Another ALS Imitator

[suzannj]

Just an FYI:
Still trying to pinpoint what may be wrong with me (as I'm having another hard day with fascis, my head feeling like a 50 lb. bowling ball, etc. and can't seem to accept BFS as the answer) and found this on Medscape. Thought it would be of benefit to the Forum:

Synopsis:
"A 44-year-old male was referred for a specialist neurological opinion with a 6-month history of progressive right leg weakness, and wasting and intermittent painful spasms of his right quadriceps. In the preceding month the patient had also noticed progressive weakness of his right arm and difficulty when writing. He had no sensory symptoms."

His neuro's initial diagnosis was ALS, but it turned out he has Celiac Disease!

See this link for the full story:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/563701

 

[planningguy]

Celiac sprue was one fo the things I was tested for early on. It is a good one for docs to explore. Thanks for the heads up,

Robert

 

[hopingforcure]

I have heard of this before, Celiac can be a ugly disease, and can look like so many other things. I remember my son's swimming coaches wife, lost a ton of weight and almost died, they found out she in fact had celiac disease.

 

[suzannj]

Another note (not to go promoting other sites! ) but when I typed "Fasciculations" into the Medscape search, I read about a few other differentials that could mimic ALS. Worth exploring . . .

Robert: Holy cow! I ready your update, but then didn't have time at that moment to reply and just realized when i saw your post that I never did! Needless to say I am SOOOOOOO HAPPY that my 'cup 1/2 empty' feeling was 100% wrong! HOORAY!

 

[mustang22]

I have a lot of family with Celiac. Each family member presented with varying symptoms, no one symptom exactly like the other person's. Yes, yes, yes. Celiac can and often does present with many different neurological symptoms.

Get the blood tests, and, if that isn't definitive, it might be worth doing the "gold standard" intestinal biopsy.

You never know. Good luck!

Mustang Girl

 

[lydia]

So how sad that I have read that study already. Suzann, I am sorry to hear you are not feeling ok...read your friend's note posted right there near your computer...

Lydia