Jb72796
Member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2021
- Messages
- 10
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
- State
- NY
- City
- Brooklyn
I’m John and I’m 34 years old and I have had some breathing issues for at least the last 3 years. I seemed to have trouble getting a deep breath. It would come and go in flares. I then caught covid last March and my breathing is now much worse. I’ve also been diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome the hypermobile version and also an autoimmune disease called relapsing polychondritis. I’ve had full lung and airway work up since covid to rule out every possible cause of my breathing issues. Right after covid I had developed a weak cough. I couldn’t take a deep breath anymore, specially feels like the right side of my throat, the right side of my chest and right diaphragm are all comprised. They seemed to have to work hard to get a breath. The last 2 weeks my cough has gotten even weaker and I’m very scared I’ve got ALS. I had some leg weakness in the summer last year while bike riding. I noticed that I can’t ride as long as I used to, the muscles feel like they have to work harder to cycle and I get tired quickly. It feels like a decline in strength. My biggest concern is my breathing. I use a CPAP at night right now. I had an EMG done in May last year and it was clean. I just had one redone since the onset of the more severe symptoms. Still waiting for those results.
I had a spinal tap at the time as well which was all clean also. I noticed the weak cough almost immediately after the spinal tap. Like the next day.
My next question is, can another condition cause the weakness of cough? I also had a standing sniff test and showed nothing.
The muscles in my throat also seem weak. I used to be able to used my neck muscles to take a breath and strain a little but now when i try it’s useless. I can’t grab a deep breath. Feels like intercostal muscles are weak also.
Just scared it’s respiratory onset ALS? Going for more tests next week. I had a brain MRI done last year also which was clean. When I cough it’s as though the air flow is very limited and I can feel the muscles around the lower throat, specifically the sternocleidomastoid like being held back and limited in movement. I’m a health teacher so I have some basic knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the body. Any input is appreciated. God bless!
I had a spinal tap at the time as well which was all clean also. I noticed the weak cough almost immediately after the spinal tap. Like the next day.
My next question is, can another condition cause the weakness of cough? I also had a standing sniff test and showed nothing.
The muscles in my throat also seem weak. I used to be able to used my neck muscles to take a breath and strain a little but now when i try it’s useless. I can’t grab a deep breath. Feels like intercostal muscles are weak also.
Just scared it’s respiratory onset ALS? Going for more tests next week. I had a brain MRI done last year also which was clean. When I cough it’s as though the air flow is very limited and I can feel the muscles around the lower throat, specifically the sternocleidomastoid like being held back and limited in movement. I’m a health teacher so I have some basic knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the body. Any input is appreciated. God bless!