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LTZS

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Hello guys,

First of all, my respect goes out to those already diagnosed and still maintaining the positive attitude
I have seen on this site in your helping posts.
(Please, forgive my grammar mistakes as I am writing from a non English-speaking country.)

Let me tell you my story which is a bit long and complicated, thus hard to solve for the doctors.

I am a 36 YO professional soldier, and spent 6 months in Kosovo on a NATO mission in 2009.
My symptoms started in July after having been there for 2 months. In the next 2 months
I had quite strong pain in the right side of my head: face, ear, eye and rear side of the neck.
In August I came home for a short leave and went to our military hospital where eye and ENT
doctors checked me, my head was X-rayed and I was told they were not able to find anything.

In September, already back in Kosovo, the right side of my face got a bit asimmetric comparing
to the left side but it basically showed only when I smiled and my mouth didn' look the same on
the two sides. I was referred to a field hospital where there wasn't any neurologist so I was
checked by an ENT specialist. He made a CT of my head which showed no tumour or bleeding, so
I was released with the diagnosis of migraine and mild Bell's palsy (Bell's palsy means that reason
of the facial palsy is not known). I was given anti-inflammatory pills.

Also in September, my right hand started to shake when holding something in it, and it felt like
the small joints or the muscles in it were in mild pain. For example, it was painful to shake hand
with somebody. Also, I felt this kind of pain in my right foot (of course not when shaking hand :) ).

Still in September, I noticed that my right forearm got easily tired after a very short period of sport,
and this was the time when twitches started all over in my body. Nothing indicated them - or at least
I was not aware of it -, they just came and went.

Later, in October, my right leg felt a kind of weak but it is very hard to describe as I was still able
to do everything and nobody could tell that there was something wrong with me. It was just a
strange feeling of weakness. No footdrop, but it was definitely harder to lift my right leg when walking.

Also in October, when I was sitting at the dinner table, all of a sudden I felt like I was just watching
the surrounding people from the outside and I was not able to interact or answer questions. I stayed
conscious and it was over in a few mins. After that I felt very tired the whole night.
In the next few weeks it was very hard to concentrate. I was just sitting around the table during meetings
but I was not really able to follow what it was about.

In November I noticed that the muscles in my right palm looked like they were atrophied. It was the most visible
on the muscle that is under the thumb.

In December, already at home, a was in our military hospital for 10 days, where I was checked for a lot of things,
but everything (CT, MR, blood works including Lyme disease) came back with good results. I was released but
was ordered to come back in three months for observation and to check my actual status.
Almost forgot to say that in this months I noticed that my right calf was a bit atrophied.

In December and January we got a lot of snow and I was still able to showel it, but I had to interrupt the work frequently
because my hands got tired fast and they were close to cramp. In general the cold affects badly my hands,
and they feel like rusty when I try to use them.

In March I was sent for needle EMG and NCS, and the results of both were excellent in regards my right leg,
left hand and the right side of my face.

This would be the end of the story but let me sum up the symptoms what I still have:
- twitches all over my body (legs, trunk, arms, shoulders and even my face),
- shrinking muscles in my palms and the upper side of my hands (my left hand is getting involved more and more in the story),
- my hands do not work 100% even at romm temperature but definitely got rusty in cool environment,
- mild weakness in my arms,
- mild weakness in the right side of my face when chewing,
- the perimeter of my right calf is already 1,5 cm (0,5 inch) shorter then the left one and it's getting weaker week by week,
- still asimmetric face
- very mild dysphagia which has been developed over the last 4-5 months.


So, one of my doctors told me that neurology is very logical but the symptoms I produce are not.
To be frank I know it and I would be ready to admit that I went nuts and what I feel is not reality just my imagination.
BUT, the atrophies in my hands and in my right calf are clear proof that something abnormal has been going on for a few months.

I know that the general overview of my status and symptoms points far away from ALS, but I also know that many of you
are real experts in neuromuscular stuff. This is the reason why I am very interested in what you think.
I am a bit fed up with just waiting and waiting and feeling like an extra-terrestrial when going to an appointment with my doctors,
who have no clue what is wrong with me, so any and every opinion and ideas are highly appreciated and welcome from you.

Regards,
LTZS

PS: I am not aware of having been exposed to any poisonous or biochemical material during my mission.
Furthermore, I do not know any other military personnel who developed at least similar symptoms to mines.
 
LTZS, why are you hesitant to name your country and place of residence?
 
Indigosd,

I am sorry for hiding my nationality, but I have two reasons to do that.
First, since my army is quite small, I could be identified easily.
Second, I do not want to generate any unnecessary concern among my fellow soldiers.

That is all. Do not consider it as a sign of mistrust towards you and the other members of this site.

LTZS
 
Dear LTZS,
My husband is an AirForce veteran who has served in Iraq for 3 tours. I have learned that there are many soldiers with neurological problems that are difficult to diagnose- Have you had the heavy metals, toxins tests?

Good luck to you. Peace,
 
LTZS,

I know you said you tested negative for Lyme but Bell's Palsy is its neurological hallmark. Also neurosyphilis causes Bell's Palsy.

Kelly
 
Dear Melodyparrish,

I know that many US Air Force and Army veterans are suffering from mysterious, sometimes unidentified neurological diseases. I hope that your husband is not one of them.
Thanks for asking about the heavy metals and toxins. I will ask my doctors about them.

LTZS
 
Dear Kelly,

Unfortunately, as I know, it is very hard to diagnose Lyme because the tests are not really reliable.
Since I have already been tested negative I don't know whether it makes any sense to retest.

Thanks anyway for your opinion.

LTZS
 
Dear LTZS,
My husband, unfortunately, seems to be one of those who has become one of those soldiers with undiagnosed health issues. He is now waiting to be seen by a doctor within a special clinic for "Difficult to Diagnose War-Related Illnesses". They think it may be ALS, but his symptoms seem to be progressing more slowly than is "typical" for ALS (of which we are extremely thankful!)

Good luck to you!
Melody
 
LTZS Bro,

I feel your pain!

Been dealing with Exhaustion/ Muscle weakness/ Joint Pain since Jan 09, I was diagosed with sleep APNEA last May, I have been dealing with most of your issues since about August 09, Muscle flutters are up to my neck and face now, so pretty much all over. Something I had forgotten about is what happened to you at the dinner table, it happens to me on occasion while trying to multi-task, exert myself physically or deal with my Commander it's like hypoxia (I get closed in and very confused).

Started seeing a neurologist in September 09, Have had all kinds of blood work done... I'll have to ask my PA on base this Wednesday to see if the Ferritin test is the same as Heavy Metal/Toxins test discused previously in the post? I'm also going to request they do a Lyme disease, it can't hurt right? Had an MRI done in Feb? and they say it's what we discused... discused when? and an EMG/NCS in Mar (Abnormal examination) Chronic bilateral Median/Unlar Mononeuropathies at the wrist's/elbow's. The Doctors conversations go in one ear and out the other, I don't understand a word they say, thats why i'm there to see them... I have issues! In my case memory is shot! and a lot more! Why can't they put it on a word document print it out like i have to do to remember why i'm there, and what issues i'm having and when they occur.

Hey, I'm sorry to Rant and Rave but I had never thought i could have anything near ALS till my Neurologist nonshalantly says last week, well it's like we thought, it's looking like ALS (well, it's a good thing i don't work for the USPS... If i were a weaker Man I could Go Postal!). You know i was in his office for 20 minutes talking to him and thats all I can remember, it's looking like ALS. What a Dick!

Once again sorry to Rant! I had been led to believe i was dealing with Dystonia till last weeks... it looks like ALS comment!

Later, and I wish you the Best!
Dino
 
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