Pdaddy. - my husband was diagnosed 2/20/08, in hindsight his first symptoms came on about 11/07, but the first noticable symptom was his speech slurring, starting in Jan, followed immediately by right arm fasciculations, and loss of mobility then strength. It has now moved to his left leg, is starting on the right, and the fasciculations are also starting on the right.
So, in that sense, my husband is also experiencing a very rapid progression. However, I do know that some patients have a very rapid decline then plateau... which is what I am hoping for, and that some things are not ALS. For instance, he hurt his right shoulder, we were terrified that it was ALS moving on, and in a few days it was better. What other people further along than us have told us is that especially in the beginning it is natural to think everything is ALS taking over.. and some of it is, but hopefully some of it isn't...
I hope it slows down for you. We seem to be seeing a slow down in the past 2 weeks or so, don't know if it is a platuea or the lithium is working? But, nothing new has given in for at least 2 weeks...praying it stays that way for a while...
Andrea wife of Pals Jim.