Perceived weakness

[SallySmith]

The ALS fears feel so real right now. I just walked a mile and when I stopped walking, panic set in. Been having muscle fasciculations for about two months. Feeling so anxious right now.

 

[JohnM]

Went through the exact same thing for almost an entire year in 2017. Muscle fasciculations, feelings of weakness. I was convinced I was dying. Needless to say I don’t have ALS. Trust me, your anxious mind is capable of producing all those symptoms, not to mention that ALS is extremely rare. I know everyone says it, but try to get your mind involved in something else. Talking to someone, friend or family, about my worries always helps me. You’re going to be okay! Take care, and feel free to message back.

 

[SallySmith]

Thanks, JohnM. There are times that the anxiety feel manageable, and times it feels so heavy. I'm stuck in one of those heavy times. I appreciate your words.

 

[AbejaReina]

I'm not sure if this is the same or similar but lately I feel weak a lot and just like I'm being held down. Getting out of bed is so difficult that just that alone makes me feel like I've already been up and about an entire day. Anxiety really can do so much to us. I once saw a list of 100 things it can do to our bodies. It's easy for it to trick us into another illness being the reason. Stay updated with your doctor and as honest as possible. I know it's hard but keep your chin up

 

[JADIII]

Sally, I went through this for about a year also. Constant strength tests, walking toe to toe. So maybe this will help. I finally went to a neuro and talked to her about it. She says that when she sees a patient she doesnt even have to "test" him, she can tell right away. In ALS it not about being able to do something less than what you did the day before, its' about not being able to do it at all. For example, button a shirt or pick up you toe/foot.

John is right, it's a very rare disease that mostly is in older people 60 and 70's. One thing that helped me was this. I pulled up a picture of a football stadium with about 100000 people in it and thought to myself. Out of all those people like 5 will have ALS, am I really one of those people and I don't even have the true symptoms of what people with ALS have. Failing not feeling. ALS has no feeling to it so pain, vibrating, muscle fasculations don't mean anything regarding ALS.

If you have time, go to an ALS Forum board and read the stickies, you will feel much better about thing, I promise you.

 

[Lmjw]

Wow my story right now. Same symptoms as you I've been to my doctor neurologist neurologist practitioner and a rheumatologist they all say I don't have it. I am convinced that I do I am going in on April 6th to get an EMG but everyday I wake up I feel numb and my hands pain a lot of ALS symptoms. everyday it's really intolerable for me to even think or function

 

[JADIII]

Having researched this extensively and having had an EMG from what you describe it's not ALS. With ALS there is no pain at all, something just doesnt work. It would be like you want to pick up your finger and it just wont pick up. From what you're describing I 100% guarantee you do not have ALS.

 

[Lmjw]

Thank you for your reply. That's what I have been told. I am able to move everything I was just concerned with the cramping. Since you had an EMG are they painful? I've heard different things. It has also been brought up that it could be my anxiety or fibromyalgia

 

[JADIII]

So if you're anything like me. I was pretty panicked when I had the EMG so the minimal amount of pain didnt even register with me. I was just worried about what her interpretation of it was. Cramping and fasculations really have nothing to do with ALS. In fact, from what I've read and been told, people that have ALS don't even know they are having these twitches, etc., a doctor has to see them. If it puts you mind at ease this is what the neuro told me. 99.9% of the people that I see that have ALS don't come to me stating that "I think I have ALS". They come in with something else (some type of symptom) and then we do a ton of testing to get to that DX.

I asked her if she sees a lot of ALS cases and she said that yes, she does because she spent 2 years working in an ALS clinic so thats a lot what I see. In her private practice she rarely sees it. I asked my Ortho also and he said he's never seen a case in all his years.