Some problems, What do you think?

[UK28]

Oh and if i had Respiratory onset for say 5-6-7 months, What would my O2 sats be now?

 

[Forever]

UK28 You have already receiveds a lot of feedback from people who know a lot about ALS, experts, in fact. They are right, you shouldn't worry about having ALS because the symptoms as you describe them are NOT typical of ALS. PAIN, Headaches, soreness are NOT features of ALS. Think weakness, balance problems, slurred speech. Everyone chokes from time to time, you don't need to have ALS for that to happen, likewise yawning and hiccups. You need to have a proper physical examination by a physician, preferably a neurologist. We on this site cannot diagnose, only give advice, based on our own experience. I think you should give yourself a break, stop obsessing about it, and get real answers for youself from real medical practitioners. Good luck and I hope you find your answers soon.

 

[trfogey]

Would you get a sore or aches in the back with respiratory onset ALS? I have been having a lot of aches and soreness in the neck and parts of my back.

Consult your primary care physician. Sounds like you may have pulled a muscle with your sighing and hiccupping.

-I have had some swallowing issues for between 6-10 months or so, If I had a ALS throat onset problem would I be slurring or choking on everything by now? I do get a slight numb tongue, a lump in the throat feeling, sore throats and a few other things, Does this sound like a ALS thing?

No, if this were caused by bulbar ALS, you would be dependent on a feeding tube by now -- 6 to 10 months later. Plus, your PCP would be complimenting you on how much weight you've lost.

-I do get occasional morning headaches but i also get them during the day and at night, I have had my eyes tested recently and they are ok,

Consult your primary care physician. Also, your eyes may be fine, but the conditions under which you are using them may be poor. Review the lighting in the areas where you read, use the computer, or watch television to make sure that you don't have problems with inadequate or misdirected lighting.

-I get short of breath very easily even when walking (I do have Asthma) but this doesn't seem normal.

Shortness of breath on exertion is a symptom of possible cardiovascular problems. Consult with your primary physician immediately.

-I keep getting hiccups even when i am not eating, Is this a sign of ALS? What about quite frequent yawning?

Consult with your primary care physician. There are other things that can be causing these "problems".

-I am very concerned about the ache/soreness that appears on/off in the centre of my chest ribcage area, I understand that this is a ALS symptom?

Consult with your primary care physician. A pain in the center of your chest, combined with shortness of breath is a symptom of possible cardiovascular disease. Don't fool around with this! You are literally hundreds of times more likely to have a heart attack at your age than you are to have ALS, respiratory or otherwise.

-I get very bad twitching in my right arm which makes my right hand jump a little and i get bad twitching in my right thumb and right index finger but if that was ALS then surely my arm would be weak by now? it feels weak but it might be perceived weakness.

Everybody twitches. Worrying about twitches makes them worse.

-I get a lot of tingling in my back right down the middle and tingling in the hands and my left foot tingles and feels a bit numb and my left leg also feels weak, My doctor tested my reflexes and performed a babinski what does this mean?

Unless your doctor told you that your reflexes were abnormal, then they were normal. Congratulations.

And tingling is not a symptom of ALS. It could be a symptom of a pinched nerve or perhaps a neuropathy brought on by things like diabetes.

-Should i be worrying about Respiratory onset ALS or any form of ALS, Whether it's limb or bulbar onset?

No, you shouldn't be worried about ALS. But I'd be really worried about a heart attack or stroke with the symptoms you're having.

Edited to add: If you had had respiratory onset ALS for the last 6 or so months, you would likely be dead or ventilator-dependent by now.

 

[UK28]

Thank you Trfogey for answering all of those.

I had an ECG as part of a checkup recently which was normal and my O2 sats were checked and they were around 97 and 2 days ago I had a full blood test which I should get the results for within the next 5 days, I am hoping that the normal ECG indicates no Cardiovascular problems.

I would just like to ask a few more things......

*The frequent burping, yawning and quite frequent hiccups are concerning me, Is there a good chance that this could be down to ALS?

*I have had this weird kind of involuntary gasping for at least 6 months, I just have to do like a gasp for air very frequently everyday and it happens anytime, Is this likely to be down to ALS? Or would the fact that I have had it 6 months or more mean that it's unlikely?

*I'm getting more and more headaches and i am wondering whether my breathing is causing this?

*Regarding O2 levels, After 6 months or so of feeling short of breath and this weird gasping if I had respiratory onset would my O2 levels be low or very low by now?

 

[Ms. Pie]

*The frequent burping, yawning and quite frequent hiccups are concerning me, Is there a good chance that this could be down to ALS?

I seriously doubt it. Personally I don't have any of these symptoms. None of them.

*I have had this weird kind of involuntary gasping for at least 6 months, I just have to do like a gasp for air very frequently everyday and it happens anytime, Is this likely to be down to ALS? Or would the fact that I have had it 6 months or more mean that it's unlikely?

It means it's unlikey. I don't have anything remotely like this. Ever.


*I'm getting more and more headaches and i am wondering whether my breathing is causing this?

Maybe sleep apnea? Just a guess.

*Regarding O2 levels, After 6 months or so of feeling short of breath and this weird gasping if I had respiratory onset would my O2 levels be low or very low by now?

Seems like if you had bulbar onset your 02 levels would be low or very low or you might even be dead after 6 months without breathing assistance. Ask your neurologist.

 

[trfogey]

*The frequent burping, yawning and quite frequent hiccups are concerning me, Is there a good chance that this could be down to ALS?

No. What on earth makes you think that burping and hiccupping have anything to do with ALS?

*I have had this weird kind of involuntary gasping for at least 6 months, I just have to do like a gasp for air very frequently everyday and it happens anytime, Is this likely to be down to ALS? Or would the fact that I have had it 6 months or more mean that it's unlikely?

It is not likely to be caused by ALS. The fact that this minor annoyance has been going on for six months with no change in your condition -- definitely not respiratory onset ALS.

*I'm getting more and more headaches and i am wondering whether my breathing is causing this?

Possibly. Could also be thousands of other things, from carbon monoxide in your environment to a malignant brain tumor.

*Regarding O2 levels, After 6 months or so of feeling short of breath and this weird gasping if I had respiratory onset would my O2 levels be low or very low by now?

If this had been respiratory onset ALS, you would be on some form of respiratory support by now. You wouldn't be able to sigh and take in a big breath of air that makes you feel better. You would be struggling for every breath.

Now, I have a question for you. Why are you obsessed with ALS? There are literally hundreds of conditions that can cause the minor symptoms you've mentioned here, so it is completely unreasonable to conclude that ALS is one of the possible explanations as anything other than an academic thought experiment with no practical application or value. So, what is it about ALS that has fascinated you like a moth drawn to a flame?

 

[notme]

When you have symptoms of numbness/tingling on one side of the body--especially that come and go--the thing to be concerned with the most is the possibility of TIA (transient ischemic attack) otherwise known as a mini-stroke.

Burping/yawning/gasping sounds very possible for things like GERD. (Gastric reflux) and even sleep apnea (yawning) or believe it or not, depression. When you add in the headaches, the most likely scenario is sleep apnea--which can cause daytime problems when severe enough. Again--only ONe possibility

Anyone that has chest pain that lasts longer than 5 minutes needs to call 911. It's a sign of a possible cardiac problem. And, you should understand, that not all heart problems are found on a routine EKG. EKG can find a lot--and it can tell if you've had a previous heart attack in most cases--it can't tell if you have certain rhythms that can be life-threatening unless they are happening at that minute (I speak from experience, as I have both atrial fibrillation and have had major runs of PSVT --the afib was finally found on a stress test and the PSVT on a 24 hour heart monitor)

What I think you probably can rule out is ALS--ALS symptoms with no clinical weakness in months would tend to rule it out.

If you are overweight--the problems with breathing are normal, sad to say. When we're overweight, our bodies work harder to get the oxygen to the entire body.

But, like the others have said--if you had respiratory onset ALS (the most rare kind, by the way) you'd have substantial issues with breathing by this time. Certainly at the very least they'd have you on a bi-pap because you'd be really hypoxic by now.

Remember not to try to lump all symptoms under one cause--it's often not the case. Let your doctors sort you out! good luck to you.