anotherguy
New member
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2020
- Messages
- 8
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
- State
- HI
- City
- Honolulu
Hello forum,
Like everyone else, I'd like to thank the members for helping out for free and really assisting many anxious and concerned people. If there's anything I can do other than donating, let me know!
Anyway, I'll try to keep this simple (sorry a little long):
Currently:
I know ALS early symptoms are highly variable, and definitely not looking for a diagnosis here. But, do you guys think that ALS could be something to watch out for regardless? Do you think this could be bulbar onset at all, or I'm being too paranoid? Thanks in advance!
Like everyone else, I'd like to thank the members for helping out for free and really assisting many anxious and concerned people. If there's anything I can do other than donating, let me know!
Anyway, I'll try to keep this simple (sorry a little long):
- July 2019 - Had what felt like tenderness under jaw in lymph node area when pushed, left side only. Went to ER because my throat felt very constricted and I felt like I had a hard time breathing.
- They did a CT scan and saw no obstructions/tumors. Sent me home.
- Still have the feeling of a lump on left side of my throat constantly.
- Continued to have a globus sensation. Complained constantly to doctor, who got me scheduled with a gastrologist.
- My left side jaw felt a little stiff and still continues to feel stiff.
- Did blood tests, everything looked good. No B12 deficiency either.
- Got an endoscopy to look down my throat with a camera. As suspected, no physical obstruction in throat. Recommended medication for acid reflux.
- Got setup with a neurologist to look at my throat issue.
- Examined me, nothing out of the ordinary, except he did note some hyperreactivity when testing my reflexes.
- MRI of throat area showed nothing, no tumors or anything that would cause the globus sensation in throat (left side).
- I didn't really have a hard time swallowing, but breathing does feel constricted due to sensation.
- Got set up with ENT.
- He stuck camera up nose and down throat, saw nothing.
- Wasn't too worried, but lately some other symptoms started to develop.
Currently:
- Noticed my left side arm and leg were feeling weak. Even left side of my face was feeling weak. Was gradual and barely noticeable a couple months ago, but seems to be slowly getting worse.
- Left hand feels weaker than right, and left leg feels weaker. I've been dropping keys and I definitely have a harder time balancing on my left leg.
- My left face feels heavy, almost like it's drooping. I can still move facial features fairly normally.
- Left side abs even feel a little weak.
- No speech problems that I've noticed, someone did mention I sounded like I was mumbling, which of course got me on edge.
- Swallowing seems to be getting harder, but may be due to anxiety. Breathing sometimes feel constricted.
- I still have normal touching sensations in all my body.
- Still have lump feeling in my throat. Trying to take acid reflux meds, but I know it's not going to make a difference in the globus sensation.
- My left side neck also feels tender, like in the jugular vein area and right above collar bone, all left side. Not too sore, but when when I push into my left side neck, it does feel tender.
- Not too much twitching, but I think when I fully relax before sleep there me some small twitching in feet/forearm/and possibly throat. But may be due to anxiety or normal twitching.
- Occasionally experience headaches, feels like it's from my left eye.
- Basically, right now, I'm "all right" (haha...okay lame pun), since my whole left side body is feeling weak (head to toe), while my right side seems fine.
- Went to neurologist again, and he said that my strength still seemed pretty good on both sides. Of course, I mentioned ALS, and he said that's the least of his concerns. He did schedule an MRI for my noggin', which I'm going to do next week.
I know ALS early symptoms are highly variable, and definitely not looking for a diagnosis here. But, do you guys think that ALS could be something to watch out for regardless? Do you think this could be bulbar onset at all, or I'm being too paranoid? Thanks in advance!