scaredat25
New member
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2006
- Messages
- 4
- Reason
- PALS
- Country
- US
- State
- OH
- City
- Oxford
Hello, everyone -
I apologize right off the bat for being so nervous and worried about this disease. From what I've read, all of you who have been diagnosed with ALS have a great outlook on life. It makes me embarrassed to think that I haven't been living life to the fullest recently because of my fears.
I'll try to make this short. I am 25 years old, in good health, with very little family history of disease (no cancer, heart problems from smoking) other than anxiety.
About two months ago, I started having numbness and tingling in my left arm and hand. Occasionally I would feel it in my leg. I had xrays done and was found to have scoliosis of the cervical spine. Went through some physical therapy - everything appeared to be back on track. At that time, I was also going through a stressful period and experienced twitching in my left eye.
Recently (within the last week or two), I have been experiencing twitches (fasciculations) all over my body. They're mostly confined to my calves, although I have felt (and seen) them in other parts of my body, including my right arm by the elbow, my back upper thighs, my feet, the side of my hand by my thumb, etc. They do not seem to be confined to one side, although the eye twitches that I mentioned previously have moved to my right eye/eyebrow. I have slight cramping in my right calf when I lie down, and experienced slight cramping in my left leg while driving a few days ago. I should also mention that I just started birth control (Nuvaring) last month.
I don't know if I have weakness because I do not really know the signs. I have lost a lot of muscle tone/flexibility over the past few years since getting out of high school and not being as active in sports and such.
My arms do not get tired while drying/fixing my hair after a shower, and I do not seem to have any problems walking. They do not appear to be atrophied, but again, I am unaware of what to look for. My muscles are currently quite sore from going to a huge amusement park on Monday, riding rough rollercoasters and walking everywhere.
I am absolutely terrified that my symptoms are that of ALS. I haven't been doing much of anything for a couple weeks now because I figure "what's the point?" I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon, but recently left a high-stress job and am without insurance. I am willing to pay for peace of mind, but I thought I would come here first and see if I could get any reassurance or encouraging from people who know what it's actually like.
Please help me. This is consuming my life and I feel that I have to hide it from family and friends, which only makes it worse.
I apologize right off the bat for being so nervous and worried about this disease. From what I've read, all of you who have been diagnosed with ALS have a great outlook on life. It makes me embarrassed to think that I haven't been living life to the fullest recently because of my fears.
I'll try to make this short. I am 25 years old, in good health, with very little family history of disease (no cancer, heart problems from smoking) other than anxiety.

Recently (within the last week or two), I have been experiencing twitches (fasciculations) all over my body. They're mostly confined to my calves, although I have felt (and seen) them in other parts of my body, including my right arm by the elbow, my back upper thighs, my feet, the side of my hand by my thumb, etc. They do not seem to be confined to one side, although the eye twitches that I mentioned previously have moved to my right eye/eyebrow. I have slight cramping in my right calf when I lie down, and experienced slight cramping in my left leg while driving a few days ago. I should also mention that I just started birth control (Nuvaring) last month.
I don't know if I have weakness because I do not really know the signs. I have lost a lot of muscle tone/flexibility over the past few years since getting out of high school and not being as active in sports and such.

I am absolutely terrified that my symptoms are that of ALS. I haven't been doing much of anything for a couple weeks now because I figure "what's the point?" I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon, but recently left a high-stress job and am without insurance. I am willing to pay for peace of mind, but I thought I would come here first and see if I could get any reassurance or encouraging from people who know what it's actually like.
Please help me. This is consuming my life and I feel that I have to hide it from family and friends, which only makes it worse.