i know it's silly to try and diagnose myself online, but i'm scared because i've been having these symptoms and when i typed them in
ALS popped up. First off im amazed by the support and bravery of everyone on these forums, i think it's an amazing thing, and brough a smile to my face.
I'm a 24 year old male, 5'11" 200 lbs, smoke half a pack to a pack a day
My symptoms:
First started about 2 months ago with sharp quick headaches that would make me feel weak in the arms and legs. Ever since i've seen these white rippling lights in my vision, bewtween 10-20 times a day. For about 3 weeks after that first incidence i felt very weak, off balance, and uncoordinated, like i was in my body but wasn't. Sometimes i felt dizzy, weak, and felt like i was falling, or had a tendancy to lean to my left. I just didn't feel right. My PCP said it was anxiety and sent me on my way....but here's the thing, i know my body and something isn't right, i felt like there was no sympathy or any urgency for this doctor to find out what was going on with me. For the last 5 weeks, i have experienced heart palpatations, tough time taking a deep breath. some chest pains, left side flank pain, constipation, sharp stabbing pains to the left of my belly button. The biggest symptom for the past 5 weeks has been the muscle twitching or spasms all over my body. They started in my left abdomen, mid lower and upper, and have ssince moved to my chest, inbetween my ribs, on the insides of my knees, on my shoulders, on my neck, in my back, things, and biceps. There has been some soreness accompanied by them, like in my bicep. The heart palpatations, muscle twitching, and white lights are thbiggest problems. I have had some soreness in my upper thigh and claves, but no twitching in the calves, infact like a lot of BFS sufferers not twitching in the eyelids either. I saw a cardilologist and pulmonoligist to rule out cardio and pulmonary problems which they cleared and recommended i see a neurologist next week. All 3 of my doctors did perform basic neurological exams (stand on one foot, hop on the other, reflexes, etc, and said i seemed ok) Standing on my left leg though i do feel off balance and have a hard time staying balanced. Sometimes i still get the sharp headaches, but no accompanying weakness. The only thing i can do to recreate the white rippling lights in my vision on demand is take 4 deep breathes in a row, but i always see them when i am breathing normally. I have had some tingling in my extremeties,not sure what that could relate to. My knee or knee cap has been very sore and has some "lumps on the cap" that feel funny, but is very sore. I do get bouts where i yawn profusily and have frequent urination, but not all the time. I constantly feel the need to stretch my body, and even when i stretch i don't feel satisfied. I also have a "warm rushing water sensation" in my legs, primarily in my right leg. I do have muscle stiffness and some discomfort in my back, but could be from how i sleep, not sure. A couple times i did experience some pain swallowing, like i swallowed wrong or something, about 4 seperate times. What could this be? does this sound like it could be
ALS? or something else someone might know about? im just tired of being neglected by my doctor's and not addressing my concernse, im really scared, and at this point just want a diagnosis of something, it would ease my mind, and i just want to feel better, please help
Could this be ALS... 
