Christopher843
New member
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2017
- Messages
- 8
- Reason
- Other
- Country
- CA
- State
- BC
- City
- Somewhere
Hello,
First and foremost thank you for creating this site; the people who write here are heroes, truly. I know a number of what society would normally call heroes: men with medals on their chests etc, and the people who fight their own battle with ALS are no less heroic, even more so when they take their time to help others out on this forum.
I have read the stickies and while I admit I do not have any of the primary symptoms of ALS, something is most certainly wrong with me and there is enough of a crossover in symptoms to have me scarred and seeking help, so please don't get upset with me if my symptoms are clearly not ALS. I have done a ton of reading on it and I'm still scared. Thank you in advance for your understanding and compassion.
I'm a Causasian Male, mid 30s.
A record of my symptoms:
Spring 2016 - a small essential tremor developed in my hands
Early Summer 2016 - My calves became stiff 24/7 with no relief. Eventually spread on and off to my glutes.
Early Summer 2016 - Swallowing issues - a small lump or click when I drink liquids, and crumbly foods (muffins, breads, or chewed carrots) get stuck in my throat. I then gently cough it back up and re-swallow.
Late Summer 2016 - I began having balance issues. Losing balance when taking a knee, or leaning on one leg in the dark, or when having to stand perfectly still, I start to drift back and forth.
Fall 2016 - Saw my GP - checked my balance and gave me a full neurological exam - passed. Booked CT to be sure due to balance issues.
Fall 2016 - CT scan showed 2 lesions on my brain. Referred to a Neurologist.
Fall 2016 - Neurologist did full neurological exam - passed. Booked MRI to have a closer look.
Winter 2016 - ENT ruled out any abnormalities in throat via endoscopy.
Winter 2016 - Internist ruled out Parkinson's. Gave me another neurological exam. Passed.
Winter 2016 - MRI showed several lesions on the sides of my brain. Cancer ruled out. MS suspected. Lumbar Puncture scheduled.
Winter 2016 - decreased dexterity in fingers. Nothing stopped altogether (aka no "Failure". Just seemed, off. Hard to explain.)
Winter 2016 - Lumbar Puncture performed. During procedure I confessed to Neurologist that I was fearing ALS. His reply was "If I thought you might have ALS, I'd tell you". I also brought up my finger dexterity. He did a mini neurological exam on my fingers. Passed. He said unless my hand writing decreases in quality, then not to worry.
Winter 2016 - noticed lower lip essential tremor.
Christmas 2016 - Stiffness in calves went away. Glutes remained on and off.
Jan 2017 - Lumbar Puncture for MS came back negative. Relieved at no MS, but also scared about swallowing issues and balance remaining. Neurologist said to put my brain lesions out of my mind as they were from a past cause. No current inflammation of brain fluid.
Jan 2017 - noticed left side of tongue is slightly and uniformly smaller than my right side. Nothing drastic that would cause someone to recoil in shock, but similar to how my left arm is slightly smaller than my right (I'm right handed).
Jan 2017 - stiffness in calves and glutes returned, though not as intense as the summer/fall.
This is where I'm at now. I'm terrified that I may start slurring my speech at any moment. It's like waiting for a bomb to go off. If it was just about me I'd honestly be ok - I made peace with an early death when I joined the army as an Infantryman years ago. But now I have a young daughter and it's the thought of her watching me decline and then not having her Papa around which is destroying me on the inside right now.
Your thoughts and input would be much appreciated, thank you.
Christopher
First and foremost thank you for creating this site; the people who write here are heroes, truly. I know a number of what society would normally call heroes: men with medals on their chests etc, and the people who fight their own battle with ALS are no less heroic, even more so when they take their time to help others out on this forum.
I have read the stickies and while I admit I do not have any of the primary symptoms of ALS, something is most certainly wrong with me and there is enough of a crossover in symptoms to have me scarred and seeking help, so please don't get upset with me if my symptoms are clearly not ALS. I have done a ton of reading on it and I'm still scared. Thank you in advance for your understanding and compassion.
I'm a Causasian Male, mid 30s.
A record of my symptoms:
Spring 2016 - a small essential tremor developed in my hands
Early Summer 2016 - My calves became stiff 24/7 with no relief. Eventually spread on and off to my glutes.
Early Summer 2016 - Swallowing issues - a small lump or click when I drink liquids, and crumbly foods (muffins, breads, or chewed carrots) get stuck in my throat. I then gently cough it back up and re-swallow.
Late Summer 2016 - I began having balance issues. Losing balance when taking a knee, or leaning on one leg in the dark, or when having to stand perfectly still, I start to drift back and forth.
Fall 2016 - Saw my GP - checked my balance and gave me a full neurological exam - passed. Booked CT to be sure due to balance issues.
Fall 2016 - CT scan showed 2 lesions on my brain. Referred to a Neurologist.
Fall 2016 - Neurologist did full neurological exam - passed. Booked MRI to have a closer look.
Winter 2016 - ENT ruled out any abnormalities in throat via endoscopy.
Winter 2016 - Internist ruled out Parkinson's. Gave me another neurological exam. Passed.
Winter 2016 - MRI showed several lesions on the sides of my brain. Cancer ruled out. MS suspected. Lumbar Puncture scheduled.
Winter 2016 - decreased dexterity in fingers. Nothing stopped altogether (aka no "Failure". Just seemed, off. Hard to explain.)
Winter 2016 - Lumbar Puncture performed. During procedure I confessed to Neurologist that I was fearing ALS. His reply was "If I thought you might have ALS, I'd tell you". I also brought up my finger dexterity. He did a mini neurological exam on my fingers. Passed. He said unless my hand writing decreases in quality, then not to worry.
Winter 2016 - noticed lower lip essential tremor.
Christmas 2016 - Stiffness in calves went away. Glutes remained on and off.
Jan 2017 - Lumbar Puncture for MS came back negative. Relieved at no MS, but also scared about swallowing issues and balance remaining. Neurologist said to put my brain lesions out of my mind as they were from a past cause. No current inflammation of brain fluid.
Jan 2017 - noticed left side of tongue is slightly and uniformly smaller than my right side. Nothing drastic that would cause someone to recoil in shock, but similar to how my left arm is slightly smaller than my right (I'm right handed).
Jan 2017 - stiffness in calves and glutes returned, though not as intense as the summer/fall.
This is where I'm at now. I'm terrified that I may start slurring my speech at any moment. It's like waiting for a bomb to go off. If it was just about me I'd honestly be ok - I made peace with an early death when I joined the army as an Infantryman years ago. But now I have a young daughter and it's the thought of her watching me decline and then not having her Papa around which is destroying me on the inside right now.
Your thoughts and input would be much appreciated, thank you.
Christopher