No Concerns of ALS After EMG

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BFSDiner

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I had my EMG today finally. I've been spasming for a month now, so a decent amount of time for something abnormal to show I would hope.When the EMG was done, he filled out my paperwork, said everything looks good, and prepared to let me out of the room.It was really sudden. So i stopped and said "So .... no concerns about ALS?"He was totally shocked by my question, and burst out laughing. "ALS????? No way ... hahahaha" .... "Its obviously benign. Your EMG is clean. Your MRI was clean. You're nowhere near anything like that. Believe me"It was the highlight of the visit. Watching him burst out laughing at my comment that ALS might be still on the table. The fact that I even had that in my head at all was pure humor to him. Just thought i would share this experience to put you all at ease just a little more. When its ALS, there is no question about it. Period.
 
Yeah I have always been amused (maybe not the right word, but close enough) by the disconnect between what we as laypeople think is ALS, and what a trained neurologist thinks is ALS. To steal a quote from Pulp Fiction, it's not in the same ballpark, it ain't the same league, it ain't even the same f*ckin' sport. Yet here on this board alone you have hundreds of people walking around worrying that symptoms that aren't even ALS symptoms somehow equal ALS. Frankly I wish doctors would laugh at us more. And I'm not saying that to be mean, I just mean that my doctor once laughed at me like I was crazy too, and it was the best thing that ever could have happened to me.Once you put aside your pride, and you realize how ridiculous this stuff sounds to a person WHO ACTUALLY STUDIES THIS TYPE OF THING FOR A LIVING, you can start to put your symptoms into perspective. Yeah, I have something that sucks, and it sure doesn't make my life isn't easier. But it's not even close to ALS and it is never going to be. I need to get over my pity party.Again this isn't specific to you, it is just a general observation that I wish every newbie with BFS would read and commit into memory. I always try to keep in mind that for every one person who responds to my posts, a hundred to two hundred will read it and not respond. So if you are one of those two hundred who are scared and who read every post, re-read what TwitchBFS said and what his doctor said and accept it. Yes you have symptoms, we all have symptoms. But those aren't ALS symptoms. Stop trying to pigeonhole yourself into a category you don't belong in. It is not going to help you.
 
Im just guess Burger, but from what i've read, in a real case of ALS, the diagnosis can take up to 15 months on average, there needs to be signs in 3 limbs. So i imagine at the first emg they would be told something like, there are signs of MND, it could possibly be als, we will need to follow this closely etc.... patients are normally on a 'probable als' list for a few months, at which point everyone invloved knows what dx is coming. like steve gleason, before he the appointment that he was dx officially, he spent the night crying because he knew what he had.
 
Johnny - would you stop commenting in all my threads with slightly snarky comments that have no value? I know you dont like me, as you childishly banned me from the chat room for no valid reason. Please stop following and commenting in my threads on the forums unless you have something nice to say. I am dealing with a lot of doubts despite my good test results, not the least of which are because of a handful of doctor friends I have who dont share our views here. I edited my post because i saw no reason to expose others to my doubts, but nothing I wrote was "appalling" or bad like you imply. I PM'd my concerns about my doctor friends comments to Mario instead. He's helpful and always writes thoughtful responses so I value his input. Not that I have to explain myself, but you seem to be following me around on here lately making unhelpful comments. Like lecturing me on using the search function instead of posting my other question earlier. Please put me on ignore or something.
 
Wow, don't take it so personally there. If you make a great, true comment like your initial one, then in less than 2 hours say that you are now second guessing your diagnosis well you can expect a reply. I understand you are upset for various reasons, but if you consider this harrassment lol.....well then I harrass a LOT of people here with my direct comments. Try not to take it so personally.PS. The comment about the search function was for everyone in general.
 
Well that makes you a Troll. So stop being a troll."In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory,[3] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as a forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[4] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion"Familiar?
 
I hate to say it but Johnny is kind of right. So you had almost the perfect EMG experience a few hours ago, but you are already doubting it and are already going down another diagnosis tangent? So then why even get an EMG? I will respond more in email but you have to understand how many times we have seen this exact same scenario play out on these boards over the years. However I understand you are very very new to this so I will send you a PM.
 
johnny....a sweet troll....more like a sweet roll. scratch that - honey bun. He helped me tremendously. And partly because he has given a little tough love (kind of like when cotton candy gets a little hard but still tastes good).I think when we are nervous, our sensitivities go waaaayyyy up. Mine do at least. It is sometimes hard to take that big step back and not take things too personally because our nerves are raw -- on edge. But, having said that, if possible it is best to take the high road and try to assume that a comment is likely to fall in the "no harm intended" area. Take care BFBurger! Vicki
 
Glad you are confirmed OK. If just all the neurologist would be so reassuring if there is nothing to worry, believe me, not everybody has a such calming doctor where there is nothing much going on.
 

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