DaChief
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2016
- Messages
- 191
- Reason
- PALS
- Diagnosis
- 12/2016
- Country
- US
- State
- Florida
- City
- West Melbourne
Just found this site in my research of what I have come to believe is ALS. My symptoms started 18 months ago with slurred speech. After a beer or two I would sound like I was trashed and my wife accused me on numerous occasions of drinking too much. When it started happening without alcohol she realized something else was up. I had an MRI and CAT scan done per our family DR and nothing apparent surfaced.
Over the next few months I started having swallowing issues. My tongue just didn't seem to work right. My gag reflex started to get pretty crazy. I went to a neurologist and following blood work, he said I had thyroid issues and started me on medication. That did nothing. I had some emotional issues where I would cry at sad commercials like humane society commercials etc ��. I was diagnosed with depression and started on medications that helped mask the emotional roller coaster.
After a year, I started getting twitches in my leg muscles and cramps in my legs primarily at night in bed. I was referred to another neurologist who did a EMG of my tongue related to the speech issues and diagnosed me with Progressive Spastic Dysarthria. He said he didn't think it was ALS because of the slow progression.
While I still walk my dog twice a day for an hour or two up hills here in TN and play golf twice a week, I can feel a difference in my legs lately. I am tired most of the time now and am currently taking two naps a day. I also feel that my breathing has become very shallow and I get winded easy. But I also recover quickly. I do a lot of work on the house and lately my hands have been cramping real bad and almost feel like they are locking up. Not sure I have read about this particular association with ALS.
I do have an appointment scheduled with the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville later this month. I have been doing a lot of research on ALS for the last few months and recently found this site. I am also retired military. Thanks for letting me rant.
Over the next few months I started having swallowing issues. My tongue just didn't seem to work right. My gag reflex started to get pretty crazy. I went to a neurologist and following blood work, he said I had thyroid issues and started me on medication. That did nothing. I had some emotional issues where I would cry at sad commercials like humane society commercials etc ��. I was diagnosed with depression and started on medications that helped mask the emotional roller coaster.
After a year, I started getting twitches in my leg muscles and cramps in my legs primarily at night in bed. I was referred to another neurologist who did a EMG of my tongue related to the speech issues and diagnosed me with Progressive Spastic Dysarthria. He said he didn't think it was ALS because of the slow progression.
While I still walk my dog twice a day for an hour or two up hills here in TN and play golf twice a week, I can feel a difference in my legs lately. I am tired most of the time now and am currently taking two naps a day. I also feel that my breathing has become very shallow and I get winded easy. But I also recover quickly. I do a lot of work on the house and lately my hands have been cramping real bad and almost feel like they are locking up. Not sure I have read about this particular association with ALS.
I do have an appointment scheduled with the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville later this month. I have been doing a lot of research on ALS for the last few months and recently found this site. I am also retired military. Thanks for letting me rant.
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