doctor's first rule of diagnosis: When you hear hoof beats, you DON'T think zebras. Start with horses. You've taken a whole bunch of symptoms that could be all kinds of normal maladies, and focused yourself on a very rare disease, even though you have no symptoms that indicate you're starting on the road of ALS.

You really need to avoid the ALS/MND websites and focus on being well. Ask you PCP if you need mental health support.

 

[Clearwater AL]

I made a post, it went to moderation... and it will probably stay there! (Writing it made me feel better though.)

 

[affected]

would have been nice to see - thank you all so much for taking the time to read my posts, and then to consider an answer, then to take the huge effort to type replies when so many of you have so many real medical issues to deal with daily ...

 

[GuyFromTheUK]

Thank you for all your replies, much appreciated.

Atsugi, when you answered my question about hoarseness you didn't say anything, please could you confirm what you meant by putting -- ?

I need to add a couple of things that I forgot in my post above.

Firstly, my left hand does feel weak and like I am having grip/strength issues, yes it does hurt sometimes but I am quite clumsy but then again not just in my left hand but sometimes my right too but my left seems worse.

Also, I do quite a bit of walking 2-3 times a week and have a fair bit of muscle in my legs but the left leg, the leg that hurts and twitches a lot in the knee, calf and thigh well in the calf area there's a part by the muscle that seems like it's indented or like some muscle should be there but no longer is if you know what i mean?

Thank you again for your time and all the replies and information I have received.

 

[GuyFromTheUK]

Oh and Atsugi, when you said ALS/MND doesn't start in the lungs, I meant the form of ALS/MND that affects your breathing/diaphragm first, I do feel short of breath a lot but I have had Asthma for 30 years and as above my Lung Age is poor and FEV1 is only 65% as I explained above.

Is SP02 levels affected if it starts in that area first?

 

[Atsugi]

Think about the hoof beats, Guy. You might have a problem with horses, but ALS is a zebra. Talk to your doctors and quit talking about ALS.

Sorry to have answered one of your symptoms with a "-- " blank spot. I couldn't see the computer screen because I was rolling my eyes.

 

[MaxEidswick]

>Sorry to have answered one of your symptoms with a "-- " blank spot. I couldn't see the computer screen because I was rolling my eyes.



Mike's right, see a doc, not likely ALS.