Emotions

[Nater]

I was diagnosed with ALS almost two years ago, but I've always had my doubts. One thing that was consistent with the diagnosis was my inability to control my emotions. Mainly I had trouble not laughing excessively and would cry easier than would be considered normal. Though I've never felt that I laugh or cry when inappropriate, just that the intensity of both was heightened. Anyway more recently, over the past few months or so, I've seen a significant improvement in these areas. I feel relatively normal now with regards to my emotions and do not find myself laughing uncontrollably in mildly humorous social situations. Also, not sure if this is related or not, but I've been having dull sensations, (nothing really painful, but it is noticeable) in different areas of my head. Some in the temple areas and also on top of my head and occasionally in my jaw. I guess I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with either of these things.

Thank You

 

[Ms. Pie]

The emotional outbursts I do have. I usually have a good reason but sometimes it's over the top. It's called emotional liability. Neudexta is a prescription that is very helpful for that. Not sur about your aches and pains though!

 

[Barbie]

How were you diagnosed? if you have doubts, you should definitely get a second opinion from an ALS specialist. Just for the peace of mind it is worth the money and most insurance will pay for a second opinion.

Are you progressing in other areas? is the emotions the only thing that has improved or has other symptoms improved also?

B

 

[Austrian Sinto]

Re: Emotions, Greetings from Vienna

Dear Nater,
I am from Vienna/Austria/Europe, I dont understand every english word, but I would like to write to you. We both are diagnosed ALS. I am also adviced to call a second group of doctors to clear up how sick I am, although "everybody" talks of a MND. We both know what it can mean to suffer a MND, Nater. So i think IT IS NORMAL when I sooner weep or sooner laugh, when I am sometimes more depressed and somtimes I am happy about the moments with people I love. My body akes: crams in my arms. I have multiple fasziculations in my muscles, some months ago just in my left upper-arm, NOW almost in my whole body. I am going to be a little bit weaker. I MUST, we MUST be scared sometimes. These are serious deseases, medical not completely understood. When we are full of fear, when we are depressed, etc., yes, we have good reasons for that. We do have to react emotionally on this "diagnoses", more suspisious would be not to react at all or just to smile allday.
Nowadays I also have to laugh sometimes a lot. But I know why: Isnt it an incredible nice springtime in Vienna!? Look how nice the father is playing with the daughter in the park. Or I laugh because of one of my friends, how nice it was in our time together and how good it is to be with them now. I also feel more intensive, I also feel, it is normal.

Greetings from,
Ok, it is now raining,
Vienna

Thomas Weiss

 

[olly]

I dont have inapropriate emotional liability (wrong time) but i do have the over the top laughing....somethings not that funny but the laughter bursts out loud and hysterical....found a great funny caption picture about this.
I can get weepy over tv programs,something i have never done before.

 

[jellis86]

olly....

that's how I would describe my "outbursts"....not at inappropriate times but WAY over the top. If I am watching TV and something sentimental occurs, I practically start crying....hell, I do start crying! I try and control them with every ounce of my being, but to no avail. Funny stuff is less likely to affect me, although at times I laugh too much at little jokes. But it's more on the sad/sentimental side of things that gets me.

Bad thing is, sometimes I am so emotional, I miss parts of the show when something occurs....so I back my TIVO up and cry all over again! LOL!

 

[Nighthawk]

What really annoys about these "outbursts" of laughing/crying is that, when I am upset for some reason, instead of just being upset, I would start laughing instead and, at home my caregivers would think that I am happy at the moment when I am not.

:?:


NH

 

[Wesley Cheek]

It was just a question if anyone here has ever experienced that. I Know an ENT doctor can help but I have no insurance so therefore, cannot go to one.

Sorry to bother you.

 

[Cricket]

I know what you guys mean. It feels like I've "lost it" and it's like I can't control the muscles of my face either. Makes me feel silly or vulnerable. Seriously bugs me when this happens. Argh!*Actually kinda reminds me of the part in*the movie "Holy Man" when Eddie Muphy plays with the remote control of the "Instant Tuck".

 

[Austrian Sinto]

Dear People,

I heard, the diagnoses of MND depends strongly on different neurological and other medical (electrical,...) explorations that have to take place at least for two times to be scientific.
I also heard, being upset about the "diagnoses" and/or the sensations (weak, fasziculating, ...) in the body and/or the new situationis a must. We must react on this in some way. We ARE in completely new situations. Future was thought to be different to what now "is". What will be? And when? How long will I ... ? Etc. Other happy questions?
Today I watch people in the bus with new eyes, I see live with new eyes, I find myself in public situations where i could weep because it is so nice to be also here. And one day I looked into a furniture-shop and got weepy because I can never ever be a carpender again. I also had to decide not to take new children as patients in psychotherapy. I give away hundrets of my loved books to help founding a circulating library for a small social club in Linz/Austria. I learn(d) to devide the important from the less important books.
We all have to say good bye to a lot of things, to every-single-thing during a not known period.
Yes, I can get a bit weepy over tv programs, something i have done before too. Watch "Green tomatoes at the whistlestopp cafe", maybe you are also touched from this story in another story about relations between people. We have been and are feeling humanbeings. Weeping, fearing something, being without an idea, ... is not reserved for children.
At times I laugh too much at little jokes too. Ok. I have nothing to lose. I won a lucky crazy funny laughing moment and feel a bit better now. I try to give myself permission just to be here and laugh as it is.
I can weep the other time. And then I try to design it relaxed, it does not matter where I am. Sometimes I try to breath during weeping, dont hold it back all times. It costs a lot of power to hold back the tears all time and affects the body too, so that I dont feel very good afterwards. With weeping I can get rid of some tension in my body. With laughing too.
Besides Rilutek (Riluzol inside) I dont take medicaments since one year. Perhaps I am not depressed enough. My reactions - I think - are normal, understandable, expectable.

See you
Thomas Weiss