Read This about EMG & ALS

[brendapals]

my dear Beth,

You have certainly been doing your homework girl! My goodness, you have done a lot of research.
I have noticed that I also have the devil of a time swallowing pills, but food goes down so easy. I think I will try crushing the pills and putting them in applesauce or something next week, maybe that will help?

Don't stay up too late studying!

talk soon,
Keep the faith,
brenda

[BethU]

Originally Posted by brendapals

I think I will try crushing the pills and putting them in applesauce or something next week, maybe that will help?talk soon, Keep the faith,
brenda

Thanks, Brenda! I do appreciate the support so much.

I'm really tired of this ALS stuff (I could use another word, but I'll be nice! ) I feel like ... OK, OK, you win, doctors, I've got ALS, now let me just deal with it, don't dump any more diagnoses on me! This is plenty!

Ref: Swallowing pills. I've done the crushing up in applesauce, and it works well. The speech path gave me a good tip, also ... she said dip them in olive oil before trying to swallow ... making them slippery helps. (I do find gel caps go down easier, unless they're too big.) I can't see using olive oil, but I thought perhaps some margerine might help. (It works for the dog! )

BethU

[gimpydad'slady]

Brendapals, Beth U

My hubby has issues with his pills, and what has worked for him is pudding. On days that he struggles more than usual, we too, crush them. If you have a mortar & Pedestal it works really well for crushing too.

PS...Rulitek when crushed, floats in water, hard to get it all down without it sticking to the glass. He used to take them crushed and dissolved in water, when he could drink from a glass. Pudding or applesauce work much better for the Rulitek.

Hope this helps, God bless.

[BethU]

Yes, it does help. I've tried mashing them between spoons (I'm not strong enuf for that any more ... the big pills like Lipitor don't budge), and I've also used a rolling pin and a rubber mallet over a pill in a plastic baggie! (At least the mallet is good for stress release!)

Thanks for a great idea.
BethU

[brendapals]

thanks for the tip!

I think it is the Rilutek that has the wonderful bitter taste if it doesn't go down the first time? Being the not-very-domestic mom that I am, I tried this morning with some snack pack choc pudding.

Worked great too!
thanx again,
Keep the faith,
brenda

[gimpydad'slady]

I forgot to also mention, mashed potatoes, cooked oatmeal and grits. We have tried these, and they work well.

Brenda....glad the idea helped you.

[brendapals]

I'm so glad you mentioned grits! I had a class on Wed and we ordered breakfast. The other 2 nurses looked at me like I was nuts for ordering that. I told them I had always liked grits, why wouldn't I now?

They were the easiest thing to eat that I have tried in 3 months! Thanks for listening!

talk soon,
Keep the faith,
brenda

[Christina Jacobsen]

Hi,
I am here in hopes of finding some reassurance. About three months ago I was dx with daibetes. They said it was mild. When I went in I was midly achy in my shoulder and that increased with activity. Then tinglingling in my hands and feet started and dull ache in both my calfs. Went to a doctor at John Hopkins. He felt it was anxiety but sent in for an mri of my head and to a muskosletal specialities for my shoulder. My mri was normal My muscle doc said that I had cramps in my shoulder and tested my reflexes. THye where normal. My doc read ran several blood tests. They all came back normal. He put me on lexapro. That helped and was getting better. I did and still continue to have muscle twitches but not really weakness but do feel shaky. Then two weeks ago we went to the zoo and walked to the d.c capital. Was fine all day but the next day had back spams. Now It is spasms and the tingling and shakeness. We went on train Saturaday and spent the day at the farm. I went on a trampoline. climbed a hill with my kids, nad wne tthrough a corn maze and felt fine. However last night I wen ton a walk and experienced extreme pain along my spine and pain under my right rib cage. Last night I would up with a left hand that was asleep and a should is tender and stiff. I also have hand cramps in both hands and am shaky. I have felt a bit off balnced too. Sugars are normal. I can swallow okay but throught hurts and cough alot
.

Does this sound like Als? I can still do everything I normally do but feel weak?Also I have trouble having bowel movements. Would Als come and go like this?Would it be present in so many parts at once? I am terrified. Have two kids with a husband that is deployed alot I am scared.

Please help!!!!

[Zaphoon]

Christina,

I'm no doctor but your symptoms sure don't look like ALS to me. ALS doesn't usually present itself with sensory issues (pain, pins and needles, burning) but there are plenty of things that do that are not life threatening.

Let the doctors figure this out for and relax. In the meantime, try and assume that the worst you have is a pinched nerve. This may help alleviate your anxiety. Thinking you may have ALS when you most likely don't will only drive you nuts and further maleffect your well-being.

Zaphoon

[BethU]

Hi Christina ... I agree with Zaphoon. It doesn't sound at all like ALS. ALS doesn't appear all over at once or move from one area to another ... it starts very slowly and subtly in one area (in fact, most people are usually not even aware of it when it starts) ... it doesn't have pins & needles or tingling or numbness ... no pains such as you describe.

I'd get back to your doctor and tell him about the pains and muscle spasms you're having. They're not ALS, but clearly you need relief from these symptoms. Also, constipation is not a symptom of ALS. That might be related to any meds you are taking, or if you've adjusted your diet for diabetes.

Hope you get some relief soon. But don't worry about ALS ... it's not even close.

[Kuba001]

Unfortunately fasciculations it was not first symptom what I noticed.Probably ween I was noticed only fasciculations first I wouldn't search about it at all but I start lookin what is wrong whit me because of diffrent resons.First I was thinkin I have HIV instead ALS what was be great news for me.This was at the begining.

First symptoms-01.08
1st emg 07.08-clear
2nd emg 11.08-clear

[JHunter]

I am new to this forum and have not had time to read why you are on this site. I have the same twitches you do on You Tube and have had them for seven years. How long have you had them? and have you been diagnosed with anything yet?. Thank You

[fredrik]

I've read a lot here and other sites about EMG.
Is the following correct?
If you do EMG before atrophy/musclewaste or/and weakness, there is a possibility to get a negative EMG even though you have ALS, because it's too early?
If you do EMG after someone other then yourself can notice musclewaste or/and you can feel some weakness (even though it's not clinical weakness) or/and fasics/twitches etc and it's done in right muscles by expirienced neuro etc, and it's negative, then there is no reason to still worry about ALS?
Or must it bee clinical weakness to be relevant with a EMG?

By the way, howcome Mr.Wright know so much about ALS? is he a neuro? i understand he don't have ALS? And also all you others that take time to help worried people, i'm impressed by your kindness!


Fredrik

[brendapals]

hey fredrik,

Hold on a minute. I happen to know a lot about cancer, MS, MG, HIV, COPD, IDDM, and a number of other diseases. And guess what, I'm not a doctor either, and I don't have any of those diseases either.

Better watch how you treat the family-some of us are over-protective

[Al]

Mr wright teaches college courses in the medical field. He thought he had ALS but didn't. He did a ton of research and is kind enough to share his knowledge with us and for that we are grateful.

AL.