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bigguy

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Hey everyone, I've been perusing the threads for a couple weeks now, and just decided to sign up and submit my own query.

I first noticed weakness in my left arm (mostly in the shoulder) after carrying a duffel bag weighing around 20 lbs for about a mile and a half on September 3rd to my apartment. I should note that the areas in question are weak in that they are tiring easily, such as when I towel-dry my hair or walk long distances. A few days later I developed widespread fasciculations. Now, my fasciculations don't seem as diffuse and are more concentrated in my left shoulder and bottom left thigh where the thigh meets the buttock. The fasciculations affecting the thigh are pretty big thumpers while the ones affecting my left arm appear anywhere from my fingers to the back of my shoulder and are of variable strength. I'm still getting fasciculations in other parts of my body as well but I'm not having any accompanying weakness there. . I also get pain in the bottom of my left elbow when shaking my hand/fist back and forth. I've had fasciculations all my life, typically after exercise and occasionally randomly, not accompanied by any other symptoms.

I'm due to see a neurologist in 2 days, but judging from what I've read online he might not be the best specialist I could possibly get :-? , but he was the only one able to book an appointment within the week. Should I ask him for an EMG on my affected body parts? Can I even do that or would I have to get a referral for a later appointment? And what are your thoughts on what this might be? A neurological problem or just stress? I had an episode of health anxiety (first one ever) that started 4 weeks ago with bizarrely varied symptoms and appears to be now letting up (or maybe not?)

I'm 19, slightly obese, and of South Asian descent (Indian) if that helps at all. A blood test came back normal except for a low-normal vitamin D level. I have not seen my PCP since these symptoms started, but a week before they began, he told me he didn't see any problems with the rudimentary neurological exam he conducted on me.

Thanks in advance
 
Read the sticky posts, and the post on what weakness and feeling weak are.

Anyone carrying 20 lbs on a shoulder is going to have a feeling of weakness.

Nothing you've posted sounds like ALS, so go see your GP and get your Vit D straightened out. B-12 may need checked, too.

My b-12 level was fine, problem is I don't absorb it normally. You aren't ready for a neuro. You should be at the GP stage yet.
 
Thanks for the reply notme! I'm currently taking a Vitamin D supplement, I'm fairly certain that my B12 is absorbed correctly, but I'll ask to run some tests on that too I guess. I read the sticky, but isn't increased fatigue due to weaker muscles an early sign of ALS?

Just an update, today I woke up with labored breathing, and I'm still having labored breathing; as if no matter how deeply I breathe it doesn't feel like enough. I don't feel anxious and my pulse is normal. This is really beginning to freak me out....
 
Take your breathing issues to the doc, maybe even the ER
 
Big guy,

I hope you took Deb's advice and had your brea thing checked out. As for your other questions; I myself, would have started with my PCP. Then after la bs and ex am if war ranted, they would refer you to the right doc tor. Remember slow and steady wins the race.
 
I seem to say this monthly around here. ANYONE with sudden labored breathing needs to go to an ER. Period.

The causes can be anything from pneumonia to bronchitis to a blood clot.

In ALS, breathing declines slowly. You'd be surprised how many here have obscenely low numbers and are not complaining of breathing issues.

Sudden onset of almost anything is considered serious until its not. In cases of breathing, assume the worst and hope for the best.

With 20 plus years I. The emergency medicine field, I KNOW and KNEW this, but still let blood clots darn near kill me. And it was sheer stupidity on my part. In my case, it was clots. Stupidly, I assumed it was my asthma.
 
Hi, bigguy

I just want to reinforce the message; if you develop breathing problems you need to deal with it urgently. I am constantly baffled by people who write long posts about weird and wonderful symptoms which might conceivably apply to just about any disease known to humanity whilst ignoring the fact that stopping breathing will, without a shadow of a doubt, kill you faster than any disease known to humanity.

Also, notme, you weren't stupid; you made a mistake, as we all do from time to time. You have not only learned from your mistake but helped others to learn from your mistake. That's what makes this forum so special!
 
I'd just like to note, I just noticed some thenar atrophy in my left hand after a fasciculation in that same spot.
 
Did you go to the doctor about your breathing issues? Its been 12 hours. Are you breathing ok now.
 
Yeah, sorry to leave everyone hanging like that, I'm breathing fine now, although it appears that it's harder for me to breathe while laying down for some reason? Anyway this thenar atrophy is really worrying me now, especially since it was a slight fasciculation in that area that caused me to investigate it.
 
Make sure to have the doctor check out the breathing. Could be you just need to elevate your head (on a wedge or extra pillows) especially if your overweight. Should get it checked.
 
And again, posting in this thread was a wasted effort. We tell him difficulty breathing is a SERIOUS symptom, he responds with Wow, thenar atrophy.

By all means, worry about thenar atrophy that a doctor has likely never noticed, and continue on. Thenar atrophy doesn't come in a few minutes or days.

I'm done wasting the effort it takes me to type.

You didn't develop thenar atrophy between the time you posted and saw yor GP To just now, when we aren't saying what you want to hear.

By all means, spaz over what may or may not be thenar atrophy while the breathing issues potentially kill you.
 
If you've had the fasciculations all your life, they're almost certainly nothing to worry about.
 
Yeah I realize I'm probably overreacting about this perceived "thenar atrophy" and that the breathing issue is what I should be focusing on, but I think I exaggerated how bad they actually were. Both were very subtle when I noticed them yesterday, to the point that I don't even know if the "atrophy" has been there all my life and I'm not really noticing the breathing issue unless I sit down and pay attention to it. In any case, I'm due to see a neurologist in an hour and I'll mention both to him.
 
Well I'm back from the neuro, he didn't seem very concerned about any breathing problems I mentioned, and said that my problems were pretty generalized, so they could be anything. Reflexes and strength tested unremarkably (although I get the vibe that he wasn't very thorough). When I pointed out the atrophy, he said he could see it pretty faintly and that it could have maybe always been there, unnoticed. Once again he didn't seem very concerned about it. He has, however, ordered an EMG study on tuesday. I know that EMGs are considered the definitive answer to the question of ALS by many, but I've heard stories on here of multiple negative EMGs before a positive one leading to an ALS diagnosis as well as a sticky about going to the doctor too soon for ALS or other problem to be detected. Has anyone had experience with this? Will an EMG definitely pick up ALS, even when it is in its early stages and nearly asymptomatic?
 
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