Sam80
New member
- Joined
- May 2, 2019
- Messages
- 5
- Reason
- Other
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
- State
- GA
- City
- Atlanta
Hi everyone,
I’ve been a lurker here for a few months ever since last October when I developed some strange symptoms. I’d really appreciate any feedback about my symptoms below. My family thinks everything is tied to anxiety but I’m just not sure. I’m concerned and wondering whether I should ask my Neuro for an EMG.
Sam
I’ve been a lurker here for a few months ever since last October when I developed some strange symptoms. I’d really appreciate any feedback about my symptoms below. My family thinks everything is tied to anxiety but I’m just not sure. I’m concerned and wondering whether I should ask my Neuro for an EMG.
- Male in mid 30s. Fairly unremarkable medical history until fall 2018. Since then, my throat has felt tight on the left side and swallowing feels more labored.
- Intermittent pain around left side of chin during day-to-day activities. Feels similar to a cramp but I never have the painful onset associated with a cramp nor is the pain as severe/intense. More like a low-level annoyance. This symptom concerns me the most because I’ve read it may be a UMN sign.
- No slurring and I can still drink water and other liquids, but I notice that swallowing water isn’t as effortless as it used to be. Feels like it takes more work because the left-center side of my throat has a strange “bulge” in it when I swallow and the left side frequently feels tight behind soft palate.
- At times I feel pain in “the bulge” and in my chin when I swallow.
- I went to an ENT in late 2018/early 2019 who recommended a swallow study. Normal result. Also went to a Neuro in February who ordered MRI. Results were normal again. Neuro mentioned that bulbar symptoms usually progress quickly and that I would have likely noticed deterioration in 6+ months. That was somewhat reassuring but my symptoms haven’t gone away. Newest symptom is the chin pain. Everything else has plateaued or gotten slightly better. No complete resolution, though.
- One other thing- The Neuro mentioned my reflexes were brisk during the exam but said it was “nothing ominous”. That still scared me. I was able to do all of the other things he asked me to do (stand on toes, press against arms). He said tongue was fine and noted no voice abnormalities. I have looked at my tongue too many times to count and I don’t see twitches at rest. It definitely shakes and the sides twitch when it protrudes out of my mouth. I need to stop looking at it. Tongues are gross.
Sam