tanyadee82
New member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2010
- Messages
- 3
- Reason
- Loved one DX
- Country
- US
- State
- Virginia
- City
- Big Stone Gap
Hi. I am new to the forum. My mom started having symptoms around 9 months to a year ago. Her symptoms were headaches, sleeping all the time, and slurred speech. She saw her family doctor several times and he kept telling her she was just tired. Finally, he sent her to see a specialist. The specialist ran many test on her (ct, mri, etc) which all came back good. Couldn't find anything wrong. He almost immediately suggested ALS. After several visits he sent her to UVA Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia. They diagnosed mom with bulbar palsy but said it may or may not be ALS. After much research on the internet I came to the conclusion that they were pretty much one and the same. She went back a second time (the appointments were about 3 months a part) and they said she hadn't progressed very much. that was good news. One of the Specialist here at home wanted her to get a feeding tube now because she is getting choked a lot, but in Charlottesville they said NO... not until she had absolutely no other choice. Since the diagnosis of Bulbar Palsy, mom has started having muscle cramps and spasms in her legs which pretty much confirms the ALS. I guess so far she is doing pretty good. Worst thing is that she sleeps so much, she just has no energy. Sometimes we understand her speech fairly well, other times.... not so much. Doctors say that the main concern right now is pneumonia. her upper resp. system has been affected so its weak. My mom is 51 and I am 27.... I feel robbed. I know I have no right to complain... some kids never get a chance to meet their moms. It just seems so unfair...... I don't understand why bad things must happen to good people.