ALS???

[Richard G]

First time post by an admitted hypochondriac. I’ll try to be brief! Had a 3 month episode of constant twitching about 5 years ago that could occur anywhere on my body. Dr. dismissed it to anxiety and put me on Wellbutrin and it finally went away! 5 years later they are back in full force!!! Went to another family Dr. and she says anxiety also! 2 weeks on Wellbutrin and still have them!! I’m on my last night of week long vacation on a lake in SC! I was hoping that this would be the relaxation I needed, the meds would kick in and I would return a new man!!! Didn’t happen!! I’ve tried to not let the twitching bother me, which during the day subsides while out on the lake or playing card, but when I hit the bed it’s like fireworks going off! I wake up every hour and check for the twitching and sure enough there they are! The fact that I had a similar episode 5 years ago and they went away still doesn’t bring me any relief and it is constantly on my mind that I have ALS and has ruined my vacation!! I don’t think it could lay dormant for that long?? I had a roommate from college pass away from it maybe 6 or 7 years ago and a former co-worker got diagnosed maybe 6 months ago! She posted her struggles on FB and I’m hoping that triggered the twitching and I really don’t have anything to worry about?? But dumb me googled twitching, ALS pops up and now I’m convinced I have it!! I have an EMG scheduled in a month, but it’s going to be a long month!! New Dr says the meds might take a month to kick in??? Hoping she’s right! I have a little bit of a heavy right leg which I know can be a symptom of BFS, which is what I hope I have!! But it is brutal analyzing every body disturbance and relating it to ALS!! I don’t think ALS picks the times when it wants to act up?? I’m decent during the day, but dread laying down and going to bed!! Dr. says, I’m walking, talking and lifting heavy objects, I own a carpet cleaning company and carry a heavy machine around constantly and use a vacuuming motion all day! So she isn’t the least bit concerned but I am waiting for my speech to slur or leg to start dragging!!! Any thoughts as I’m sure I’ll be up in the middle of the night surfing the net!! Told ya I’d be brief!! Thanks for any thoughts to help ease my mind with any knowledge you may have!

I've had twitches in calves and feet for decades, and other occasional hotspots. Saw neuro, no emg, diagnosed with benign fasiculation syndrome (BFS).
I found a fb group Benign Fasiculation Support group. Check it out..lots of people in same boat. Note try to minimize discussion about a*s.

 

[Gaturz13]

I've had twitches in calves and feet for decades, and other occasional hotspots. Saw neuro, no emg, diagnosed with benign fasiculation syndrome (BFS).
I found a fb group Benign Fasiculation Support group. Check it out..lots of people in same boat. Note try to minimize discussion about a*s.

Thanks for the words of encouragement!! Spoke to an old acquaintance who reads brain scans for a living. One of the smartest dudes I know!! He said he is absolutely certain it is not those 3 dreaded letters!!! See how I avoided discussing it!! Thanks again Richard!!

 

[Zeynep]

I've had twitches in calves and feet for decades, and other occasional hotspots. Saw neuro, no emg, diagnosed with benign fasiculation syndrome (BFS).
I found a fb group Benign Fasiculation Support group. Check it out..lots of people in same boat. Note try to minimize discussion about a*s.

Thank you very much ederim.türkiye I read in the forum. A woman went to the doctor to twitch. He was just twitching. The doctor said ALS. I'm very sorry, but now what you wrote gave hope again. So fasciculations are not always ALS!