Alexkor
New member
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2022
- Messages
- 2
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- FI
Greetings from Finland and best possible day to you all,
A short summary of my spring and symptoms so far.
Background information:
30yo sporty male (pre-covid infection).
-Covid diagnosis end of March.
-After covid strong dizziness and fatigue. Diagnosed with long covid 10 weeks after initial sickness.
-Constant waves of sickness during spring/summer. Two dyspnea attacks during spring credited to long covid / anxiety attacks. Called the ambulance both times.
-Strong health anxiety during this period. Never had one before covid.
-Extensive search for alternative diagnoses, including bloodwork and MRI of head (beginning of June). No findings in these or clinical examination by neurologist.
-Was satisfied and prepared for the long haul / slow return to health from long covid.
THEN,
-Fasciculations started midway through June in stomach, within two week period spread everywhere, head to toe (first to left arm and bottom of both feet). Still ongoing.
-Generalized muscle pain in any used muscle, mostly bottom of both feet, almost burning-like. Also feelings of numbness, tickling and other strange sensations, especially in hands.
-Midway through July I started having problems with swallowing. First with liquids and rapid progression to solids (1 week). Swallowing symptoms were preluded by sinuitis for which I had antibiotics. Swallowing problems persist without significant progression as of now. Mainly on soft diet. Eating is a lot of work / fatiguing.
-Due to sudden dysphagia I went to endoscopy and was examined by ENT. No findings except minor inflammation of oesophagus in biopsy. Also ate medication for gerd 3 weeks without help.
-Sudden neck weakness developed on 10th of August that persists to this day (difficulty holding head up for extended periods, rest helps).
-Noticed minor problems with sphincter muscle.
-18th of August EMG of cheeck, tongue, sternocleidomastoideus, abdomen, axial muscles, right arm and both legs. Also clinical examination by neurologist. No findings.
-9th of September test (the fatigue test with electric shocks) for myasthenia gravis, preliminary result negative.
As of now I haven't had:
-Any noticiable problems with tongue, swallowing problems seem to concentrate to muscles in pharynx. No FEES or other swallowing studies done due to ENT saying these won't give additional information that would help me (?!).
-No problems with voice or talking other than perhaps a little easier fatigability of voice.
-No tongue fascultations.
-No weakness in other areas expect for bulbar. Neurologist didn't see any clinical weakness though.
I am considering on asking for transcranial magnetic stimulation (or MEP) test which is supposedly also sensitive for problems with upper motor neuron. For ease of mind / early diagnosis so medication might still be of use.
Any thoughts or advice?
Best regards and all answers are deeply appreciated,
-Aleksi
Ps. Latest neurologist thinks my symptoms are long covid related. The reason i feel uneasy is the major problem with swallowing/ rapid progression of new symptoms.
I will also be visiting the country's top long covid specialist next month.
Br. -Aleksi
A short summary of my spring and symptoms so far.
Background information:
30yo sporty male (pre-covid infection).
-Covid diagnosis end of March.
-After covid strong dizziness and fatigue. Diagnosed with long covid 10 weeks after initial sickness.
-Constant waves of sickness during spring/summer. Two dyspnea attacks during spring credited to long covid / anxiety attacks. Called the ambulance both times.
-Strong health anxiety during this period. Never had one before covid.
-Extensive search for alternative diagnoses, including bloodwork and MRI of head (beginning of June). No findings in these or clinical examination by neurologist.
-Was satisfied and prepared for the long haul / slow return to health from long covid.
THEN,
-Fasciculations started midway through June in stomach, within two week period spread everywhere, head to toe (first to left arm and bottom of both feet). Still ongoing.
-Generalized muscle pain in any used muscle, mostly bottom of both feet, almost burning-like. Also feelings of numbness, tickling and other strange sensations, especially in hands.
-Midway through July I started having problems with swallowing. First with liquids and rapid progression to solids (1 week). Swallowing symptoms were preluded by sinuitis for which I had antibiotics. Swallowing problems persist without significant progression as of now. Mainly on soft diet. Eating is a lot of work / fatiguing.
-Due to sudden dysphagia I went to endoscopy and was examined by ENT. No findings except minor inflammation of oesophagus in biopsy. Also ate medication for gerd 3 weeks without help.
-Sudden neck weakness developed on 10th of August that persists to this day (difficulty holding head up for extended periods, rest helps).
-Noticed minor problems with sphincter muscle.
-18th of August EMG of cheeck, tongue, sternocleidomastoideus, abdomen, axial muscles, right arm and both legs. Also clinical examination by neurologist. No findings.
-9th of September test (the fatigue test with electric shocks) for myasthenia gravis, preliminary result negative.
As of now I haven't had:
-Any noticiable problems with tongue, swallowing problems seem to concentrate to muscles in pharynx. No FEES or other swallowing studies done due to ENT saying these won't give additional information that would help me (?!).
-No problems with voice or talking other than perhaps a little easier fatigability of voice.
-No tongue fascultations.
-No weakness in other areas expect for bulbar. Neurologist didn't see any clinical weakness though.
I am considering on asking for transcranial magnetic stimulation (or MEP) test which is supposedly also sensitive for problems with upper motor neuron. For ease of mind / early diagnosis so medication might still be of use.
Any thoughts or advice?
Best regards and all answers are deeply appreciated,
-Aleksi
Ps. Latest neurologist thinks my symptoms are long covid related. The reason i feel uneasy is the major problem with swallowing/ rapid progression of new symptoms.
I will also be visiting the country's top long covid specialist next month.
Br. -Aleksi
