mrpet
Member
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2015
- Messages
- 23
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- Oregon
- City
- Portland
Hi there,
My history is on here through other posts. Started twitching in late Nov 2015. Had multiple EMGs which were normal (showing fascs), although last one in August 2016 had one focal fibrillation. Brisk symmetrical reflexes. No sign of weakness. No swallowing/breathing/speech issues. I was told not ALS.
However, for the last few months however I have had this weird symptom. When I'm trying to fall asleep the right side of my lip/cheek starts to gradually pull across/down. It happens unconsciously when I'm not thinking about it as I try to fall asleep - but when I notice it happening I just consciously "relax" my facial muscles and the lip/cheek pops back to normal (so it's not like a cramp or spasticity). It then stays normal for a while until once again I start not thinking about it and try to fall asleep, whereupon it starts creeping/pulling again until I "relax" my face. And so the cycle continues.
It doesn't really happen during the day (maybe very occasionally), but mostly when I'm trying to fall asleep (it's very annoying!).
It does not persist once I fall asleep, which I know because as I come out of sleep my lip/cheek is not being pulled down/across and is totally normal.
I worry it is minor facial weakness, but then I understood weakness doesn't "come and go" like this, nor can weakness simply be stopped by "relaxing" your face or controlled by conscious thought?
Any ideas on what this might be? I've found nothing resembling it in my investigations.
Thanks!
My history is on here through other posts. Started twitching in late Nov 2015. Had multiple EMGs which were normal (showing fascs), although last one in August 2016 had one focal fibrillation. Brisk symmetrical reflexes. No sign of weakness. No swallowing/breathing/speech issues. I was told not ALS.
However, for the last few months however I have had this weird symptom. When I'm trying to fall asleep the right side of my lip/cheek starts to gradually pull across/down. It happens unconsciously when I'm not thinking about it as I try to fall asleep - but when I notice it happening I just consciously "relax" my facial muscles and the lip/cheek pops back to normal (so it's not like a cramp or spasticity). It then stays normal for a while until once again I start not thinking about it and try to fall asleep, whereupon it starts creeping/pulling again until I "relax" my face. And so the cycle continues.
It doesn't really happen during the day (maybe very occasionally), but mostly when I'm trying to fall asleep (it's very annoying!).
It does not persist once I fall asleep, which I know because as I come out of sleep my lip/cheek is not being pulled down/across and is totally normal.
I worry it is minor facial weakness, but then I understood weakness doesn't "come and go" like this, nor can weakness simply be stopped by "relaxing" your face or controlled by conscious thought?
Any ideas on what this might be? I've found nothing resembling it in my investigations.
Thanks!
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