Dfa1170
New member
- Joined
- May 22, 2022
- Messages
- 3
- Reason
- Other
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
- State
- MN
Hello and thank you for a community dedicated to helping those in limbo, and the support system for those dealing with this.
Looking for direction and in the process of waiting for my appointment with my neurologist. Have been seeing him for a long time and he has been so wonderful. Long story short for people to share and read:
He is looking at ruling out other things besides ALS and he believes I would be on the potential ALS side of things, but wanting to rule out other things. These symptoms have persisted and gotten worse over the past 6 months
1. I had an abnormal EMG of just my arms to rule out a pinched nerve. Left deltoid showed three areas of dense waves/fibrilations, and small, short polyphasic MUP's, right side showed one small area, but no MUP's.
2. Had 2 MRI's of areas that would be affected by that area and cervical spine, and they came back negative.
3. Had multiple blood tests to rule out a number of things. Most noteworthy, 1. Lactate Dehydrogenase - High (in the muscle/liver) 2. Aldolase - Normal range, 3. CK totals - Normal High range (at top of range), 4. Paraneoplastic Antibodies - Negative
4. Body - Leg muscles have constant fasciculations, noted in front of Dr, arms occasionally. Moderate muscle weakness in both legs, mostly on left side, with more concentrated stumbling. Left side arm is very weak compared to right side. Both hands having trouble opening things (jars, ziplock bags, hold something of weight, walking dogs, etc). Stairs are not my friend anymore, fatigued going up and down (feels like I am carrying 50 extra pounds). Have severe obstructive sleep apnea, and have had bouts of bells palsy.
This is a small list of things overall, but they have ruled out MS, Cancer causing these things, and most other things close to these issues. Have an amazing group of Dr's. I do have chronic Lyme, which I know is a mimic for ALS, but that has been mostly in the form of neuropathy in hands and feet. Never had Covid, and I am vaccinated.
Thoughts and questions I should be asking of my neurologist or any other tests to run while I visit him in 2 weeks? Thanks again for any information or time spent in answering and your help,
Dan 51 years old
Looking for direction and in the process of waiting for my appointment with my neurologist. Have been seeing him for a long time and he has been so wonderful. Long story short for people to share and read:
He is looking at ruling out other things besides ALS and he believes I would be on the potential ALS side of things, but wanting to rule out other things. These symptoms have persisted and gotten worse over the past 6 months
1. I had an abnormal EMG of just my arms to rule out a pinched nerve. Left deltoid showed three areas of dense waves/fibrilations, and small, short polyphasic MUP's, right side showed one small area, but no MUP's.
2. Had 2 MRI's of areas that would be affected by that area and cervical spine, and they came back negative.
3. Had multiple blood tests to rule out a number of things. Most noteworthy, 1. Lactate Dehydrogenase - High (in the muscle/liver) 2. Aldolase - Normal range, 3. CK totals - Normal High range (at top of range), 4. Paraneoplastic Antibodies - Negative
4. Body - Leg muscles have constant fasciculations, noted in front of Dr, arms occasionally. Moderate muscle weakness in both legs, mostly on left side, with more concentrated stumbling. Left side arm is very weak compared to right side. Both hands having trouble opening things (jars, ziplock bags, hold something of weight, walking dogs, etc). Stairs are not my friend anymore, fatigued going up and down (feels like I am carrying 50 extra pounds). Have severe obstructive sleep apnea, and have had bouts of bells palsy.
This is a small list of things overall, but they have ruled out MS, Cancer causing these things, and most other things close to these issues. Have an amazing group of Dr's. I do have chronic Lyme, which I know is a mimic for ALS, but that has been mostly in the form of neuropathy in hands and feet. Never had Covid, and I am vaccinated.
Thoughts and questions I should be asking of my neurologist or any other tests to run while I visit him in 2 weeks? Thanks again for any information or time spent in answering and your help,
Dan 51 years old