New Mom Struggling with Fatigue

[DaveDiggler]

Hello all... I am a 24 year old new mother. My son is now 5 months old (23 weeks) and I am having extreme fatigue! I am curious as to what is causing it. I am twitching mainly in my left toe, however they come from every place, most strangely my backside and the other day even a stranger more personal place! I do seem to feel as though my calves are extremely tight, as well as numbness in my toe. I can still feel it as well as feel when someone touches it, but there just seems to be a strange blah feeling in it. I am starting to feel as though my left hand is slightly weak in the fingers. Mainly because of what feels like clumsiness. I do seem to be dropping things, but I am able to do the normal things with my fingers. I am constantly testing there strength, and so far they seem normal. I can still type at a normal pace. Today the twitches seem to be gone, so now I am scared that they are gone. I am petrified of ALS. MS doesn't really alarm me, maybe it should. I had a Sinus infection for 12 weeks before all of this began, and at first my MD did a CAT scan just to ensure that there was not a tumor. There wasn't. I went back to my regular doctor and asked and she said that living in a new place with a baby I am taking care of with out help except when my husband is home, could very well be enough to make me tired and twitchy. She took a ton of blood work and said it was nothing and perscribed Paxil. Should I be worried about ALS? My husband thinks I am nuts. My doctor apparently thinks I am nuts, so am I??? She said that a neurologist would probably laugh at me, but I am going CRAZY! My son NEEDS his mother. I cant even imagine leaving him or my husband. The thought alone makes me want to vomit. I swear sometimes I feel like I am losing strength, though no one seems to agree when I ask if I can squeeze their hands to compare my strength. Anyway, I will stop rambling. Do any of you have any thoughts?? Thanks for your help. BeckyBecky

 

[BoyyDavoMan]

BeckyBecky-

It seems like a number of things are going on with you.

1. You're tired and your worried about it. How has your sleeping been? Sometimes the stresses of life (from all sources) cause sleepless nights which turn into sleepy days.

2. You mentioned that you have twitches in your toe and some other places...but then you said that the twitches are gone? If they're gone, don't be worried, be happy! I hope I can have even one day where I have no twitches!

3. The tight calves and numbness are also strange sensations that you're concerned about. If it makes you feel better I have had that same "blah" feeling in my toe. In fact I had it in my whole foot which is one of the reasons I first went to see a neurologist this past July.

I am no doctor and am clueless when it comes to these things...and it is all probably nothing...but, here's my opinion regarding your doctor's comment when you asked to see a neurologist---your doctor said the wrong thing. First, a neurologist is not going to laugh at you. Second, with the variety of symptoms that you are experiencing, what's the harm in getting checked out by one? Third, when the neuro exam turns up nothing serious this may make you feel better and perhaps your anxiety regarding ALS will go away. To me, seeing a neurologist is a much better choice at solving these problems.

That said, I am a 28 year old who can be very opinionated! You have to do what's best for you. My bet is that your perfectly fine...but if the symptoms don't go away in a reasonable amount of time, you should see a neurologist..it's your life and the choice is up to you. If you need a referral (insurance reasons) and your doctor won't give you one, then find a better doctor who will. Part of being a good doctor is dealing with the emotional side of people and some doctors obviously forget about this part of their profession.

Good luck and let us know how things work out!

--David

 

[BoyyDavoMan]

David,
Thanks for your reply. I do think that going to a neurologist may be the thing to do, but my husband does not want to spend the money on what he calls rediculous tests. I guess if I press it he may reconsider, but there is a part of me that is scared to go. I know that sounds crazy and oh so immature, but I am just frightend. I still wake up in the night with a difficulty breathing, rapid pulse, sweating, twitching, etc. I just think the wait to get in would kill me alone. Anyway, I am working at talking myself into it. SLOWLY but steadily. Thanks again for your reply.
BeckyBecky

 

[neySueSid567]

BeckyBecky -

As a new parent, you are under tremendous stress. I am not a doctor, but what you are describing sounds like acute and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). I was a GAD sufferer just after my first child was born 8 years ago too, so I have personal experience. I woke up in the middle of the night, heart pounding, sweating, etc. I've been there!

First, the average age of onset of ALS is 55 years. The disease is rare (1 in 100,000) and even rarer is the onset in the 20's. Most cases of early onset are familial ALS and caused by a genetic problem. If you have no prior history of ALS in your family, then it is unlikely.

Second, the presenting symptom for ALS is profound weakness. Fasciculations are late symptoms. It is about a one-in-ten million occurrence for fasciculations to occur before weakness (like winning the lotto, except you don't want that ticket! ).

Third, ALS typically starts in a hand or foot and spreads, asymmetrically. Generalized, widespread twitching is not indicative of ALS.

If you had ALS, your doctor would have picked it up in the routine neurologic exam (reflex testing, strength testing, etc.) that they do. However, you sound like you need reassurance, and hopefully this will help. If not, try to see a neurologist. Even if you don't have an EMG, having an "expert" on the nervous system examine you can still be beneficial to providing the reassurance you need. Good luck and God bless.

Now, stop obsessing about this and get back to your baby and husband and give them a big kiss! )

Remember: Do not fear death tomorrow so much that you forget to live today!