help - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Message Board

emily jj · 03-31-2005, 02:19 AM

Hi,
I've been having strange symptoms since Jan. 05. I'm concerned it might be ALS. I started having all over muscle twitches in January. The twitches are all over my body and I feel like their force has gotten stronger in recent weeks. In the last couple of weeks I have noticed somethng very sublte in my left arm/hand. I notice that it is weaker than my right, I can still hold items but I have the feeligns that they are heavier and will slip out.

I have had a history of hypothyroid in my life but in the last 15 years I have not been treated because my levels had supposedly stabilized. Then in Feb, my TSH levels were a little high so I went on thyroid hormone for about two weeks. I'm not sure but I think the twitches were better. Anyway I went off of it because of chest pain and racing heart. About a month after that I started noticing the weakness in my hand.

I have noticed occassional numbness of my feet and hands but not lately. I don't know what is going on (or if more than one thing is going on?)

My endo is waiting another 6 weeks to assess things. I am seeing a neurologist but not until mid May! In the meantime I am a graduate student and I write all the time. Does anyone have any clues as to what may be going on with me? I'm very scared this could be the start of ALS.

tip2mol · 03-31-2005, 05:07 AM

Hi,

Usually- ALS starts on one side of the body (in one extremity)- not with all over body twitching.
You definitely should have this checked into, but I would not greatly fear that it is ALS.
The bulbar form of ALS starts out different (This is the exception). You might not have any body twitching, but instead have problems with slurred speech or difficulty with swallowing.