Musician
New member
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2015
- Messages
- 3
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- PL
- State
- łódzkie
- City
- Łodź
Hello everyone,
First, I have to say that I've heard a lot of this terrible disease year ago, on account of Ice Bucket Challenge, and I have some people in my family suffering from other neurodegenerative diseases. That's being said I cannot stress how much I respect your strength and patience to answer all of our questions. All the more I hope you wouldn't mind my bookish English and help me with my question.
This month, after two years of gastroenterological consultations, I've been sent to neurologist in my local clinic on suspicion of having a neurological basis of swallowing issues. They have started exactly two years ago with a sudden onset of severe dysphagia. I woke up not being able to swallow anything at all: soft or solid, dry or liquid. I just couldn't provoke swallowing reflex at all. It took me over a week to re-learn how to swallow soft food and liquids, and since then I can't swallow anything dry or solid without drinking enormous amount of tea or water, as liquids seems the only thing that "activates" my swallowing muscle. It doesn't get better or worse. Few days ago, during my visit with the neurologist I've been diagnosed with hyperreflexia in both knees and atrophy of hypothenar muscles of both hands. Then I was sent for EMG test and MRI of my head on the basis of "bulbar als recognition". I've got sweating and trembling like crazy when I've read the referral, but doctor simply expelled me from the office. Now I can wait several months before my EMG and MRI tests or find a private hospital where I could pay for testing. And I'm... lost. Does it sound like a bulbar als for you? Did you have a similar experience? Is it even possible to "recognize" als during first medical examination? And if... then should I expect it to develop very fast as it's "bulbar"? Please, tell me what you think.
First, I have to say that I've heard a lot of this terrible disease year ago, on account of Ice Bucket Challenge, and I have some people in my family suffering from other neurodegenerative diseases. That's being said I cannot stress how much I respect your strength and patience to answer all of our questions. All the more I hope you wouldn't mind my bookish English and help me with my question.
This month, after two years of gastroenterological consultations, I've been sent to neurologist in my local clinic on suspicion of having a neurological basis of swallowing issues. They have started exactly two years ago with a sudden onset of severe dysphagia. I woke up not being able to swallow anything at all: soft or solid, dry or liquid. I just couldn't provoke swallowing reflex at all. It took me over a week to re-learn how to swallow soft food and liquids, and since then I can't swallow anything dry or solid without drinking enormous amount of tea or water, as liquids seems the only thing that "activates" my swallowing muscle. It doesn't get better or worse. Few days ago, during my visit with the neurologist I've been diagnosed with hyperreflexia in both knees and atrophy of hypothenar muscles of both hands. Then I was sent for EMG test and MRI of my head on the basis of "bulbar als recognition". I've got sweating and trembling like crazy when I've read the referral, but doctor simply expelled me from the office. Now I can wait several months before my EMG and MRI tests or find a private hospital where I could pay for testing. And I'm... lost. Does it sound like a bulbar als for you? Did you have a similar experience? Is it even possible to "recognize" als during first medical examination? And if... then should I expect it to develop very fast as it's "bulbar"? Please, tell me what you think.