Could this be ALS? Extremely scared!

[Haleylumlum]

Hello everyone, I'm a 26 year old female and I will admit I suffer with severe health anxiety.

However, my symptoms seem so real this time and I'm positive this must be ALS. I have stiffness in my right hand's thumb, pointer finger and middle finger that make it hard for me to even use my phone. I'm able to use it, and I did some work outs with my dad that involved grip strength and it was fine, but the stiff feeling won't go away.

I did 20 pushups and I was significantly more sore in my right arm(the same arm where my hand feels stiff). When I move my right arm around it feels kind of flimsy as well.

I've also noticed twitching in my right arm and right hand. Also in other places such as my back and calf, but the fact that it's also happening in the places I feel weak are terrifying me.

I went to 2 different hospitals in hopes that they could give me an EMG but they didn't. They checked my strength and said it was normal. I have an appointment with a neurologist but that's 4 months away and I can't keep breaking down every day until then.. it's consuming me. I had to move back in with my parents because I'm breaking down multiple times a day. With that being said, please don't feel the need to tell me I'm okay if these symptoms are worrisome.

Thank you all in advance.

 

[ShiftKicker]

Hi-

Please make sure to read this: Read Before Posting. Clinical weakness is the hallmark symptom of ALS. Not feeling weak, or increased fatigue or things feeling heavier, but actual muscle failure. You've been assessed for this and do not show it.

Straight up, your anxiety is seriously affecting your life. What are you doing to address it?

 

[Haleylumlum]

Thank you for your reply. Currently I take meds to stop panic attacks but and a daily anxiety medication but it doesn't seem to be enough.

I think what keeps me feeling so sure that it is ALS is that my mind keeps telling me "this is the very early stages, most people probably had this but didn't notice until their muscles started failing". I'm sorry if that sounds insensitive, but my mind just keeps racing. I really appreciate your response.

 

[lgelb]

The most likely explanation is that you are leaning on, overusing, sleeping on, or otherwise stressing your R side.

Any issue that is truly a sign of ALS and lasts for a significant time is going to be noticed, and if you read previous posts, that's what you'll see in "Newly Diagnosed" and first-time P/CALS posts. You won't read, "I thought everything was fine, everyone said so, and the next day I was diagnosed with ALS." ALS does not show up in the hand, arm, back, calf, etc. all at once, least of all with clean exams.

As ShiftKicker says, getting more/better help for your anxiety is critical so you don't go back and forth with these fears and hijack your future. It can take more than one try to find the best counselor and meds. But it is an investment in your life so you don't have to stay with your parents and can progress as an adult. Really, that effort is what you owe both yourself and your parents, and if you posted here, you can find new things, so I'd get to it.