50 and Strength Testing: My Sunday

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cindyandco

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Today is Sunday. Church, lunch and back home. Hubbie is away at a conference. I read your posts and it is easy for me to say you are all okay. At least, I think it is easy because you are so young. At 50, *** is not so inconceivable for me. So, my mind wanders and I fall prey to strength testing again. I do the 100 hops on each leg thing. I start with the right and at about 8 I feel a pop in my ankle (you know the kind when you are first running) and I fall. Yep, I fall on the floor. Before I can even take my mind to a place where I can reason, I start to cry. Then all the fears and doubts that I thought I had begun to conquer come flooding back. I have fallen off the wagon. I have been sick with a cold this week and I don't know if there is any connection, but my emotions are crap. I just need a little boost back up.Thanks for anyone who responds.Cindy
 
Hello, Cindy,I'm new here, so I'm no expert on all things, but, like you, I'm no youngster--I'm 55.I feel moved to comment that if you are going all those hops on each leg, you're in wonderful shape! Like you, I sometimes do the self-testing thing, but I do notice that if I'm focused on a muscle or muscle group, it always, always seems weaker. Do you think that, given our age, we should devise some easier tests for ourselves? Maybe we could take gentle walks and notice that our feet work, even if we occasionally snag one on a sidewalk crack. Some of the changes we face are simply the product of natural aging. I can't do the things I could do thirty years ago, and I've tried very hard to stay fit, even before all this BFS stuff started. I simply can't imagine all those hops you're doing!Have you observed elderly people out for a walk? They've had some muscle changes over the years, and they move slowly, sometimes with a cane. We're not there yet, but we probably shouldn't expect to do everything we could years ago.Be at peace--you're fine, although you're missing your husband, and that's real and causing some anxiety, I'm sure. I'm saying a small prayer for you right now, my fellow traveler.
 
Certainly not in wonderful shape. By the time I get to the end, I've just clearing the floor and huffing and puffing like a train. I get aggravated with myself for performing these rituals (and I could give you a few). I wish I could find a knob that would turn this particular thought process off.Cindy
 
Hello again, Cindy,By the way, you mentioned a "pop" in your ankle, so I hope you didn't injure your skeletal self in some way. Huffing and puffing can mean either that you could use some regular gentle cardiovascular activity--those walks--or that you're very anxious. I'm short of breath when I'm anxious, and, in fact, my whole respiratory system seems to go on high alert. (I'm a church organist, and I'm used to being a little shaky and short of breath when I've got something difficult to play.) The twitches have been something new for me, and, just like you, I'm trying hard to manage these feelings. Again, I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers--we're on the same trip.
 
Shortness of breath after hopping is definitely because I need some cardio exercise. I am so out of shape. I am a desk dweller and from January through April I work very long hours. Also, beginning last September, I have had a horrendous battle with depression and spent a lot of time in bed. Praise God, I am out of those woods, but part of the cost has been then twitching and accompanying axniety. So, I haven't been very faithful to exercise. I am just beginning to work in a walking regiment.I can certainly relate to the being out of breath when playing. I had to play for the church choir last week (filling in at the last minute for the regular choir pianist) and didn't see the music until the day before. I was breathing not so well during that service!!! Anyway, am feeling better and more confident tonight. Thanks for the prayers, I know they helped to lift me back up.BlessingsCindy
 
Hi CindyI also am 56 and I have the doubts but when I saw the neuro last week , he was not even interested in looking at the twitches. The twitches are what freak me out but they meant nothing to him. He tested strength, reflexes and looked for atrophy. When he found nothing of interest, he sent me on my way.If you can hop on one foot, you're doing okay. You've had your twitches for some time and with no real weakness, I'm sure you have nothing to worry about.Sandra D
 
Hey Cindy, sorry yesterday was a bad day. But girl, we are in our 50's. Gotta stop that self testing. I know when I go down that road, I just cause my muscles to be sore and then I have the "perceived weakness" and it is a viscious cycle. I just tried the hopping you mentioned. If you can do all that hopping you are fine. I have a bad knee ( nothing to do with BFS) and the hopping about killed me on my right leg. lol. Hope today is a better day :)Hugs,Linda
 
You are all so wonderful to respond. I am so glad to know that I am not the only one in my age bracket it. That had me scared somewhat, but today is Monday and I feel much more confident---not to say that I won't slide off again, but this whole thing really is a journey isn't it. Thanks for being there.Blessings to allCindy
 
Cindy,Isn't it funny how when we are reassuring others, we are CERTAIN that they are fine.....but can NOT seem to accept that for ourselves. It doesn't matter that we've seen doctors, had "THE" test performed.....they are always missing something. I'm going to be the ONE exception to the rule. The tumor that Ted Kennedy has has an incidence rate of twice that of ALS. But, we aren't worried about that, are we? You were having a bad day, they happen with amazing frequency with this rediculous illness, but they will pass. You will be fine. You will have a day when you can't believe that you EVER thought there was anything wrong with you, the next day you feel so crappy you are surprised you are still alive. They will pass. We must believe the doctors when they say we are okay. They wouldn't just make that up, I don't think. They wouldn't say.....yep, here's your test results, you are fine.....if we weren't fine. They would say "hmmmmmm, this is abnormal, I'm going to recommend some further testing......" and so on and so forth, until, diagnosis. But they haven't. They've done tests, said yep, you're fine, and sent us on our way with our neurosis intact, to doubt and devalue what they've told us on our own time. I do the EXACT same thing. We are okay. You hop, I pull and tug at my throat with bulbar issues. No difference. I've had these symptoms for over 4 months now in my throat, 7 months in my right leg. Wouldn't it have made itself known by now if it were something sinister? I hope you know in your heart that although this disease is out there, lurking, it is like a very passive Manta Ray......it strikes only once in a great while. Not the rhino we all make it out to be. Now, I'm off to check my tongue in the mirror, AGAIN!!!!!!! :eek: HUGS,Shauna
 
Shauna: What you said is soooo right. I think the name of this syndrome should be changed to benign fasiculation/fear syndrome. Ummm, by the way, I just came from checking my tongue in the mirror-----what an insane cycle we get in. Hope you find your tongue to be doing well as I am sure it is. ;) Cindy
 
I've probably checked my tongue 100 time last 2 days. I'm pretty sure that my tongue atrophying or something (It's uneven at the back). I'm also having numb feeling in my tongue and my speech is not as it should be, nobody hears it though :(I'm also having these mucus feeling in my throat sometimes..Im so tired of this :(
 
Haukurkr,I am having similar symptoms as you this past week. First I felt like a lump in mu throat with some mucus, then in a few days, I started to feel some numbness at the tip of my tongue like I just at some hot soup. Will see my neuro on June 16. Does anyone else out there experience the same thing, and what was your outcome?Thanks,
 

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