Fear of A.L.S. Consuming Me

[TeaChimp52]

Hi.I've posted before but the fear keeps bringing me back. I dont sleep. Nothing is on my mind but the fear of A.L.S. It consumes me. I am a 37 year old female so I am not far from the age bracket for A.L.S. Like I said before I noticed my twitching in mid June, calves first, now everywhere. Now I think I am really upset cause it is back in my tongue again and I have the lump feeling in my throat. I still walk 4+ miles a day, can easily lift my 20 month old, a bale of hay, pail full of pig feed etc, etc, etc. I always do these things with my right arm as the hand feels funny on this side. Also when I hang out clothes I squeeze the clothes pins open and shut with my ring and pinky finger. I am able to do it but sometimes i think it is a little more difficult than it is with my left hand. My right calf and foot also feel funny, not necessarily weaker but now I twitch non stop in one location on that leg. I also twitch a lot on the right hand. Is this a bad sign as they are not random but relatively constant in one place? I still have roaming fascis on my other leg arm etc, but not nearly as many. Would A.L.S present itsself in the tongue, right leg/ foot, and right arm all at the same time? I can easily see and feel most of my fascis including those on my tongue. I am sure the ones on my tongue did go away for a while as I am sure it would have been impossible for me to just overlook them. I have been waiting since Aug for my neurologist appt. It is Oct 2nd. By the way, what is the significance of the " walking on heels", "walking on tiptoes", or the heel to toe" walk? I can do all three with ease. Is that a good sign or could I just be too early in the disease. I read a post on a forum that I shouldnt have been on where it took someone almost a year to be diagnosed with A.L.S. To me that means early symptoms must be slight and could be what I am experiencing now. Every one talks about clean EMG's. I think that is what has me so upset. I am sure once I see the neurologist I will have to wait again for an EMG. I dont know if mentally I can take that. In all honesty, if I started twitching in June and really dont see significant weakness should I be overly concerned?

 

[Alonzo]

if you go to the medhelp.com site you will see that twitching without weakness is always not als.
yes a clean emg will help you with the fears but if you go to a good neuro, he will be able to spot als without it.
even if it took someone 1 year to be told they had als, the surley had signs the hole time and where weak and had other problems as well.
fasciculations without weakness is not als.
arron will read your post as well and i am sure have more to offer.

try to get some sleep, get some xanax or some sleeping pills from your general medical dr.
sleep problems are making your problems worse.
i know i have been there to...

concrete

 

[Alonzo]

I know the stress of waiting for a neuro appointment and the effects of lack of sleep, many of us have been there. Concrete is correct you need sleep, it makes your symptoms so much worse(like increasing percieved weakness) and that perpetuates the acute anxiety. Ativan, Klonopin or Xanax will help to break the cycle and get you through to the appointment. I will defer to Alonzo on the ALS concerns, but I believe the foot walking is to isolate smaller muscle groups and test there strength. Hang in there