I wish someone could tell me what's happening. My mom was diagnosed the first week of July but started having noticeable symptoms mid January 07. She suspects she had more mild symptoms (muscle weakness, fatique, etc) a couple years ago. In January she fell and couldn't get up without help. By mid April she was using a walker to get anywhere. By the end of May she was primarily using a wheelchair and only using the walker for very short distances. When she went out of town to see a neuromuscular specialist (the doctor who ultimately diagnosed her) she was still using the walker somewhat. When she came back a week later she was unable to take any steps because both her feet are limp and won't move and have a blueish tint to them. She had heart problems before any of this ever started as well.
The specialist who diagnosed her, based on EMG and muscle biopsy, said the disease is progressing very rapidly and told her to come home and get her affairs in order. Since coming home (July 8th) she has lost all ability to use either leg, her voice is almost entirely gone, is having significant swallowing problems and she is drooling and choking on mucus. We are taking her to an ALS clinic out of town this weekend (Aug 3rd) unless she decides she doesn't want to make the trip. It's about a 5 hour drive from where we live...and the closest possible place for us to go.
She is having a very hard time breathing and says it feels like her throat and chest is "contracting" or having spasms or something. Her face twitches non stop and her arms and legs look like there is something squirming just under the skin all the time. Me and my dad are her caregivers, when he is working I stay with her and when he is off work he takes over for a couple days. She has home health care services and they have been great but she is too scared to let them do much of anything. She told me today she is ready to die, and doesn't want to live this way anymore. I try to imagine how horrible this is for her but at the same time it has all happened way too fast and I am terrified. What is happening? Is my mom already dying?
please someone reply to this
The specialist who diagnosed her, based on EMG and muscle biopsy, said the disease is progressing very rapidly and told her to come home and get her affairs in order. Since coming home (July 8th) she has lost all ability to use either leg, her voice is almost entirely gone, is having significant swallowing problems and she is drooling and choking on mucus. We are taking her to an ALS clinic out of town this weekend (Aug 3rd) unless she decides she doesn't want to make the trip. It's about a 5 hour drive from where we live...and the closest possible place for us to go.
She is having a very hard time breathing and says it feels like her throat and chest is "contracting" or having spasms or something. Her face twitches non stop and her arms and legs look like there is something squirming just under the skin all the time. Me and my dad are her caregivers, when he is working I stay with her and when he is off work he takes over for a couple days. She has home health care services and they have been great but she is too scared to let them do much of anything. She told me today she is ready to die, and doesn't want to live this way anymore. I try to imagine how horrible this is for her but at the same time it has all happened way too fast and I am terrified. What is happening? Is my mom already dying?
please someone reply to this
