My mother is a 49yr old, previously very healthy and active woman who was diagnosed Monday with ALS. Very beginning of June we started to notice slowing of her speech and a random "giddiness" about her. By end of July she was slurring and having some difficulty with the strength in her hands. By September she was having stiffness in her joints and trouble swallowing. By end of October she could barely walk, unable to step up on a street curb on her own, severely slurred speech, severe weakness in her arms and hands. She is losing weight(only 110lb prior to this!) and falling often. She did a breathing test MOnday and was at 50%. I guess my question is, is this progression "normal"? She just seems to have gone from 0-100 in 5 and a half months and it's terrifying. the diagnosis its self was devastating. I fear that she is declining at a fast pace.