out of nowhere sudden slurred speech

[lori4you]

hi, I woke up two weeks ago. I was talking fine. Everything was normal. The next thing I know my throat closed up and my speech was extremely slurred.
needless to say, I got nervous and I went to the ER. They did a CAT scan scan and an MRI of my brain. Everything came back normal so I saw the neurologist and they did a full work up of my tongue and face. She saw that my tongue deviated to the left and noticed my slurred speech that said she told me that I did not have ALS and that you can see damage to the hypo glycol nerve in the brain and that she did a tongue study. Listen to me talk and told me that I have functional neurollogic disorder.
that said I am still slurring. I am having a hard time chewing and I’m having a hard time believing that it’s not something like ALS because it’s not giving up that said it literally came out of nowhere. I have never had a speech problem in my life. it’s just appeared. I was talking normally one minute and bam it hit me and it’s never gone away. I guess what I’m asking is do you feel I should get a second opinion.? also when I stick my tongue out, there’s a bit of a tremor on the side that’s deviated. I sound drunk all the time my friends all say that I sound like Elmo Fudd I guess I just don’t understand why the neurologist didn’t think I had anything other than that. I demanded an EMG and I am going to see a speech therapist on Sunday. I’m swallowing fine that’s not a problem and I smile fine I don’t have any facial spasms or neck spasms. It’s all in my tongue. It’s like I don’t have control over it. Thank you for listening. I’d love to hear your feedback. Best wishes.

 

[Nikki J]

Well it doesn’t sound like any ALS onset I ever heard of Bulbar speech problems are more insidious in that they don’t go from normal to Elmer Fudd instantly. There are also clinical exam findings you apparently did not have. You demanded an emg? Did you have it? You arealso seeing a speech therapist. See what they say

 

[lgelb]

I would also see an ENT. Agree this doesn’t sound like ALS but it’s not like what I think of as FND either.

 

[lori4you]

I agree with you. I didnt think it matched FND either.

 

[lori4you]

Hi Nikki,

my tongue is a bit swollen. so odd. im grtting an EMG at the end of the month. I will certainly keep you all posted.

 

[lori4you]

Hi,

I do have limited range of motion in my tongue. I mean it goes from the left to the right OK but as far as the cheek goes, it’s extremely challenging. that said there is no atrophy no fascinations and it’s not weak. I mean it might be a little weak because I have something going on with my speech that has not gotten better yet. Needless to say I’m terrified.

My clinical evaluation with my neurologist said I was fine and that like I said, had something called functional neurological disorder. Which makes sense because I have been under probably the most horrific stress of my life for the last 10 months Severe-debilitating chronic level 20 pain nobody could get me out of it. I started dissociating to the point where I didn’t even know who I was. Then the next day this came on. I also have fibromyalgia. I have chronic fatigue syndrome, severe depression, and anxiety, which is why the neurologist did go ahead and diagnose me with functional neurological disorder.

Because I wanna be sure I did make an appointment with the head of the ALS department of neurology who is a neuromuscular doctor and we will see what he says. That said my heart goes out to every single one of you although I pray to God it’s not bulbar ALS. Like I said my symptoms came on out of nowhere literally nowhere it wasn’t gradual. It was just Bam. my throat closed and I sound slurred and it hasn’t gotten better. All my friends noticed immediately and they thought I had a stroke (I did not). I drool. it’s just so strange. Excess saliva which I know comes later on in the progression of bulbar ALS.

But I just want to say thank you for all of you. That have been so helpful to me because yes, I am very concerned.

I also have pots. and after I had a seven level cervical fusion, I developed Occipital Neuralgia so I am no stranger to very rare problems. Nicki if you have any input, I would be very happy to hear from you.

 

[lori4you]

Hi all,

if you had 2 neurologists, one of them being the head of the motor neuron dept (ALS- Parkinsons) etc… both say i absolutely do not have ALS, although i have most symptoms, would you drop it? they even said putting me through an EMG would be pointless. TY!
they both saidI have FND. The neuromuscular doctor I saw today is listed on the ALS clinic board for people wanting diagnosis.
Lori

 

[Nikki J]

We didn’t think it sounded like ALS. Apparently your clinical presentation and exam didn’t look like it to two different neurologists one of whom has what sounds like stellar expertise in als.

Since 2/2 experts say fnd I would seek an fnd specialist as soon as possible fnd is treatable especially if caught early - and I would turn a few cartwheels in elation and relief that they have so strongly ruled out als

 

[lori4you]

Hi Nikki,

yes. Very strongly ruled out. Its pretty scary when you have pretty much all of the symptoms. You have been wonderful. i’m actually quite grateful that they even acknowledged that I had symptoms very similar. That actually makes me feel like they know what they’re doing.

 

[lori4you]

Nikki-, I had excess saliva on abrut onzet, and I am now seeing fasciculations on my tongue. my slurring of my speech comes and goes. It’s not always bad. There’s some days that are better than others. I’m constantly trying to swallow. I can eat food. That’s not a problem, but it stays stuck in my throat. I kindly asked my neurologist to do an EMG both of them who are highly trained. One of them is an ALS director as you know, simply does not feel that I need to go through this Nicki, have your thoughts?