BigBrother
New member
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2009
- Messages
- 3
- Reason
- Loved one DX
- Country
- CA
- State
- Ontario
- City
- Toronto
Hello to all on this forum:
I have been reading it for a few days, and have decided its time to post. My 29 yo brother has been given a probable diagnosed recently.
- He had a pain in his foot,
- lost his balance and fell a few times
- is loosing strentgh in one hand
- his knees are stiff, making walking difficult
- his speech is somewhat slurred
He has been going through tests with a neuralogist, and now ALS specialist.
He hunts and fishes alot so we are also having him tested for lyme disease (which i understand is treatable).
All this is new to me, and I am trying to learn more. I have a few questions, I hope people can address:
1) Are there any stats that would indiate how many 'probable' diagnosis become 'confirmed'? ie Once the probable diagnosis is given, what percanatge of people end up being diagnosed as not having ALS?
I am still hoping it is something else, but would like to know what the statistiscal chances are.
2) If he is eventually diagnosed as confirmed, what are the chances that it is a inncorrect diagnosed?
3) I really do not know what to do at this point. He is depressed, and I am getting scared. Untill now I have been telling him and my parents that at his age its unlikley, and not to jump to any conclusions yet as it has not been confirmed. But inwardly I am really getting scared that he may have it.
What type of attitude have you taken in this situation? Should you try to keep everyone optimistic, take their minds off the stress?
Thanks in advance for any help.
I have been reading it for a few days, and have decided its time to post. My 29 yo brother has been given a probable diagnosed recently.
- He had a pain in his foot,
- lost his balance and fell a few times
- is loosing strentgh in one hand
- his knees are stiff, making walking difficult
- his speech is somewhat slurred
He has been going through tests with a neuralogist, and now ALS specialist.
He hunts and fishes alot so we are also having him tested for lyme disease (which i understand is treatable).
All this is new to me, and I am trying to learn more. I have a few questions, I hope people can address:
1) Are there any stats that would indiate how many 'probable' diagnosis become 'confirmed'? ie Once the probable diagnosis is given, what percanatge of people end up being diagnosed as not having ALS?
I am still hoping it is something else, but would like to know what the statistiscal chances are.
2) If he is eventually diagnosed as confirmed, what are the chances that it is a inncorrect diagnosed?
3) I really do not know what to do at this point. He is depressed, and I am getting scared. Untill now I have been telling him and my parents that at his age its unlikley, and not to jump to any conclusions yet as it has not been confirmed. But inwardly I am really getting scared that he may have it.
What type of attitude have you taken in this situation? Should you try to keep everyone optimistic, take their minds off the stress?
Thanks in advance for any help.