Yohan
New member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2021
- Messages
- 2
- Reason
- Lost a loved one
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- SE
Hi everybody,
I lost my mother to FTD which makes me somewhat susceptible to ALS. I guess this fact should have hung over me, but I never really thought about it. This month, I have begun experiencing weakness in both forearms and thighs. I also feel I have a tendency to slur. This has not been noted by friends & family but may be because I make an effort to articulate correctly. While slurring could be attributed to a "cracked tongue" (i.e. grooves on top of it), I see no reason for the arm/leg weakness.
I also experience sensitivity to cold, almost fever-symptoms, and a general feeling of "not being ok", if that makes sense, and a "shaky arms"-tendency. I have no fever (actually, slightly lower than normal temp) or any real tangible symptoms.
Now, this made me worried, mainly because of my mothers FTD and I arranged an appointment with the family MD. After investigation and blood tests, hypothyroidism, B12-vitamin deficiency and anemia could be ruled out, leaving me in the dark, at least for now.
I studied up on ALS once my mom was diagnosed and as far as I can tell, the first symptoms seems to be either bulbar onset (slurred speech) or limb onset, with muscle weakness in an arm or leg. But I have weakness in both arms and legs AND a tendency to slurred speech, all within the last 4-6 weeks. The weakness is growing more pronounced, but I am still not weak, only weak as compared to some time ago, and I have no problems tying shoes, buttons or any such activities.
But still, the symptoms are very frightening and I guess my question to this knowledgeable forum is whether early stages of ALS usually present themselves symmetrically, e.g. in both forearms and legs at the same time. I'd say that the weakness is roughly the same in both forearms and legs. So, does it sometimes present symmetrically, or is it usually asymmetric?
I have managed to get a neurology-appointment, but everything takes time and the situation is very taxing on my day-to-day life.
Thank you so much for your help.
I lost my mother to FTD which makes me somewhat susceptible to ALS. I guess this fact should have hung over me, but I never really thought about it. This month, I have begun experiencing weakness in both forearms and thighs. I also feel I have a tendency to slur. This has not been noted by friends & family but may be because I make an effort to articulate correctly. While slurring could be attributed to a "cracked tongue" (i.e. grooves on top of it), I see no reason for the arm/leg weakness.
I also experience sensitivity to cold, almost fever-symptoms, and a general feeling of "not being ok", if that makes sense, and a "shaky arms"-tendency. I have no fever (actually, slightly lower than normal temp) or any real tangible symptoms.
Now, this made me worried, mainly because of my mothers FTD and I arranged an appointment with the family MD. After investigation and blood tests, hypothyroidism, B12-vitamin deficiency and anemia could be ruled out, leaving me in the dark, at least for now.
I studied up on ALS once my mom was diagnosed and as far as I can tell, the first symptoms seems to be either bulbar onset (slurred speech) or limb onset, with muscle weakness in an arm or leg. But I have weakness in both arms and legs AND a tendency to slurred speech, all within the last 4-6 weeks. The weakness is growing more pronounced, but I am still not weak, only weak as compared to some time ago, and I have no problems tying shoes, buttons or any such activities.
But still, the symptoms are very frightening and I guess my question to this knowledgeable forum is whether early stages of ALS usually present themselves symmetrically, e.g. in both forearms and legs at the same time. I'd say that the weakness is roughly the same in both forearms and legs. So, does it sometimes present symmetrically, or is it usually asymmetric?
I have managed to get a neurology-appointment, but everything takes time and the situation is very taxing on my day-to-day life.
Thank you so much for your help.