Sandra143....a question - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Message Board

columbia · 06-21-2002, 08:06 PM

Hi Sandra,

It seems like a great part of your family has been diagnosed with this sickness...your grandmother, uncle, father, brother. I was under the impression that ALS wasn't hereditary. My aunt passed away from ALS in 1990, but no one in our family had it before her or has yet to be diagnosed with it since her death. Were the cases in your family simply a horrendous coincidence, or is ALS hereditary? Also, is ALS one of those mysterious diseases that you just develope without any explanation.

Thank you, and my prayers and thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. I definately understand what your going through having been through this experience and watched my family go through it.

Gin79 · 06-22-2002, 03:34 AM

It's mostly sporatic, but there is 10% of cases that it's heredity. My Mom passed Nov 2001 from it, and her sister passed the year before from it.

There are also two types, can't remember the names....so long but one starts upper body, and progresses really fast, they loose their voice first but can still walk (like my Mom).

With my Aunt, she could talk pretty much too the end, but was unable to walk about 1.5 years, her's went slow. My Mom was diagnosed in Feb 2001, passed Nov 2001.

I'm hear too, my first time here, but I've been through it too if ya need to talk.

Gin

Arturo Gutierrez · 08-25-2002, 08:58 PM

Can it be some micro organism in the air that causes it? Because i have heard of als cases from people that live near each other. To me that is a strange coincidence.
I agree with all , the best medicine is a big smile, having lots of fun