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SEproud

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hello everyone,
i am a 35 year old mom of 6 children ages 4 months to 15 years old. on 4/22 i started having difficulty swallowing. i feel like my throat and tongue are heavy. i have alot of excess swallowing. for 1 - 2 weeks i have had neck shoulder pain. like a crick in my neck. my hands and sometimes feet have cramps too. i am devastated and scared. i want to enjoy my family but im scared to leave them. i am thankful that at least its my health that is deteriorating instead of one of my children. i also have twitches (not bad just short and random) in all limbs and head.
 
It would be better for you to post in the "DO I HAVE ALS" forum. But, to respond to your post, your symptoms are not indicative of ALS, at all. If you are worried, go to a reputable neurologist for an evaluation.
 
It's too soon to even contemplating "leaving your children". What does the doctor say is going on? Why do you think you have a terminal illness? If you let yourself get carried away, guessing what you might have , you will get all the signs of excessive anxiety like twitching muscles, fatigue and perceived swallowing issues.

Get yourself to a doctor asap, so your anxiety does not become your main problem ( if it has not already).

Aly
 
Have you seen any drs yet? What have they said? I can relate to being scared with little ones. As mothers we carry much worry. Hang in there!
 
I'm sorry. I didn't know there was I think I have ALS website. Thank you for your responses. I am going to try and get to a neuro soon. It's hard to find the time alone to do it, so I am just praying for now.

Thank you again.
 
Have you seen a Neuro yet? Have you had any testing yet? If not, please don't think ALS. There are so many things it could be. We all understand your fears, however we can't offer anything regarding a diagnosis. ALS differs from person to person, however the end result is the same.

Please make appointment asap. I saw Dr. White with Virginia/Richmond Neurology. He is at the office off of Midlothian near Big Lots. He is absolutely the sweetest/funniest Neuro I've ever met. Good luck! Let us know after your testing.

Prayers for you...
 
Dang...my post was sent to moderation. Hopefully it shows up soon. :(
 
You don't need to go to a neurologist yet. Go to your primary care physician and let him/her check you out first. If you need a specialist, your PCP will know who to send you to.

A computer with an Internet connection is not a substitute for a primary care physician.
 
I did go see my PCP who suggested a neuro. My Pediatrician actually recommended Dr White because he is a patient of his himself. However, I called and he was booked until December for new patients :( so i figured I would just wait it out.
 
Trust me, if your PCP was concerned with whatever symptoms you presented--the PCP would have gotten you seen by a neuro--and it wouldn't have been 6 months down the road, either. Neck pain and stiffness aren't signs of ALS--so try not to worry yourself half to death.

Ask your doctor to make the referral--people that just call on their own always wait longer than those referred by the physician office.
 
You would have gotten in faster if your symptoms were more indicative of ALS. Also, don't think of the worst so fast! You are already talking about leaving your children when most people many months sometimes years after already being Diagnosed have not even let that thought enter their heads. Sounds like you have anxiety as a symtom so watch that...way to do this, see if your symptoms persist even when you are not thinking of it. Be truthful and honest. Obviously if you get much worse before Dec. go back to PCP and if they feel you are exhibiting more symptoms and NEED to go to neuro they will push that appt. up. However, at this point with the symptoms you described it does not sound like you have MND/ALS.
 
Thank you for all of your advice . At this point I am so anxious about this that I don't think I CAN stop thinking about it. Would anti anxiety meds mask my symptoms or help me see if they get worse? I have never taken meds before but with a newborn I am having trouble managing the thoughts of her not knowing me. (which I guess is anxiety) BUT my syptoms did come before the anxiety. Does this make sense? Anyway, Thank you and I am going to get into a neuro soon.

prayers for all ...
 
Hon,

The most likely cause of your issues are something in your cervical spine. The c-spine can affect the arms and hands. You have a new baby--are probably not getting a lot of rest--and are dealing with the other kids as well. How many times a day do you bend and lift? I'd bet a lot.

Please--look more at the simple causes. ALS just wouldn't have started with just one day out of the blue waking up with swallowing issues. In ALS, the excess saliva you've read about isn't that they are producing more saliva--it's that the throat doesn't work as well and swallowing it is more difficult, basically.

In bulbar ALS--the normal first thing would have been slurred speech--and even that would have been something gradual--most likely noticed by others before you noticed it.

Yes--something for anxiety could help you feel better. Get out of this morbid thoughts phase any way you can, because it's simply only going to make your symptoms worse. Not intentionally--but at this rate, you're going to notice all sorts of things a normal body does that you've never had the time or inclination to notice or be concerned with before.

Relax. Let your doc know that the anxiety is taking over--be honest with your doctor. Really--something in your neck or something pulled is the MOST likely cause of your problems.

Feel better and congrats on the new baby
 
thank you so much! u dont know how much i appreciate you taking the time to answer me. i dont have anyone over the age of 11 to talk to since hubby works all the time so thank you again. i have this trembling feeling in my upper body. its nothing you can see on the outside just like my upper body is vibrating like someone stuck a cell phone inside of me. i hope it goes away. i feel horrible :( my poor husband works so hard as a teacher, i hope he wont have to take care of me too.

thanks again for taking your time
 
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