Scared and worried not sure if it's als

[Scared31female]

Hi everyone,

Firstly would like to thank you all for the time you take to read and answer the questions and concerns people post daily. I am a 31 year old female and have been visiting your site quite frequently over the past few weeks. I have had symptoms starting from this past June with no answers and have seen a few specialists in internal medicine and one neuro.

Summary of symptoms
June- woke up with extreme eye pain and redness didn't do anything for a few days thinking it would go away once it didn't saw an optometrist who identified inflammation but no diagnosis came out of it. Saw a couple ophthalmologists who could not determine either and said I may have to consider something lateral. This continued tuntil September and is now intermittent
August- felt tired muscles in arms and legs and felt like nerve pain down my right arm at one point
September - twitching started and is body wide at this point. Felt tender points in upper arms and felt like carrying things was more painful when carrying my daughter. Felt more phelemgh at the back of my throat and itchy ears sometimes with ringing
October- All of the above symptoms still present but have noticed a pain in my ankle that has not gone away. Feels awkward to walk like it is strained and looks like it is starting to loose muscle where the ankle is and above. Went to emergency today and they could not figure out what it is. The resident doctor that saw me said that my physical examine did not show signs of ALS but referred me to a neuro for an emg

Hoping to fet your thoughts and opinions on what this could be an did it sounds like als. I have a two year daughter and am petrified since this has been going on and have not been able to sleep at night and can barely eat at times from the worry and stress.

I thank you all again for taking the time to read and respond.

 

[Scared31female]

Forgot to mention that from late July to August I would wake up throughout the night and in the morning with my hands feeling tingling and as if they were falling asleep and had previously noticed the my leg would fall asleep more often then usual. These symptoms have since calmed down and are not as evident as before only the odd time. Also have awkwardness and clumsiness in my hands and wrists

 

[Vincent]

Based on pain and lots of "it feels" I would say you have nothing that sounds like ALS. Enjoy a long life.
Vincent

 

[Nuts]

I agree with Vincent. ALS doesn't "feel"...it fails.

Tingling limbs upon awaking sound like maybe you are compressing nerves in your sleep. I've had to change how I sleep to avoid tingling in my arms. I have burning and tingling and am clumbsy...I have peripheral neurophathy. There are many things that can cause your symptoms (seasonal allergies for the phlegm, for instance), but nothing sounds like ALS.

Eyes and ears are not ALS related.

Relax. Keep your appointment, but don't mention ALS. Let the neuro do his job.

 

[Scared31female]

Thank you so much for the reply Vincent I really appreciate it your positive words. Just re-read my post and realized and I did use the word feel or felt a lot and wanted to rephrase it differently. I have had pain in muscles in my arms and shoulders and are tender to touch. In my hands a had my fingers lock up a couple of times in the tips and took a couple tries to get them back to normal again. My ankle is definitely awkward to use when waking and generally a weird pain like feeling when at rest. Have had aches And pains in my lower and upper back not sure if this is because of weakness of the muscles. Definitely have the phelmgh feeling at the back of my throat and my ears feel as if they want to pop kind of pain. Have an awkward feeling when using a fork and knife or when writing but am still able to use hands and grip. I really worried about this being an onset of als as this is one of the first things the doc asked me if I had run in my family which it doesn't. I've had a ct scan, Mri and a tone of bloodwork all of which has come back normal. Any further thoughts or opinions? Much appreciated for any info!

 

[Scared31female]

Thanks so much Nuts! I have been stressing about this for months and totally understand the failing part, I've been concerned with a possible onset of als but have also heard that eyes are not related to als didn't know if wars were so thought it was worth mentioning. I appreciate the time you took to reply back. I felt like this was the only place I could go to get my thoughts and symptoms heard without any pre-judgement because of my age and physical appearance looking somewhat healthy.

 

[Scared31female]

Nuts quick question for you, does peripheral neuropathy show up in an mri? Or does another test need to be done to diagnose?

Thanks again

 

[Dusty7]

PN will show up on an EMG. Like Nuts said,

"Relax. Keep your appointment, but don't mention ALS"... or PN... "Let the neuro do his job."

 

[gooseberry]

Eye inflammation, if a change in pressure and associated pain could be iritis....lots of autoimmune type things out there. The neuro can help

 

[Scared31female]

Thanks gooseberry and dusty7.

The eye inflammation was the only thing detected no change in pressure. Eye was really red and have experienced on and off light sensitivity.

I've been worried that the eye was a one off and not part of the other nerve and muscle symptoms I've developed.

 

[GregK]

You really need to read the sticky topic at the top of this forum, the one labeled READ BEFORE POSTING.

As you read it think about how many times you used 'feelings', 'pain', and 'tingling'.

 

[Scared31female]

Hi Greg, I actually read it about 50 times before deciding to post because I was considering All of what was written and described regarding pain and feelings. Once I noticed atrophy in my hands (under thumb area) and ankle area began to atrophy I have began to think that the other symptoms must somehow coincide with this which can appear in als. This is what actually brought me to ER today. I as well as others who have looked can see the difference from my right to left both legs and arms. I am really concerned that this is all als related as I read it affects everyone differently. I couldn't find anything else that would cause atrophy in addition to all these symptoms I am having.

 

[scaredwifetx]

Maybe you should stay off this forum and Doctor Google until you see the Neuro. So many of the symptoms you state having point away from ALS. This is not a disease you want trust me. If you have been reading the forums you will know that there are so many of us here suffering from this horrid disease. When we are reading that others are trying to convince themselves and us that they have ALS, it is quite mind boggling and painful. Be hopeful that you don't have it and let the doctors figure it out. Until then don't waste the time you have left in this world worrying about a disease like this one. It is truly tragic and we are trying to help each other out with very serious problems and most of us barely have the energy to post.

 

[Scared31female]

Scaredwifetx- I respect your feelings and don't mean to offend you or anyone else suffering from this terrible disease. I understand your point made that some of my symptoms point away and truly hope to get a diagnosis soon. Thanks for your time.

 

[Scared31female]

Question regarding twitching:
In my hand left hand where I have noticed atrophy I have a pulsation that is sometimes constant but always in the same place. Is this something that happens in als where the same spot twitches/pulsates? Looks like a heartbeat but not sure if it's a twitch. I have noticed this a few times now since the muscle has lost some mass. It appears to be near the vein but not directly on it

Thanks in advance for any responses