my story ...

[notme]

As I said--you are going to make your own symptoms worse with your line of thinking. "I hope he won't have to take care of me too" just points more towards anxiety.

Please, call your GP tomorrow and get in to see him/her. Tell the doctor what you're feeling. You should be enjoying the pleasures of the new baby and enjoying life in general, not worrying about a terminal disease.

It's not the habit of those that answer posts here to soft-sell anyone. If there was anything in your symptoms that sounded like ALS--we'd tell you to see a neuro post-haste.

If you DID have ALS--no med in the world would mask the symptoms. So, taking anti-anxiety meds would NOT mask ALS symptoms. Remember, ALS causes LOSS OF USE. You haven't lost use of anything--and your symptoms had a sudden onset. Both of those factors again suggest AGAINST ALS.

There are some great forums that might help with anxiety, though. Sometimes it does just help to talk to someone.

 

[SEproud]

ok one last thing ... I asked a speech path. that I knew about swallowing issues. She said in her opinion (though shes not a dr) it would be difficult to have genuine swallowing problems and neck weakness without some sort of speech disturbance as well. do you think this is true?

 

[notme]

ok one last thing ... I asked a speech path. that I knew about swallowing issues. She said in her opinion (though shes not a dr) it would be difficult to have genuine swallowing problems and neck weakness without some sort of speech disturbance as well. do you think this is true?

With ALS, definitely.

I've done my best to try and reassure you--as have the others. I don't think you're going to believe anyone--but please, see your doctor so you can get back to enjoying being a mom and wife again without the anxiety.

Take care and feel better! I think I already posted that with bulbar onset ALS the first thing noticed is speech slurring--and it's usually someone else that would notice it and point it out.

There can be a lot of health issues in people--and a vast amount have one or two things that when put into the internet come up with ALS as the cause.

The internal tremor you're feeling can even be a stress response, believe it or not.

I'm not discounting the things you're feeling--but I'm pretty sure the cause lies somewhere other than ALS/MND.

It could be anything from anxiety to fibromyalgia to a tired, exhausted mom with a new baby in the house.

No one here can diagnose you--your doctor will likely run some blood tests and go from there.

 

[trfogey]

Go back to your GP and tell him/her that you can't get booked in with Dr.White for six months and he/she needs to refer you to another neurologist because you can't resist the urge to diagnose yourself using the Internet. If you are that concerned about your condition and express that concern strongly enough to your GP, you will get either an appointment with a neuro or a reassurance from your GP that you don't have anything to worry about.

Quit talking to everybody but doctors and reading medical stuff you don't understand on the Internet. Get to a doctor who can help you. Otherwise, we're just wasting our time with you.

Good luck.

 

[Kitchener]

Please remember that ALS is a very rare condition - it's not like catching a cold. There may well be something wrong with you, but working the probabilities it's probably something else. More importantly, it's probably something else that's treatable. I would like to join the chorus here and sing the refrain - get thee to a doctor forthwith..

 

[SEproud]

What would you all do in this situation? I got on to see a neuro. The Neuro was nice, attentive, and understanding. He did a clinical exam. He said that no one can tell anyone 100% that they do not have ALS. He went on to say that ALS "normally" would not present with my symptoms. He said my clinical exam was perfect. I was hoping that he would do an EMG (I think thats what its called right?) to ease my mind so I mentioned that I wanted one. He refused saying that there was no reason to do one. That in his opinion a clinical exam is "better" than that particular test. I went to the lab and had blood work which was all ok.
I asked him about my swallowing difficulty. He said in his opinion it would be unlikely to have a true swallowing difficulty without some degree of speech abnormality as well. He did order me a swallow test for next week to "ease my mind".
I really want to believe this. My neck feels weak and numb at times so its still very concerning. I worry that when I wake up in the morning I wont be able to lift my head (thats what it feels like) BUT i still can lift my head so far. he said the buzzing sensation is fairly common in anxiety. (So I guess he's trying to tell me that I have anxiety) Do you think too many Drs are too quick to chalk everything up to anxiety these days? He sugessted that TMJ and some sort of "posture issues" due to 6 pregnancies (3 in the past 4 years) and years of breastfeeding . My neck hurts. Does something like dropped head syndrome hurt or present in early onset ALS? I didnt ask him that question. I am just waiting and praying I guess.

Thank you all
and prayers to all
you have all been wonderful to answer my questions.

 

[gracefullyteaching]

Hello ARS06,

In my exerience, many of the drs I initially encountered chalked up my complaints of symptoms to anxiety or being a stressed out mom, which in turn made me stressed out. Hang in there, go for your swallowing test, and take it from there. If he ordered a test, he must be listening to you. I can relate as I am the same age as you with a family, it has been the worst year of my life health wise, and as I am not improving, I am trying to be patient with this diagnostic process, but sometimes our emotions get the best of us.
gracefullyteaching

 

[notme]

You don't believe any of us or your neuro. Good luck to you. It's obvious you are convinced you have it, and personally, I'm done beating a dead horse.

Your issues with neck pain are much more likely something pulled. I really do hope you find the reassurance you need somewhere.

 

[trfogey]

What would I do if I got a neuro report like yours? Get on with my life and stop worrying about having terminal diseases that there is absolutely no evidence that I actually have.

What are you going to do? Most likely, ignore your doctors and the knowledgeable people in this forum and continue to scour the archives of this forum and the rest of the Internet, looking for another person who had symptoms kinda sorta like yours.

What you are not going to do by continuing to search on the Internet? Get answers. What you definitely will do? Become even more confused and more panicked as you continue to connect the dots that don't apply to you.

And, while you are searching for more obscure conditions to describe your subjective feelings about your body, try the term "globus" as a description of your swallowing problems.

It's your choice, of course, but it's an awful waste of your time and your emotional energy.

 

[SEproud]

What I meant was, (since i have never been to a neaurologist before) does this sound like good advice from the neurologist? I know no one here is a Dr. but people here might technically know more than the Dr. from personal experiences of their own. It is depressing to feel this way and not know why. I'm not trying to dwell on ALS just figure out why my neck feels like it can't hold up my head and I have throat and arm numbness/tingling/stiff/pain sensations, swallowing issues. I appreciate your time and opinions. Thank you. Maybe an orthopedic would be my next step?

I wish everyone the best

 

[trfogey]

Go back to your GP and let him/her decide what the next step should be, now that neurological issues appear to be off the table. I wouldn't be surprised if an orthopedist was next.

Before you go to the next specialist, though, make up your mind what your primary complaint is. Throwing a large number of unrelated symptoms on the table just confuses things and makes it more difficult and less likely that you'll get a diagnosis in a timely fashion.

 

[Northern Dancer]

Ars06,

Why not consider that maybe you are suffering from a post partum depression? Depression and the accompanying anxiety can be easily treated with medication and psychological support. No matter what physical condition you are in or what strange symptoms you may be experiencing, treating an underlying depression will improve your life and ease your suffering. Make an appointment with your GP and discuss this. It can't hurt.