Recent content by Karin Bolette Sonne

Hello Laurel- thank you for your good wishes. I am so sorry for the position you are in with your husband and your self with MS. That's a load to carry- but I have a feeling you're a real fighter. You really don't have any choice do you. I wish you all the best in your struggle and send my...

Hello everyone- After 3 years of trying to get a neurological diagnose for my symptom I finally have one. I was at the ALS Clinic at Sunnybrook Toronto in late November. While my symptoms are progressive and extremely similar to ALS Dr. Zinman said that my symptoms are not progressing...

Hay Ottawa Girl- this is a Toronto Gal- Hi I'm Karin. The problem with smoking marijuana is that if you are having breathing problems smoking anything will make it worse. With ALS as the lungs weaken your oxygen low decreases and one retains carbon doxide which causes headaches, dizziness and...

You should know that when ALS affects your breathing and lung function it is because of a lack of oxygen and an increase of carbon dioxide in the lungs causing low red blood cells. Apart from difficulty breathing because of low SO2 it also cause dizziness, headaches and coughing. Deep coughing...

Hi Cathy- I've not been on the site much. We've lost so many people. I use my walker in my apart. but get tired and out of breath in the community. I'm getting a bipap machine on Monday as my HO2 during the night is at 84- quite low and daytime is 95. Hopefully it will improve my oxygen at...

Dear Ian- Beign MND is indeed ALS, just the British terminology. If you're on Riluzole you have ALS. Your neurologist would never have put you on this medication if he didn't think you had ALS. I know this because in Canada both terms are sometimes used, especially if you're seeing a...

Good morning Cathy- Glad to hear your getting a chair and hope you won't have to pay for it. Are your symptons affecting your breathing yet or just your legs? Mine started with swallowing and breathing. For 3 years I've been diagnosed with an undetermined MND? I go back to the clinin at the...

Live your life for awhile and see your doctor in 6 or 8 months and re-explore if your sypmtoms or still occurring. If they've lessened then you're getting better and it likely was an injury, if you're worse then maybe your GP can get a better picture of how to direct your care. I worked in...

On Friday night the Fifth Estate and Canadian Investigative show is airing the story of a British Columbian women who last spring won the right for an assisted suicide through the Provinical courts. Although her win is being appeal to the Federal courts she did continue with an assisted suicide...

Hi Kari- it's Karin Bolette- I've not been on the site for close to a year. My syptoms are now progressing quickly and in November have an appointment at the clinic. Everyone except the clinic has diagnosed me with Bulbar ALS, but now my arms and legs are involved. I got a power chair which...

I Cathy: I told told by my PT not to get a scooter as when syptoms progress steering becomes very difficult do to weakness in arms and balance in your legs. I ended up with a power chair and I'm really happy to have it. It's my chariot and is powered by magical horses. You might want to speak...

Itbeauti- I looked for your site but couldn't find it in the member list. I thought you might want to chat- Karin Bolette Sonne and Karin Bolette are my two sites. I lost my username and reset ending up with 2 sites. Send me a note maybe we have other things in common. Not a lot of people...

I had to stop swimming, which I love doing. About 2 years ago when I wasn't able to get my breath and my legs weren't moving me, I was going under fast, but luckily I was closed to the edge and worked my way back to the stairs. In my good days I swam 40 lengths every day. I didn't like having...

Is our Australian scientist in neurology still around - Karin Bolette:razz:

Other diseases can Mimic ALS- so be open and move forward Yes, you are right- although EMG can be done too early to be clear. What I was trying to explain is nerves can stop working even when they are stronge and effective if other problems get in the way of them transmitting signals and if...