Pg20, I for one, found your story totally credible and I hung on every word. It's always interesting to me to hear how other families went through the process of diagnosis. "Probable" diagnosis is what we heard about my husband until the final tests were in. Fortunately (or unfortunately) that was all within a very short period of time for us, but it wasn't diagnosed instantly! PALS on this particular thread (Do I Have ALS?) seem to be very edgy and defensive, and that's because countless HEALTHY, ATHLETIC people write in, just as you pointed out, that they are twitching, or numb, or fatigued. Their hypochondria really rubs PALS/CALS the wrong way. Your suggestion for these folks to go see a doctor is right on! On a side note, I find it interesting your father was on statins for years. So was my husband. Some doctors believe there is a link. I dropped taking them myself like a hot potato! My best to you, I hope perhaps your father's diagnosis will be wrong. At least if it is ALS, as you said it hasn't involved much more than his arm so his progression is slow. My best to you and your family. Blessings, Nancy