bjamison01
New member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2020
- Messages
- 4
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
- State
- CA
- City
- Rocklin
Hello all,
I want to first take the time to thank those of you that contribute to this forum and assist others like myself who have ALS related concerns. Its a blessing to have you all as a resource, good news or bad, to assist those of us going through challenging health concerns. Your insight and feedback as to my current situation would be greatly appreciated. And let me apologize in advance for the length of this posting. I desperately tried to be concise, but failed miserably.
A little about myself, I'm a 45 year old, happily married father of 2 children (11 and 8 years old). While I am admittedly OCD by nature and am prone to high anxiety in stressful situations, I have, up unto this been blessed with good health. I have never posted a personal health issue to a forum before. However, in the last couple months, I have rapidly developed a variety symptoms that has led significant stress and anxiety in my life; I no longer feel like I have a handle on what symptoms could be stressed induced, and what could be possibly something larger such as ALS.
Before I list my symptoms, I would also like to mention that I did read the "Read Before Posting" articles at the top of the forum. The posts were very helpful, and did leave me inclined (or wishing) to believe that I do not have early symptoms of ALS. Nevertheless, I would be grateful for your feedback.
The somewhat short version of my symptoms:
In mid-september of 2019, I experienced minor swallowing issues with food (getting suck) that went away but resurfaced to a far more significant degree in mid-December. I subsequently underwent a CT scan of my throat and my chest, followed by an endoscopy that has, thankfully appeared to have ruled out cancer. I was advised that the swallowing issues were likely the result of "silent reflux" and was advised to take prilosec for 2 months. The experience caused me extraordinary anxiety and stress as I was convinced that I had throat cancer. During december I dropped about 7 pounds in weight going from 208 to approximately 201lbs. (6'4" tall). Though the anxiety and stress did seem to go away after throat cancer was ruled out.
In early January 2020, my swallowing issues began to surface again, though still not as bad as in December. I have subsequently developed sleeping issues where for the past few weeks I have regularly woken up each evening at about 1-2am with night sweats and have been unable to go back sleep. I'm likely averaging 3-4 hours sleep a night despite being prescribed ativan first and then ambien, neither of which is working.
If you're read up unto this point than your probably wondering why I'm even bothering to post here. Nothing I've said so far likely points to ALS. Here's where it gets extraordinarily scary for me.
* Shortly after the sleeping issues I began to develop fatigue in my both my legs. There were days in the middle of January where the fatigue seemed to subside, but that fatigue is now prevalent and ongoing on a daily basis. Every morning, my legs feel like they ran a marathon the day before. In the last two weeks, my calves, feet, and to a lesser degree my mid-back, have developed an off and on burning sensation (think feet on fire) to the extent that I often cannot place my legs under the covers when I sleep at night.
* Approximately 2 weeks ago I noticed fatigue in my left arm in addition to my legs. Shortly thereafter, I have experienced and continue to experience random twitching throughout my body primarily in my left bicep but also in my calves and thighs. The twitching in my bicep occurs frequently (every 10 minutes to an hour) during the day and night, the twitching in my calves/legs are primarily noticed in the evening and while sleeping. As a result of these symptoms my primary doctor ordered a CT scan of my head which did come back clear.
* Beginning last weekend (2/1/20), the muscle fatigue has now spread to my right arm, both my hands (feels tight and cramped), and to a much lesser degree my jaw. There is a noticeable fatigue in my jaw muscles when chewing.
Every day it feels like the fatigue and twitching is getting slightly worse, though I have yet to experience any clinical weakness as explained in the "read before posting" post. I have no doubt that lack of sleep and stress associated with my health anxiety has contributed to these symptoms, but I'm struggling to believe that stress and sleep loss could manifest to such a physical degree. I do have an appointment with a neurologist on Monday, but I'd welcome your feedback in advance.
Thank you,
I want to first take the time to thank those of you that contribute to this forum and assist others like myself who have ALS related concerns. Its a blessing to have you all as a resource, good news or bad, to assist those of us going through challenging health concerns. Your insight and feedback as to my current situation would be greatly appreciated. And let me apologize in advance for the length of this posting. I desperately tried to be concise, but failed miserably.
A little about myself, I'm a 45 year old, happily married father of 2 children (11 and 8 years old). While I am admittedly OCD by nature and am prone to high anxiety in stressful situations, I have, up unto this been blessed with good health. I have never posted a personal health issue to a forum before. However, in the last couple months, I have rapidly developed a variety symptoms that has led significant stress and anxiety in my life; I no longer feel like I have a handle on what symptoms could be stressed induced, and what could be possibly something larger such as ALS.
Before I list my symptoms, I would also like to mention that I did read the "Read Before Posting" articles at the top of the forum. The posts were very helpful, and did leave me inclined (or wishing) to believe that I do not have early symptoms of ALS. Nevertheless, I would be grateful for your feedback.
The somewhat short version of my symptoms:
In mid-september of 2019, I experienced minor swallowing issues with food (getting suck) that went away but resurfaced to a far more significant degree in mid-December. I subsequently underwent a CT scan of my throat and my chest, followed by an endoscopy that has, thankfully appeared to have ruled out cancer. I was advised that the swallowing issues were likely the result of "silent reflux" and was advised to take prilosec for 2 months. The experience caused me extraordinary anxiety and stress as I was convinced that I had throat cancer. During december I dropped about 7 pounds in weight going from 208 to approximately 201lbs. (6'4" tall). Though the anxiety and stress did seem to go away after throat cancer was ruled out.
In early January 2020, my swallowing issues began to surface again, though still not as bad as in December. I have subsequently developed sleeping issues where for the past few weeks I have regularly woken up each evening at about 1-2am with night sweats and have been unable to go back sleep. I'm likely averaging 3-4 hours sleep a night despite being prescribed ativan first and then ambien, neither of which is working.
If you're read up unto this point than your probably wondering why I'm even bothering to post here. Nothing I've said so far likely points to ALS. Here's where it gets extraordinarily scary for me.
* Shortly after the sleeping issues I began to develop fatigue in my both my legs. There were days in the middle of January where the fatigue seemed to subside, but that fatigue is now prevalent and ongoing on a daily basis. Every morning, my legs feel like they ran a marathon the day before. In the last two weeks, my calves, feet, and to a lesser degree my mid-back, have developed an off and on burning sensation (think feet on fire) to the extent that I often cannot place my legs under the covers when I sleep at night.
* Approximately 2 weeks ago I noticed fatigue in my left arm in addition to my legs. Shortly thereafter, I have experienced and continue to experience random twitching throughout my body primarily in my left bicep but also in my calves and thighs. The twitching in my bicep occurs frequently (every 10 minutes to an hour) during the day and night, the twitching in my calves/legs are primarily noticed in the evening and while sleeping. As a result of these symptoms my primary doctor ordered a CT scan of my head which did come back clear.
* Beginning last weekend (2/1/20), the muscle fatigue has now spread to my right arm, both my hands (feels tight and cramped), and to a much lesser degree my jaw. There is a noticeable fatigue in my jaw muscles when chewing.
Every day it feels like the fatigue and twitching is getting slightly worse, though I have yet to experience any clinical weakness as explained in the "read before posting" post. I have no doubt that lack of sleep and stress associated with my health anxiety has contributed to these symptoms, but I'm struggling to believe that stress and sleep loss could manifest to such a physical degree. I do have an appointment with a neurologist on Monday, but I'd welcome your feedback in advance.
Thank you,