Death Caused by Cardiovascular Disease

[ZekesTraveller]

I can see everybody is consumed with complaining. Let me set the record straight for you fools worried about death coming from ALS. It is not likely! In the US you will die from 82.3% will die from Cardiovascular Disease (stroke, heart attack) 50%, Cancers 30%, Infections or Adult-onset diabetes. So now be positive and give me some feedback on my suggestion.Number of deaths for leading causes of death PER YEAR!Heart disease: 652,091Cancer: 559,312Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 143,579Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 130,933Accidents (unintentional injuries): 117,809Diabetes: 75,119Alzheimer's disease: 71,599Influenza/Pneumonia: 63,001Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 43,901Septicemia: 34,136Source-CDC

 

[KnottyPirate93]

Well.....my goodness....that was strongly worded. LOL. Okay, yeah, I kinda get your point. However.....if you suddenly developed symptoms that almost EXACTLY MIRRORED cancer, wouldn't you be terrified until they figured out what else you have? The thing with ALS is that it's hard to diagnose....it takes years sometimes.....so you get to have an illness that mirrors something that horrific, with no cure, and with no definite diagnostic tests. So, put that all in one bag, shake in some hypochondria and anxiety.....VOILA! Complaining out of all-consuming fear. I can run to prevent heart disease, eat well to prevent cancer....not smoke, drink in moderation, (some dark chocolate thrown in for good measure), watch my weight...etc. etc. etc to prevent those other things.....all of which have treatments. This does not. So, when your throat twitches for 5 months constantly.....Do you see my point? It's the absolute fatality of the possible situation that keeps you from moving on. I have symptoms of bulbar ALS. Tight throat, mucus in throat, twitching throat, hoarse voice, etc. etc. so, how easy is to say....ah....it's just BFS? It's not easy. It's a fight that takes all my energy, (which is depleted to say the least), and sometimes it's one I can't win. I will lay awake convinced I am dying. That's not a feeling that sheer statistics will absolve, although I appreciate the attempt at perspective. And, please don't take this in a negative manner. I fully appreciate getting consumed by something almost impossible, instead of believing the very believable alternative. It's just way easier said than done. At least for me.Regards,Shauna

 

[ZekesTraveller]

I have had the bulbar sxs on and off for many years. I also have the tight throat, difficulty swallowing, cramping tongue, hoarse voice and facial muscles cramps and twitches but they come and go. Don't get me wrong I worry but it's not ALS because I have been through so many doctors just like everybody else here. Well most of us at least and have been back and forth through the Bulbar issue myself and I do sympathize. Someone said it before but the greatest risk life has is that dying is a part of it. Yeah I feel bad sometimes but other times things are great. All this week I have been dealing with what you would call bulbar issues. But I started my BCFS journey this way and I am still around (Bulbar issues) and those same sxs have moved around to other body parts just to come right back to my throat and face. I have had everything under the sun. You may have better info than I do but everything I have heard from Neurologist and I have seen 4 is that ALS is one of those slam dunk diagnosis. It does not hide and does not keep you around very long. Can anyone else weigh in on this topic because I have yet to hear of a neurologist having a hard time diagnosing ALS? I could very much be wrong! This simple rule of thumb sustains me....that is ALS does not allow for Motor Neuron Regeneration. Once the damage is done it’s done. It can't attack move on then come back. It starts somewhere and progresses relentlessly from there on out. I have seen:2. Rheumatologist (1 research rheumy)4. Neurologist (2 MND specialist, 1 research MND specialist)6. Neuro-Opthamologist (3 research neuro-opth)2. ENT1. Endocrinologist1. Pulmonologist (Lead researcher at his medical school)3. Gastroenterologist7. Ophthalmologist (1 research)2. Cardiologist4 Brain MRIs, 4 EMG, 4 NCV, 2 Brain CT scans, 1 Brain MRA, 1 Upper Endo, Stress test, 4 abdominal sonograms, etc etc & Enormous amount of blood work spanning 5 years and this is amongst many other GPs and ER docs.Most did very invasive testing and I still only comeback with BCFS. At some point I had to give it up. Even by probability one of these jokers would have to have stumbled onto the diagnosis. I kid you not I have probably seen 50 doctors. Now one thing that did surface was that when I was about 9 years old I found one morning that my legs would not work?? After about two weeks inthe Hospital so says my mother I was able to walk again. I recently found such an illness that produces similar issues that I experinced but again is a very very very long shot beause of all the anti-body test I have had done. That is Post Polio. My research rheumotologist told me one day we are going to test for every thing under the sun to find out if thsi is auto-immune or just what the hell it is. Guess what? All clear from Lupus to Scleroerma to wild guesses. just for the hell of it. So here I sit suffering in silance. Nah, I am going to live because the ride through life could be over just going home this after-noon!

 

[KnottyPirate93]

Your information has been a great comfort to me, since finding this board last fall. I believe you....wholeheartedly. I only say it's hard to dx since most take over a year to do so. I don't want ALS. I don't want to think about ALS anymore. I take what you, Sean, Sir_Trouserz, and Kit say with me every night when I go to bed, so I can sleep. Not to say that I'm not always sleepy......LOL. Anyway, I didn't want you to think that I don't value what you said, maybe just trying to get on with WHY we feel the way we do. I'm quite sure I'll be so focused on ALS that I'll crash my car and die cuz of that....LOL. It seems so silly when kids like Haukukr (sp?) get on here worried about it, but seems EVER so rational for me to worry about it. I'm not exactly in the right age/gender group, either. Oh well. Thanks for listening to me, thanks for replying, thanks for staying on here and putting this in perspective. And, most of all, thanks for listening to me bi"ching.....Shauna

 

[SharonSmoove]

hi shauna,i have just had a read through your posts and see that you have had an emg and seen a neurologist which is good. do you have any signs of reflux, sometimes without knowing it this can be a cause of the throat symptoms. it can also be an allergy, mum loses her voice in airconditioning. maybe just a visit to an ordinary gp may help. the trouble is we think everything related to our twitching means we are doomed. i most certainly understand you have symptoms but they may be treatable. early on in my fears i phoned the mnd society in my area [thats how convinced i was], i spoke to the wife of a man who had bulbar onset. symptoms were slurred voice. my neurologist asked me if i ever had voice issues, he actually gave me an example, it really was alot more severe than a husky voice. if your not convinced seek another opinion. ya no 2 opinions is fine, some of us need it rammed into our heads, i've seen 5 neuro's . i couldn't be convinced . looking back i see it was crazy, but these strange, life altering symptoms hit me so badly i lost it. anyway hope you have a nice weekend. regardssharon.