Mom has ALS and I have questions

[supergirl]

Hi, (I also posted this in Caregiver area by accident)

I am new here and have read some posts...they are very helpful so thank-you. I always avoided researching ALS cause I was scared to learn just how bad it is, but that isn't very helpful to Mum.
I am glad I have somewhere to ask questions...I think Mum tries to ignore her disease too. She says she doesn't like the ALS society because they can't and don't do anything for her.

I have a lot of questions, but I will start with just one:

My mum has lost most of her movement in both legs and she is in her scooter all the time now. She has lately developed an infection on both her feet. Her feet have been really swollen these past several months (I assume this is a symptom of ALS and her loss of leg-muscle ?) and now they are crazy infected. WHY?
Also...the medi-centre doctor prescribed an antibiotic than she had an allergic reaction to! Mum has never had allergies! It was just a penicillin-based drug! Now she is on another antibiotic and we are a little scared.

Why and how did she get that infection?
Is it common to get infections when you have ALS?
Is it common to have allergic reactions?
Did she have an allergic reaction because her immunity is compromised or something?

Thanks,
supergirl

 

[momina]

Hi supergirl, I lost my mother to ALS when I was 18 , it has been 5 yrs and now my aunt is going through it as well, I remember how many questions I had at the time and my mother as well did not want to be involved with the ALS society, beleive me it is the best thing you can do there is so much information that they have to offer, they are everyday making breakthroughs with the disease and if you are involved you will always be updated on this, her swollen feet are a symptom of the disease, one of the first, It is the muscle deterioration, I cannot comment on the anti-biotic as I do not know what she was given, which doctor are you seeing, does he have experience with ALS? have you seen a specialist? how long has she been diagnosed, It will be a very difficult time and the more support you have the better it will be and for your mother as well, keep posting,

Take care

Momina

 

[Al]

Hi supergirl. Welcome to our forum. Could I ask where you are from? The ALS Society here in Ontario can give a wealth of support. They can loan you lift chairs, wheelchairs ,hospital beds and a lot of other things that will be needed down the road. They can also give information on who to apply to for grants for power chairs and other high expense items. My wife had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic once. Only the one kind but it was scary. Infections are not a usual symptom of ALS but some of the other variants of it are caused by auto immune disorders. If the immune system is down infections can set in. Does she go to an ALS Clinic? If you could give us a few more details it is easier to give you back information or advice. Take care. AL. Oh by the way I took your post out of the other area. No point in having the answers split up.