Riverrocks
New member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2012
- Messages
- 1
- Reason
- Loved one DX
- Country
- US
- State
- Or
- City
- Grants Pass
Hi, I've been perusing your forums for a couple of weeks now and am happy to find so much information readily available to newcombers. I've been gathering information for my sister's condition. She has been having symptoms similar to Bulbar Onset ALS since Sept. 4, of this year, such as slowed, deliberate speech, changes in swallowing, major weakening in the hand and fingers and being more tired than usual. A barium swallow test shows epiglotis not closing properly. MRI of the brain was normal, blood and thyroid tests showed normal, (although these were really only done by a PCP so not sure of what they were testing for). The clincher was the Neurologist's tests. She did an EMG and NCV and both were showing abnormal. The doctor showed us the read-out on the EMG machine (as she was hooked up) and said that the huge blip running through the other small blips was indicative of ALS. My sister also showed signs of muscle weakness in the physical test part of this visit. She also had some issue with her tongue. Our mom passed from ALS 5 years ago so it seems my sister may have familial ALs.
To get to the point, from what I keep reading, alot of people on this site are not officially diagnosed for months and months because of various reasons, but what I cannot find in my research is if they started off with the EMG/NCV tests or not. I would like to know if this test is one of the best ones to go by. She is scheduled for several more tests at a University hospital in 2 weeks and it seems the only other tests left to do are MRI of the spine and a spinal tap and possibly muscle bioposy. I've read that the MRI (with dye) and/or spinal tap seems to have questionable consequences in people that don't already have a neurological problem... that perhaps ALS symptoms arise after having these procedures done for other reasons (such as epidural for pregnancies or spinal tap for C sections) SO, are these extra steps necessary or are they detrimental ? Is the EMG/NCV enough? Please let me know what you think... This forum stuff is all new to me, forgive me if I've repeated any questions that have already been posted.
Thanks for your help!
To get to the point, from what I keep reading, alot of people on this site are not officially diagnosed for months and months because of various reasons, but what I cannot find in my research is if they started off with the EMG/NCV tests or not. I would like to know if this test is one of the best ones to go by. She is scheduled for several more tests at a University hospital in 2 weeks and it seems the only other tests left to do are MRI of the spine and a spinal tap and possibly muscle bioposy. I've read that the MRI (with dye) and/or spinal tap seems to have questionable consequences in people that don't already have a neurological problem... that perhaps ALS symptoms arise after having these procedures done for other reasons (such as epidural for pregnancies or spinal tap for C sections) SO, are these extra steps necessary or are they detrimental ? Is the EMG/NCV enough? Please let me know what you think... This forum stuff is all new to me, forgive me if I've repeated any questions that have already been posted.
Thanks for your help!