JennFiction
Well-known member
I'm 22 years old, male, and the symptoms began early last month. It seems like it's been going on forever, but it's amazing how much I've felt in just 4 weeks.
Fasciculations--- started in my left elbow, near the joint. A few days later the twitching went just about everywhere. Big time in calves, upper thighs, left elbow, less often in abdomen and sides, temples on head...lots of twitching in index finger (makes the whole finger move, this only seems to happen when I have my finger straightened out). I've even had them on my eyelid. I'm starting to notice that they happen mostly when I'm sitting down, especially after some kind of movement, such as switching sitting positions (thump thump thump thump). I've read that fasciculations happen in relaxed muscle, but my elbow and index finger seem to twitch regardless if they're rested or flexing. My finger will twitch when I'm using the mouse at the computer, for example. I notice that some days I don't twitch as much as others...a couple days I had almost no twitching besides one or two spots, on others I have very frequent twitching, and then some days the twitching is scarce and really soft instead of rapid.
Weakness??--- started noticing a weird feeling in my right upper arm (also in left arm, but seems to come and go in that arm). Nothing really brought this feeling to my attention, sometimes I just feel it there. I read about ALS because of twitching, however I notice no loss of strength. After lifting weights, when my arm muscles are "bloated"(after maxing out), my upper arm feels really fatigued to the point where it's difficult to raise my arms, however the strength is still there. Some time after lifting, the triceps get tender to touch and cramp (I guess a cramp is when you feel the soreness when you stiffen your arms)...it seems to be ease up and "work out" the more I lift though. The feeling is usually worse in the morning, more elusive in the evening, however some days it's not as present as others. I have almost no fasciculations in my arms though, and if I do, it's very mild.
Shortness of breath-- This worries me too. It's very bad and sometimes I can't sleep because of it. It's accompanied by post-nasal drip, aching and pressure in my forehead, tender spot on my cheak (sinus?), a deep cough, occasional wheezing, bad chest congestion, trouble breathing through the nose, and the breathing heaviness is relieved when I cough up phlegm. Could be asthma, but my basement flooded twice last month and I'm always down there working out, breathing hard, obviously breathing in mold spores (I already have bad allergies). Does this sound like part of the other symptoms, or does it sound independant? Would one develop breathing problems that early in a neurological illness?
Dr. said anxiety. I had a couple months of stress-related anxiety, panic attacks, and a few weeks of depression (which ruined my Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year) preceding the twitching. In November I quit caffeine cold turkey because of a brutal panic attack due to stress (and drinking loads of coffee), started drinking caffeine and coffee again in January...don't think it's a good idea, but I can't stay away from it for long.
Fasciculations--- started in my left elbow, near the joint. A few days later the twitching went just about everywhere. Big time in calves, upper thighs, left elbow, less often in abdomen and sides, temples on head...lots of twitching in index finger (makes the whole finger move, this only seems to happen when I have my finger straightened out). I've even had them on my eyelid. I'm starting to notice that they happen mostly when I'm sitting down, especially after some kind of movement, such as switching sitting positions (thump thump thump thump). I've read that fasciculations happen in relaxed muscle, but my elbow and index finger seem to twitch regardless if they're rested or flexing. My finger will twitch when I'm using the mouse at the computer, for example. I notice that some days I don't twitch as much as others...a couple days I had almost no twitching besides one or two spots, on others I have very frequent twitching, and then some days the twitching is scarce and really soft instead of rapid.
Weakness??--- started noticing a weird feeling in my right upper arm (also in left arm, but seems to come and go in that arm). Nothing really brought this feeling to my attention, sometimes I just feel it there. I read about ALS because of twitching, however I notice no loss of strength. After lifting weights, when my arm muscles are "bloated"(after maxing out), my upper arm feels really fatigued to the point where it's difficult to raise my arms, however the strength is still there. Some time after lifting, the triceps get tender to touch and cramp (I guess a cramp is when you feel the soreness when you stiffen your arms)...it seems to be ease up and "work out" the more I lift though. The feeling is usually worse in the morning, more elusive in the evening, however some days it's not as present as others. I have almost no fasciculations in my arms though, and if I do, it's very mild.
Shortness of breath-- This worries me too. It's very bad and sometimes I can't sleep because of it. It's accompanied by post-nasal drip, aching and pressure in my forehead, tender spot on my cheak (sinus?), a deep cough, occasional wheezing, bad chest congestion, trouble breathing through the nose, and the breathing heaviness is relieved when I cough up phlegm. Could be asthma, but my basement flooded twice last month and I'm always down there working out, breathing hard, obviously breathing in mold spores (I already have bad allergies). Does this sound like part of the other symptoms, or does it sound independant? Would one develop breathing problems that early in a neurological illness?
Dr. said anxiety. I had a couple months of stress-related anxiety, panic attacks, and a few weeks of depression (which ruined my Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year) preceding the twitching. In November I quit caffeine cold turkey because of a brutal panic attack due to stress (and drinking loads of coffee), started drinking caffeine and coffee again in January...don't think it's a good idea, but I can't stay away from it for long.
