Family History of BFS Concerns

[TwitchyMD]

I was doing very well lately but now I am totally down, broken. I know BFS can be inherited, there are some cases. My grandfather (father of my mom), I noticed he has prominent, diffuse fasciculations in lower legs. Maybe in other places, I did not look. But he cannot much lift one foot..while he can do it with the other one...like foot drop. He is pretty active for his age but of course now I am convinced he is gonna have ALS and I ihnerited that. His calf and tibialis anterior..it was like a storm..and the foot drop made me nearly crying. He does not know and does not complain about anything..but I feel terrible! Please if you have family members with that let me know I must get better a bit, thanks

 

[christinasgirl123]

This guy is 91!!! I hardly know people with 91 that are still alive, not to speak about being somewhat active. I never ever even heard about a case of ALS starting above 85 or so. Many older older people I know have fopt drop due to nerve damage, because the older you get the more damage to the nerves. You should know that thinking bout a person developing hederitary ALS at that age ,and passing it onto a very young family member that starts with a 7 year phase of pure fadciculations is .....I even don't find words...get that out of your head. Honestly. Go an see a specialist for GAD. This is something you should have done 6 years ago, regarding those many phases of anxiety you went through that stole so much of your time.

 

[Gloria123]

I know you are a doctor, but try to realize that the two may not be connected.The fasciculations, he may have always had (and yes, you may have inherted them). Even with myself, there are probably times someone could look at my calves and see them, and other times no one would ever know I have them. Is he still able to use his foot?He could have injured his foot/leg, or it could be simply that it is getting weaker because he's 91! My husband's grandmother got a nasty virus at 96, and now she can't walk without a walker, where she had always been fine.I don't think you should tell him because it may scare him.

 

[Gracer]

Holy cow, Doc, he is 91!!!! God bless you to live till those years and inherit his long and active life! talking seriously, no one can expect that at his hundreds something would not go wrong. And I agree with Chrissi, you are killing yourself with anxiety by classical, textbook way. 'Caesar is dead... and I do not feel well"

 

[TwitchyMD]

I know but he does have bilateral widespread and mnd specific fasciculations. All muscles, including tibialis anterior, what can I think about that? He cannot lift his left foot as much as the right one but walks with no probs. Im puzzled as the severity and distribution is really implying anterior horn cell degeneration and as familial als does also start after 70..but i twitch now. Hope u understand

 

[Gracer]

Doc, he is 91. He might have neurodegenerative disease, but really because he is VERY OLD and it is strange that he has not some deregulation in his body at such respectful age.How this could affect you, young man in the most fruitful years? I would rather suppose you have chances to inherit his long years rather than any MND which may kill you in the relatively young age...I mean you really should not worry until you would not reach your nineties...