Seadawg
New member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2012
- Messages
- 4
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- North Carolina
- City
- Winston Salem
Good morning. I'm 48 and new to the forum. My fiance (God bless her loving heart and soul) has been on here awhile doing all the research on my condition at this point. I am in the diagnosis process of either MG or ALS. It started three years ago with just a nasal voice that has very slowly worsened. At the encouragement of my employer (I do a lot of public speaking) and my fiance' I finally sought relief last June thinking they would just find nasal polyps. A MRI, blood work, EMG, single fiber EMG and other tests later it seems they are no closer to telling me what's going on. Most of my symptoms would point to MG I am being told (slurred, nasal speech, saliva, difficulty in speaking). However, blood work has shown negative for MG, and attempts to alter the symptoms with first mestinon and now predinsone (60 mg) have only made the symptoms worse. I fought the predisone treatment for four months, not wanting to put steroids into my body, until I experienced sharp pain in my right shoulder, which then spread into my left shoulder. The pain is sporadic and can come from something as simple as turning a door knob. I am currently under treatment at Wake Forest, but have sought a second opinion from Duke and am waiting for an appointment. In the meantime Wake has scheduled a follow-up now that I am on the predisone. My reason for a second opinion comes more from wanting to work with someone I'm comfortable with than with any dissatisfaction of service. I guess I am just in here for support. I have just allowed my fiance' to take the lead on this and have tried to ignore everything. However, with the new shoulder issues I realize I should start considering all possibilities. I welcome any words anyone may have that may help in my practicing patience. I really just want to find out what's going on and get on with my new life in Christ and my new partner in life. Thank you.