Patricia
What reason would you have to tell half-truths? That's simple: you don't actually know you are because you simply don't understand (you might think you do, but I assure you, you don't . . . ergo, your intial post in this thread). We are actually saying the same things, I simply made it more clear. I am right in what I'm saying . . . so are you . . . you just didn't tell the whole story. It's as simple as that.
Your story, as you told it in your first post, states that you had brisk reflexes as an early sign. That is an upper motor neuron problem. You also state that you had a clean EMG. That tells me that you started with upper motor neuron involvement (at the very least, upper motor neuron dominant ALS and maybe PLS or maybe pseudobulbar palsy, which I explain below). Then your EMG was indicative of lower motor neuron involvement. Then and only then, you were given the diagnosis of ALS. There was always something wrong with you but the neuro's weren't certain what it was. That is why you got further tests and eventually (and unfortunately) it was sorted-out with your dirty EMG's.
You also state that your symptoms were bulbar intitially with clean EMG's. What you didn't tell us is if the EMG was of the bulbar region or of your limbs or both (again, not the full story). If you did get the bulbar region needled and it was clean, that means the bulbar symptoms were from the upper motor neurons and it could have been a pseudobulbar palsy, which is why the neuro didn't diagnose you with anything in particular at that time (they had to wait and see, which is exactly what they did). MG was also a possibility, because a typical EMG is clean with MG (single fiber EMG's will detect it, though), which is why you were treated for it. As soon as the other signs and symptoms were evident over time (that would include your EMG that was indicative of ALS), then and only then were you given your diagnosis.
P.S. I don't like it when people panic, so don't tell me or anyone else on here that "I love this stuff." That is why I stepped-in after your intitial post. I was keen enough to see it was a disaster waiting to happen. Looks like I was right. Oh, and I didn't back peddle for an instant (I was consistent in everything that I stated)
P.P.S. I also want to make it clear to the other people reading this thread that if you have lower motor neuron signs and symptoms and your EMG is clean, you simply do not have ALS. This is especially true if you have a clean clinical exam (this is something that Patricia failed to mention). If you have other types of symptoms indicative of upper motor neuron involvement, then the story is unclear at that time and the neuro will take a "wait and see" approach to see if the lower motor neurons become involved and the EMG will detect it.