glenn gavanaugh
Active member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2009
- Messages
- 99
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- CA
- State
- ON
- City
- Suburb of Toronto
there are a few things that have been happening lately (either for a while now, progressing... or new)
for one, my tongue: the back part looks like it's torn to shreds (the surface) with like dotted rips (hard to explain, pic needed...not actual "rips" but rips in the colouration) - I noticed this a couple of months ago, but now it's spreading - there are smaller dots/spots forming at the front of the tongue now too - I noticed this around the same time I noticed a funny feeling in my tongue, which could be twitching? it feels almost like my tongue has been dipped in a numbing agent w/ the feeling of tiny worms crawling over it- I know that numbness isn't associated with ALS, but this could be twitching. anyway, the feeling is there, it's a weird sensation to say the least.
I noticed problems projecting my voice a while ago. now it's worse. way worse. when I go to yell for my dog in the backyard, it feels so uncomfortable, like my tongue is vibrating (or my whole mouth), it's hard for me to do - my tongue feels weaker, and certain words are harder than others (but always with a lispy tone), I literally have to take more time to form them... this is not something I'm making up, it's real... I can't move my tongue has quickly as I could... I don't even want to yell anymore, it's so difficult and uncomfortable. I can bite quite a bit of my tongue on the one side, on the side of atrophy (hands arms neck legs) I can't bite nearly as much - this could be normal, but it's something to add.
also, my neck. the one side is smaller - it's weaker - tighter - uncomfortable
I'm getting more fascic's on the face, lip...
my gag reflex is getting worse.
when I breath in my chest feels tight, or like shortness of breath...the right side of my torso right under the rib cage feels like it sinks in when I sit down, really uncomfortable.
I've found myself getting more emotional than usual. Watching television, or reading something. Like a surge of emotion.
my mouth is as dry as a desert - especially at night, and when I wake up in the morning...
I wake up every day now with a numb arm - after about 5 hours of sleep - then I'll wake up every hour or so after that with numbness in whatever arm I'm sleeping on - sounds logical, but it's never occured before like this - every morning...
fingers on one hand more stiff and rigid harder to hold together or fold out completely - index finger curl, thumb curl - same feeling in the foot on same side - sometimes after walking, I begin to limp a little...
I noticed symptoms back in Dec 07 - could bulbar already be setting in? is that possible?
*a lot of this stuff I've been experiencing for a while, but thought that it was in my head, that it was unrelated, or too small of a problem at first - that's why I never mentioned it- this stuff isn't going away, it's only getting worse
thanks.
for one, my tongue: the back part looks like it's torn to shreds (the surface) with like dotted rips (hard to explain, pic needed...not actual "rips" but rips in the colouration) - I noticed this a couple of months ago, but now it's spreading - there are smaller dots/spots forming at the front of the tongue now too - I noticed this around the same time I noticed a funny feeling in my tongue, which could be twitching? it feels almost like my tongue has been dipped in a numbing agent w/ the feeling of tiny worms crawling over it- I know that numbness isn't associated with ALS, but this could be twitching. anyway, the feeling is there, it's a weird sensation to say the least.
I noticed problems projecting my voice a while ago. now it's worse. way worse. when I go to yell for my dog in the backyard, it feels so uncomfortable, like my tongue is vibrating (or my whole mouth), it's hard for me to do - my tongue feels weaker, and certain words are harder than others (but always with a lispy tone), I literally have to take more time to form them... this is not something I'm making up, it's real... I can't move my tongue has quickly as I could... I don't even want to yell anymore, it's so difficult and uncomfortable. I can bite quite a bit of my tongue on the one side, on the side of atrophy (hands arms neck legs) I can't bite nearly as much - this could be normal, but it's something to add.
also, my neck. the one side is smaller - it's weaker - tighter - uncomfortable
I'm getting more fascic's on the face, lip...
my gag reflex is getting worse.
when I breath in my chest feels tight, or like shortness of breath...the right side of my torso right under the rib cage feels like it sinks in when I sit down, really uncomfortable.
I've found myself getting more emotional than usual. Watching television, or reading something. Like a surge of emotion.
my mouth is as dry as a desert - especially at night, and when I wake up in the morning...
I wake up every day now with a numb arm - after about 5 hours of sleep - then I'll wake up every hour or so after that with numbness in whatever arm I'm sleeping on - sounds logical, but it's never occured before like this - every morning...
fingers on one hand more stiff and rigid harder to hold together or fold out completely - index finger curl, thumb curl - same feeling in the foot on same side - sometimes after walking, I begin to limp a little...
I noticed symptoms back in Dec 07 - could bulbar already be setting in? is that possible?
*a lot of this stuff I've been experiencing for a while, but thought that it was in my head, that it was unrelated, or too small of a problem at first - that's why I never mentioned it- this stuff isn't going away, it's only getting worse
thanks.