SaritaT
Member
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2020
- Messages
- 14
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
- State
- CA
- City
- Pleasanton
Back in January I developed odd breathing problems after going through a bit of a tragedy. My breathing became dysrhythmic, erratic, often labored, often accompanied by chest pain, and as time wore on it became harder and harder to coordinate breathing with talking, eating, drinking, swallowing. I also began to experience spasms of the diaphragm muscle, and eventually noted that my inhale/exhale had become far more pronounced (in terms of seeing chest and abdomen rise and fall) than ever before. My breathing continues this way today, with episodes of such severe chest pain and constriction that I've visited the ER on a few occasions. Sometimes it feels like it's all I can do to keep breathing, my diaphragm muscle sometimes feels weak and overtaxed, and I have the frequent sensation of heaviness in my chest.
Many visits to the doctor and a pulmonary function test and arterial blood gas test have uncovered nothing.
Then a little over a month ago I very suddenly developed trouble swallowing both liquids and solids, with much coughing, throat clearing, and wet gurgly voice, and the feeling that my tongue is involuntarily pushing forward against my teeth and not pulling food backward as it should. And I've had some muscle twitching in my face, in my chin and upper lip. I also developed, again almost overnight, what appears to be gastroparesis, very slow and painful digestion accompanied by chronic belching and nausea. A modified barium swallow didn't show any nasal regurgitation or tracheal aspiration. I'm currently taking Omeprazole (no affect on stomach issue) and awaiting an endoscopy. I have talked to two neurologists, neither of whom have suggested ALS, but could that be what I'm facing? I've also experienced some cognitive/behavioral changes, my higher level thinking seems to be negatively affected and I've exhibited some childlike behaviors totally uncharacteristic of me. Can anyone tell me if this sounds like ALS?
One more detail that I forgot: I've also developed hypersalivation in the past couple of months, and it's very difficult to swallow all the excess. I have not, however, experienced drooling.
Many visits to the doctor and a pulmonary function test and arterial blood gas test have uncovered nothing.
Then a little over a month ago I very suddenly developed trouble swallowing both liquids and solids, with much coughing, throat clearing, and wet gurgly voice, and the feeling that my tongue is involuntarily pushing forward against my teeth and not pulling food backward as it should. And I've had some muscle twitching in my face, in my chin and upper lip. I also developed, again almost overnight, what appears to be gastroparesis, very slow and painful digestion accompanied by chronic belching and nausea. A modified barium swallow didn't show any nasal regurgitation or tracheal aspiration. I'm currently taking Omeprazole (no affect on stomach issue) and awaiting an endoscopy. I have talked to two neurologists, neither of whom have suggested ALS, but could that be what I'm facing? I've also experienced some cognitive/behavioral changes, my higher level thinking seems to be negatively affected and I've exhibited some childlike behaviors totally uncharacteristic of me. Can anyone tell me if this sounds like ALS?
One more detail that I forgot: I've also developed hypersalivation in the past couple of months, and it's very difficult to swallow all the excess. I have not, however, experienced drooling.