BreBe999
New member
- Joined
- May 12, 2020
- Messages
- 4
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
- State
- IL
- City
- Chicago
Hello,
I’m a 31 year old male concerned about bulbar ALS symptoms.
My symptoms started in mid-March. I would feel minor spasms in my throat when falling asleep that would awake and alarm me and affect my sleep. I didn’t think much of it, but one day I was driving on the freeway with a friend in the car when all of a sudden my throat felt like it closed and I couldn’t breathe. I had my friend take me to the emergency room. They said it was a panic attack (I never had one but I trusted their advice and I tried to move on) .
In the next coming months up until now I have had more consistent symptoms that involve swallowing. It feels like I can’t initiate a swallow (but food and drink goes down fine). I didn’t think much of it, tried to attribute it to anxiety and called my primary care doctor. She also thought it was stress and anxiety and prescribed me vallium. A few weeks went by and symptoms were still persisting so I reached out to an ENT. He ordered a swallow test and exam of my esophagus. The esophagus test came back fine with mild reflux, but the speech exam was different. The ENT and speech pathologist agreed that I had overall weakness in swallowing that was “abnormal for a man my age” and even set up a few speech therapy sessions. They said the condition has the potential for food and drink to enter my lungs. The ENT has referred me to a neurologist because he considers his work done. I sensed concern from both.
Beyond the throat tightness and difficulty swallowing, I am not experiencing any other “bulbar” symptoms. My tongue seems fine. Jaw cracks sometimes but I think it’s TMJ related). I do get some shortness of breath but I attribute it to the combination of stress and swallowing.
I know that the forum states that swallowing is usually not a first symptom, but I’m curious as to what the other possibilities are. If the ENT is thinking is neurological, I’m having trouble not looking into neurological issues, specifically this one. I’m waiting to talk to the neurologist but was hoping to get some feedback in the meantime. I would truly appreciate it. Thank you!
I’m a 31 year old male concerned about bulbar ALS symptoms.
My symptoms started in mid-March. I would feel minor spasms in my throat when falling asleep that would awake and alarm me and affect my sleep. I didn’t think much of it, but one day I was driving on the freeway with a friend in the car when all of a sudden my throat felt like it closed and I couldn’t breathe. I had my friend take me to the emergency room. They said it was a panic attack (I never had one but I trusted their advice and I tried to move on) .
In the next coming months up until now I have had more consistent symptoms that involve swallowing. It feels like I can’t initiate a swallow (but food and drink goes down fine). I didn’t think much of it, tried to attribute it to anxiety and called my primary care doctor. She also thought it was stress and anxiety and prescribed me vallium. A few weeks went by and symptoms were still persisting so I reached out to an ENT. He ordered a swallow test and exam of my esophagus. The esophagus test came back fine with mild reflux, but the speech exam was different. The ENT and speech pathologist agreed that I had overall weakness in swallowing that was “abnormal for a man my age” and even set up a few speech therapy sessions. They said the condition has the potential for food and drink to enter my lungs. The ENT has referred me to a neurologist because he considers his work done. I sensed concern from both.
Beyond the throat tightness and difficulty swallowing, I am not experiencing any other “bulbar” symptoms. My tongue seems fine. Jaw cracks sometimes but I think it’s TMJ related). I do get some shortness of breath but I attribute it to the combination of stress and swallowing.
I know that the forum states that swallowing is usually not a first symptom, but I’m curious as to what the other possibilities are. If the ENT is thinking is neurological, I’m having trouble not looking into neurological issues, specifically this one. I’m waiting to talk to the neurologist but was hoping to get some feedback in the meantime. I would truly appreciate it. Thank you!