well....my dad started to have his symptoms in 99. It started in his legs and feet. He noticed there was weakness and cramping pains up his legs. He thought nothing of it until he was put in hospital for a staph infection in his knee. Then the symptoms started to worsen. He went to many different doctors. It took about 18 months to finally get the diagnoses. By then his legs had atrophied and his feet were almost useless. I remember staying up all night some nights, researching his symptoms. My brother and I had it down to Lyme and ALS. I would go to his appointments and request certain tests done. But, because of insurance reasons, and the doctors were to proud or something. They just didn't like it when I would bring up what I had researched. It took a long time to find the right doctor. And actually getting an appointment with them was a joke. We would wait for weeks or even months to see one. At first they tested him for Rheumatoid arthritis, then for MS, and all other diseases needed to be ruled out before they would make ALS an option. So the whole ordeal was time comsuming. All the other tests were taking up a lot of time. Fianlly on August 3rd of 2001 he was diagnosed with ALS. He has gone down hill fast since then. He now uses a BIPAP at night and during the day to breathe, PRN oxygen, and now in a wheelchair. We just recently have Hospice, (a company who helps us with his care) coming in and out of the house taking care of him when we are not available. ALS is getting more and more common. It is a very hard disease. I was up until a month ago my father's full time care giver. Now that the rest of my family has excepted it there is much more support. Thanks for your concern. I pray for a quick death for me, when it is my time to go.