Still afraid of als

[Brandon713]

The atrophy is very clear on my dominate bicep. I’m right handed and it look and feel extremely smaller then the left one. My fingers feel weak when I spread them apart and bring them together. The weakness and the dexterity in my thumbs are driving me crazy. I want to get another appointment to the neurologist but it can be very expensive. When the neurologist did the emg on my right hand and forearm she said that everything was prefect and asked if I wanted her to do it on the upper arm and I decline it. I should had let her do it. I’m not sure if there was any atrophy there or not at the time but it sure looks and feel like it now.

 

[Iugrad91]

She could have done an EMG on your whole body and you would still be anxious about it. You say they “feel” weak. ALS isn’t about feeling weak, it’s about muscle death and actual loss of strength. You can’t really test yourself (much like you can’t tickle yourself) because you already have it in your head that you’re “weak”.

I’ll bet if you stop trying to find weakness/symptoms and just live your life you will be able to do everything just fine like the healthy human being that you are.

 

[Brandon713]

She could have done an EMG on your whole body and you would still be anxious about it. You say they “feel” weak. ALS isn’t about feeling weak, it’s about muscle death and actual loss of strength. You can’t really test yourself (much like you can’t tickle yourself) because you already have it in your head that you’re “weak”.

I’ll bet if you stop trying to find weakness/symptoms and just live your life you will be able to do everything just fine like the healthy human being that you are.

Trust me, I’m not looking for symptoms. They just happen to be right in front of my face. This atrophy bicep got me in an uproar as well as my fingers and my weak voice. I’ve seen people that had the same symptoms as me and end up with a**.

 

[Iugrad91]

If she did an EMG on that side she would have seen the atrophy you see. Trust me, I’ve been thru anxiety where I was absolutely certain I lost significant weight due to something sinister and after a week or so of worry finally weighed myself and did not lose an ounce. Anxiety messes with your perception, so you think you are seeing atrophy when there isn’t any.

Does anyone else think your voice is weak? Can you lift a coffee cup with your weak hand? Again, it’s not perceived weakness, where you only feel it’s weak. Just do a search on here for ALS threads and see how many people thought they had it. Zero actually did.

 

[Brandon713]

If she did an EMG on that side she would have seen the atrophy you see. Trust me, I’ve been thru anxiety where I was absolutely certain I lost significant weight due to something sinister and after a week or so of worry finally weighed myself and did not lose an ounce. Anxiety messes with your perception, so you think you are seeing atrophy when there isn’t any.

Does anyone else think your voice is weak? Can you lift a coffee cup with your weak hand? Again, it’s not perceived weakness, where you only feel it’s weak. Just do a search on here for ALS threads and see how many people thought they had it. Zero actually did.

Nobody told me anything about my voice is weak. I’m a baritone singer and I can’t even sing those lower notes anymore. I can still lift a cup

 

[Brandon713]

If she did an EMG on that side she would have seen the atrophy you see. Trust me, I’ve been thru anxiety where I was absolutely certain I lost significant weight due to something sinister and after a week or so of worry finally weighed myself and did not lose an ounce. Anxiety messes with your perception, so you think you are seeing atrophy when there isn’t any.

Does anyone else think your voice is weak? Can you lift a coffee cup with your weak hand? Again, it’s not perceived weakness, where you only feel it’s weak. Just do a search on here for ALS threads and see how many people thought they had it. Zero actually did.

Arms feel lifeless, I have zero energy. My thighs, legs, and sole of my feet vibrates. The sole of my feet is in pain. Sometimes my right side of my body feels like it’s becoming clinical weakness.

 

[Seryn]

When was the last time you were tested? All these feelings are also very very common from stress and anxiety too. Is there any part of you that could accept this is the case? When. You stop symptom checking a focus properly on something else it will go. It's the only way my physical symptoms stop if I intently focus on something else and magically my pain goes. Very frustrating!

 

[Phillies Phan]

Arms feel lifeless, I have zero energy. My thighs, legs, and sole of my feet vibrates. The sole of my feet is in pain. Sometimes my right side of my body feels like it’s becoming clinical weakness.

Anxiety over symptoms causes the symptoms to keep growing. Energy levels, vibrations/twitching are anxiety symptoms. Pain is caused by the subconscious tensing of muscles, or by the “testing” we do to, in our minds, rule in or rule out a feared disease. “Feels like” is that altered perception that lugrad91 mentions. If you can walk, climb stairs even barely there is no clinical weakness. The EMG would have caught anything from carpal tunnel to pinched nerves to ALS.

I am not at all suggesting that you go to the ALS boards, but there is a post when you enter that you are asked to read before posting. Basically it states, amongst other things that you don’t gradually lose strength…you have it and then you don’t. Like turning off a light switch.

ALS fear is a nightmare but you’ll rise above this. As suggested, search this site. It’s full of fear of ALS posts. I believe at one point I posted the whole entry by that ALS patient I referred to above..maybe you can find it.

 

[Brandon713]

When was the last time you were tested? All these feelings are also very very common from stress and anxiety too. Is there any part of you that could accept this is the case? When. You stop symptom checking a focus properly on something else it will go. It's the only way my physical symptoms stop if I intently focus on something else and magically my pain goes. Very frustrating!

I saw the neurologist a few months ago. I’ve been have some of these sensations nonstop for the past 5-6 months. That’s why it’s so difficult to let it go. Some symptoms come and then they go. Even when I don’t think about it. The symptoms are still there.

Anxiety over symptoms causes the symptoms to keep growing. Energy levels, vibrations/twitching are anxiety symptoms. Pain is caused by the subconscious tensing of muscles, or by the “testing” we do to, in our minds, rule in or rule out a feared disease. “Feels like” is that altered perception that lugrad91 mentions. If you can walk, climb stairs even barely there is no clinical weakness. The EMG would have caught anything from carpal tunnel to pinched nerves to ALS.

I am not at all suggesting that you go to the ALS boards, but there is a post when you enter that you are asked to read before posting. Basically it states, amongst other things that you don’t gradually lose strength…you have it and then you don’t. Like turning off a light switch.

ALS fear is a nightmare but you’ll rise above this. As suggested, search this site. It’s full of fear of ALS posts. I believe at one point I posted the whole entry by that ALS patient I referred to above..maybe you can find it.

I’ve been on a als forum and some of the people aren’t pleasant. I’ve read the stickie notes but I’ve seen some stories that people have similar symptoms to mine and ended being diagnosed with als

 

[Phillies Phan]

I saw the neurologist a few months ago. I’ve been have some of these sensations nonstop for the past 5-6 months. That’s why it’s so difficult to let it go. Some symptoms come and then they go. Even when I don’t think about it. The symptoms are still there.


I’ve been on a als forum and some of the people aren’t pleasant. I’ve read the stickie notes but I’ve seen some stories that people have similar symptoms to mine and ended being diagnosed with als

I imagine they get tired of non-affected people continually posting on their board seeking reassurance. These are people who actually have the disease, and their loved ones. It’s no wonder why, despite the stickie notes, people nonetheless bug them. Their attitude is likely also because they know you’re not affected and thus want you gone. If they actually thought your symptoms were possibly ALS, they would likely be kinder and guide you.

As long as your brain tells you you are ill, you’ll feel ill with all the symptoms. Anxiety symptoms can mimic any illness. Ever hear of hysterical blindness? People actually lose sight temporarily due to anxiety…they’re examined and the eye is perfectly fine, but their brain tells them the lie that the eye isn’t functioning.

 

[Canuck]

Arms feel lifeless...
... feels like it’s becoming clinical weakness.

Feels like is just that, a feeling.

You should start working out.

 

[Brandon713]

I imagine they get tired of non-affected people continually posting on their board seeking reassurance. These are people who actually have the disease, and their loved ones. It’s no wonder why, despite the stickie notes, people nonetheless bug them. Their attitude is likely also because they know you’re not affected and thus want you gone. If they actually thought your symptoms were possibly ALS, they would likely be kinder and guide you.

As long as your brain tells you you are ill, you’ll feel ill with all the symptoms. Anxiety symptoms can mimic any illness. Ever hear of hysterical blindness? People actually lose sight temporarily due to anxiety…they’re examined and the eye is perfectly fine, but their brain tells them the lie that the eye isn’t functioning.

I guess you are right. I’m looking for a therapist and I need to find something to distract me

Feels like is just that, a feeling.

You should start working out.

I need to in all seriousness. I’m obese

 

[Joshua1]

It doesnt sound like a problem to me, what matters most is the ability to use them and allowing time to heal you and recover.

 

[Brandon713]

It doesnt sound like a problem to me, what matters most is the ability to use them and allowing time to heal you and recover.

You are correct. It’s just been a long time and other new symptoms keep coming up and old symptoms comes back. I’ve been in this dark place for over a year now. My tounge and right bicep feels atrophy now.

 

[Iugrad91]

You keep saying it feels like it’s atrophied, but if you still are able to do things, it’s not neurological. ALS is failing, not feeling. Like you can’t even lift a cup or anything. Feeling is anxiety.

 

[bin_tenn]

You keep saying it feels like it’s atrophied, but if you still are able to do things, it’s not neurological. ALS is failing, not feeling. Like you can’t even lift a cup or anything. Feeling is anxiety.

I hope this eventually clicks for him, because it's been said countless times.

 

[Brandon713]

You keep saying it feels like it’s atrophied, but if you still are able to do things, it’s not neurological. ALS is failing, not feeling. Like you can’t even lift a cup or anything. Feeling is anxiety.

Not only it feels atrophy, it looks atrophy. I’m just lost right now and confused because I’ve seen stories of people that have experienced the same thing as me but end up with the diagnosis.

 

[Brandon713]

This has been a tough 3 weeks for me. I think it’s more tougher then usual because I can see and feel the atrophy. I had an appointment today to get an iron infusion and I asked the nurse did she see any atrophy and she said my arms look the same, but I can see it clear as day. Atrophy usually means ***. I can see it now in both biceps, the lower arm, heels of my feet, and my tongue. My arms feels weak and tired. My tongue feels burnt and short. It’s scalloped on the front and side of it. My voice is very weak sounding and horse. I stutter and sometimes my words slur. Nobody has said anything about my weak voice and my stuttering. My throat feels very tight, like something is stuck in it. I’m always having to clear my throat like theres phlegm stuck in my throat. It’s very difficult to breath with my throat feeling the way it does. The more I try to stop body searching and internet searching the more I notice different symptoms. This is the lowest I’ve ever been. I’ve had an anxiety attack almost about a year ago at work. I had to be rushed to the hospital. I thought I was gona die. I’m starting to have that same feeling again. I’m at total loss.

 

[bin_tenn]

You need professional help for severe anxiety disorder.

 

[Iugrad91]

Read my other response, when anxiety is high you can’t actually see rationally. Literally you see things that are just not there. Like atrophy. It messes with your perception.