Precursors of ALS and Vets at increased risk.

[Prayingforyou]

Hello everyone. I read the sticky and some threads in this forum. I want to say my prayers go out to everyone struggling with ALS, or any other health issues, and if you believe in God, I want you to know that you are in my prayers.

I do not know how gradual ALS onset can be. I know it varies from reading about it. I have read some of the posts in this forum, and I think many people who experience twitching and fatigue..then do a google search...and make that link with ALS...that is what brought me here.

I've had many symptoms and have noticed my symptoms of fatigue has progressed. And now that fatigue has led to muscle twitching. I never had an issue yet with foot drop or complete failure of an arm or leg but I'm experiencing what I would describe as a loss of strength and cardiovascular endurance. I know that is not an ALS symptom, but I do wonder if it's a precursor.

Also I was an infantryman in the Army for four years right after highschool, and it is my understanding that this puts me into the higher odds of getting ALS being a veteran. In the Army during basic training they expose you Tear Gas. In basic training they put you in a gas chamber, and make you inhale the gas for a certain length of time. I do wonder if this can effect certain people and cause ALS some how? It's just a theory that I have I suppose.

My symptoms...I have random twitching, usually in the calves, but have had a twitch in my eye that I noticed well over a decade ago that would come and go. I am getting the eye twitching a lot now but also everywhere else, including, forehead, top of my head, knees, etc. and understand that can mean anything, but the twitching has come after months of having foamy urine. Twiching isn't constant, but when it comes on, it's very noticeable, and can last for a a few minutes. I've also had an instance of vertigo, and sinus pressure, followed by my brain feeling it just wanted to shut down. And I will say the twitching came after I got a flu shot and TB shot. Could be unrelated but it's a detail I often look at it. My doctor says my kidneys and function are normal.

To me it doesn't make sense because I'm generating foamy urine for a reason, regardless if I'm super hydrated and drank a gallon of water a day or less. Foamy urine isn't normal to me and it's frustrating my doc doesn't seem to want to get to the bottom of that. Have some of you had foamy urine as a precursor, but had well functioning kidneys is my question. Do you guys think I should ask to see a nephrologist or urologist? Does that sound familiar to you? I'm going a bit crazy not knowing what I'm dealing with. Praying and going to church really helps however. Thanks for your time.

God Bless.

 

[GregK]

If you've read the sticky you know that twitching means nothing. Read it again if you need.

As to urine: I'm pretty sure all ALS patients pee. But that's the only thing urine has to do with ALS. 8^)

You have nothing that sounds like ALS.

See whichever specialist you AND YOUR DOCTOR think is best.

 

[Nikki J]

Hi
First, your risk as a vet is approximately twice that of the civilian population- but double the risk of a rare disease is still low risk. Your chance is one in several hundreds in your entire lifetime

Vertigo, sinus issues and foamy urine are not ALS symptoms. Twitching as is discussed on the stickies and endlessly in this subforum is so common and non specific. Especially eye twitching. I think everyone gets that at times especially if tired or stressed. Fatigue is also nonspecific and in my experience in ALS comes later probably because with weakness every activity takes huge amounts of energy.

Whatever your issues nothing sounds to me like ALS. If you are concerned about the urine then yes perhaps you should see a urologist
Good luck

 

[gooseberry]

Vertigo can be caused by sinus issues or ear infection. With foamy urine I would see pri ary care and ask for a sample to be submitted for micro and cytology, chemistry too. You can rule out cancer, infections, crystals, and out of range metabolites.