dcush1992
New member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2017
- Messages
- 5
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- CA
- City
- Manteca
Hello everyone,
I posted in this forum earlier this year in February about my symptoms, which I thought resembled the early stages of ALS. Specifically, I felt a sensation of weakness in my left hand that seemed like it was spreading to my right hand (I'm right-handed). My voice wasn't working right, I didn't feel like I could articulate words clearly. I'm 25 years old now, otherwise healthy. I wanted to give an update because I am very scared of the possibility of this disease, and I am incredibly grateful for any perspective you have to offer. (I apologize for opening another thread, but my last one was closed)
Since my last post in February, I'm very concerned that my symptoms are worsening. The muscles in my left hand/fingers feel weaker than they did before. I feel like they're moving slower than before, but the most concerning thing is what looks like atrophy to me. When try to apply force or pressure with my fingers, the middle section of my fingers bend down. It looks like they just give out and they don't apply any strength or force. When tapping my fingers, I can't get them to move as "fast" as I want them to. Occasional twitching in my fingers, and they feel weak afterwards. I can still curl and stretch them, but I've noticed that I can't extend them like before. For example, when typing, I feel like I'm relying much more on my index fingers to type, otherwise I'm constantly making mistakes (most of all thinking I'm typing the write key but not).
My voice feels like it's getting quieter. I have to use more effort to produce the same volume as I did before. My tongue feels more stiff than before. I try to always stretch it to see I can get it to reach the same part of the roof of my mouth. No one has noticed or pointed out any abnormalities in my speech. I'm so thankful for my wife. I have asked her so many times throughout this year if anything sounds wrong with my speech, and she has said no each time. I've been going to a speech therapist on a semi-regular basis this year, and she has noticed "tension" in the mid-range of my voice, which I feel as well. I flat out told her in the beginning that I have a fear of ALS, and she said that while she was not a neurologist she did not see any indication whatsoever of ALS-related difficulties. I'm wondering if at that point, any difficulties were not pronounced enough for her to notice anything.
I've been seeing a neurologist about 3-4 times this year. He has done reflex tests, brain MRI, EEG, and never once brought up ALS. I have been afraid to ask lest I sound crazy. He knows I have had a problem with anxiety, and asked if that might be causing my health problems. However, the thing that scared me the most occurred in my last visit. He did a grip test on both of my hands, and had done one previously a few months ago. Originally, both hands measured 60-65. This last time, my right hand was still 60 but my left hand was 30! He tried to get me to do it in different positions, but it was roughly the same result each time. He did more strength tests and didn't seem to notice anything wrong. I'm getting a neck MRI and and EMG done on the 28th. Since then, I've been so scared that the weakness I've been feeling has been objectively measured for the first time after all this time. I'm so afraid that my fears are somewhat grounded.
I apologize for the super long post but I wanted to get everything out there. I have tremendous respect and admiration for all that you guys are going through. If anyone has any insight into what I just said, I would be very grateful. Thank you.
I posted in this forum earlier this year in February about my symptoms, which I thought resembled the early stages of ALS. Specifically, I felt a sensation of weakness in my left hand that seemed like it was spreading to my right hand (I'm right-handed). My voice wasn't working right, I didn't feel like I could articulate words clearly. I'm 25 years old now, otherwise healthy. I wanted to give an update because I am very scared of the possibility of this disease, and I am incredibly grateful for any perspective you have to offer. (I apologize for opening another thread, but my last one was closed)
Since my last post in February, I'm very concerned that my symptoms are worsening. The muscles in my left hand/fingers feel weaker than they did before. I feel like they're moving slower than before, but the most concerning thing is what looks like atrophy to me. When try to apply force or pressure with my fingers, the middle section of my fingers bend down. It looks like they just give out and they don't apply any strength or force. When tapping my fingers, I can't get them to move as "fast" as I want them to. Occasional twitching in my fingers, and they feel weak afterwards. I can still curl and stretch them, but I've noticed that I can't extend them like before. For example, when typing, I feel like I'm relying much more on my index fingers to type, otherwise I'm constantly making mistakes (most of all thinking I'm typing the write key but not).
My voice feels like it's getting quieter. I have to use more effort to produce the same volume as I did before. My tongue feels more stiff than before. I try to always stretch it to see I can get it to reach the same part of the roof of my mouth. No one has noticed or pointed out any abnormalities in my speech. I'm so thankful for my wife. I have asked her so many times throughout this year if anything sounds wrong with my speech, and she has said no each time. I've been going to a speech therapist on a semi-regular basis this year, and she has noticed "tension" in the mid-range of my voice, which I feel as well. I flat out told her in the beginning that I have a fear of ALS, and she said that while she was not a neurologist she did not see any indication whatsoever of ALS-related difficulties. I'm wondering if at that point, any difficulties were not pronounced enough for her to notice anything.
I've been seeing a neurologist about 3-4 times this year. He has done reflex tests, brain MRI, EEG, and never once brought up ALS. I have been afraid to ask lest I sound crazy. He knows I have had a problem with anxiety, and asked if that might be causing my health problems. However, the thing that scared me the most occurred in my last visit. He did a grip test on both of my hands, and had done one previously a few months ago. Originally, both hands measured 60-65. This last time, my right hand was still 60 but my left hand was 30! He tried to get me to do it in different positions, but it was roughly the same result each time. He did more strength tests and didn't seem to notice anything wrong. I'm getting a neck MRI and and EMG done on the 28th. Since then, I've been so scared that the weakness I've been feeling has been objectively measured for the first time after all this time. I'm so afraid that my fears are somewhat grounded.
I apologize for the super long post but I wanted to get everything out there. I have tremendous respect and admiration for all that you guys are going through. If anyone has any insight into what I just said, I would be very grateful. Thank you.