Great to be back! %100 positive I have als

[Cb1993 9]

I have had als fear in the past but today I am convinced. My eyelid has been twitching on and off for about two weeks and have even felt a little tightness on that side of my face. The oddest symptom I'm experiencing is my left side feels like it's not as sensitive as the right, it's hard to explain. It almost feels like I've lost feeling but not all the way. Everything works fine as I've been constantly moving every toe, every finger to make sure. I have been poking every inch of skin to see if I can feel it (which I can just not as much as the right side) But I have noticed there's certain things that I can do faster and easier with my right foot and toes then I can with my left. My throat is also tight on and off and yesterday someone asked me something and I thought my mouth wasn't going to work to answer. I am totally spiraling right now, doing all the regular anxiety stuff like realizing I'll never have children or travel or have a full life. Who knows how much time I have left. I've had the fear before but I don't remember being this bad, and I don't remember having this weird phantom limb issue (I can't figure out how to describe it it almost feels like my left arm and leg aren't mine but they work fine)

[Cb1993 9]

I am a 24 yr old female by the way with bouts of very high anxiety, moderate activity level.

[Holls 1505]

Twitching eyelid is on the an ALS symptom, neither is throat tightness.. you are feeling not all sensations and since ALS is your fear you are attaching that to your symptoms.. but it's not ALS. I was an ALS worrier... You are fine and no need to think such sad awful thoughts.  Tell your mind no.. the thoughts aren't true. 

Also the fact you are only 24 works in your favor. ALS is extremely rare and even more so in your age range. 

 

[Holls 1505]

Sorry meant twitching eyelid is not an ALS symptom

[Jae 211]

Cb, the mind is a very powerful thing.. you are seeing that right now. 

I've seen ALS with my own eyes, in my heart, I feel you do not have it but you are suffering from extreme anxiety.

Anxiety is the beast.

[DoxieMoxie 316]

23 hours ago, Cb1993 said:

I have had als fear in the past but today I am convinced. My eyelid has been twitching on and off for about two weeks and have even felt a little tightness on that side of my face. The oddest symptom I'm experiencing is my left side feels like it's not as sensitive as the right, it's hard to explain. It almost feels like I've lost feeling but not all the way. Everything works fine as I've been constantly moving every toe, every finger to make sure. I have been poking every inch of skin to see if I can feel it (which I can just not as much as the right side) But I have noticed there's certain things that I can do faster and easier with my right foot and toes then I can with my left. My throat is also tight on and off and yesterday someone asked me something and I thought my mouth wasn't going to work to answer. I am totally spiraling right now, doing all the regular anxiety stuff like realizing I'll never have children or travel or have a full life. Who knows how much time I have left. I've had the fear before but I don't remember being this bad, and I don't remember having this weird phantom limb issue (I can't figure out how to describe it it almost feels like my left arm and leg aren't mine but they work fine)

You describe a lot of weird feelings and sensations, ie sensory things.  None of those are symptoms of ALS. 

And eye twitching is incredibly common and almost certainly caused by stress and anxiety.

I see a long life and lots of travel in your future.  

[Cb1993 9]

Something is definitely off because my left leg definitely feels different then my right. Again not necessarily week or numb but different. Not sure what that could be and not sure if my mind could go so far as to make that up. I do truly appreciate all your responses and it has helped a bit but I tend to go through bouts of anxiety that last a couple weeks usually and I am in a constant state of panic. This time it seems all too real and I just don't feel like it's my anxiety playing tricks on me. My mom told me I sound raspy on the phone today that has put me right back where I started. I have heard that als can change your voice 

[DoxieMoxie 316]

1 hour ago, Cb1993 said:

Something is definitely off because my left leg definitely feels different then my right. Again not necessarily week or numb but different. Not sure what that could be and not sure if my mind could go so far as to make that up. I do truly appreciate all your responses and it has helped a bit but I tend to go through bouts of anxiety that last a couple weeks usually and I am in a constant state of panic. This time it seems all too real and I just don't feel like it's my anxiety playing tricks on me. My mom told me I sound raspy on the phone today that has put me right back where I started. I have heard that als can change your voice 

A leg feeling weird is not ALS; people with leg onset ALS don't say that their leg feels weird.  It feels normal, but just won't move.

A raspy voice is not a sign of it either.  

Find something else to worry about.  ?

[Holls 1505]

^^^^^^yes that was exactly what I was about to say regarding the leg and voice. 

Doxie and I were ALS worriers unfortunately we know wayyyy too much about it.. we want you to stop ALS fears now Bec there is no need for it. You are fine.. don't believe the thoughts .. and yes absolutely your mind is that powerful to make one leg feels different than the other.. i did it for seven months. Don't be like me.. move on from this fear now.

Hugs. You are absolutely fine. 

 

[TarasaRR 7]

I have weird leg sensations too. I think from reading your post it could be anxiety induced.

I feel like sometimes my left leg and foot are buzzing. Then it almost feels like it’s burning, but no pain or anything, just very warm and uncomfortable. Almost like how it feels right before your leg or foot falls asleep. I can still feel/move everything but have a little less of a sensation in my toes. Although, I think that could be from nerve damage. I get the same feeling in my left arm too, just not as bad. It has me freaked out too. 

I feel like I’m going nuts. 

I do not think you have ALS tho. 

From everything I have read about ALS you would have progressive weakness, like trying to walk and cant move your leg. And I don’t think it would go from your leg to your mouth or eye. I don’t think it would be random like that. At least from what I have read. 

I hope that helps. I’m glad I found your post. It helped me a little, because it sounds similar to my sensations. 

[Cb1993 9]

You guys have no idea how much I love you. Thank you for the reassurance I really need it. My left leg feels so odd it's just making me go crazy. Talking to people on here about it is a lifesaver. 

[Holls 1505]

My left leg felt so odd/ weak for months and months.. I was scared sometimes that if I tried to get up I would fall.. I never did. I even started doing step aerobics to prove to myself that my leg might feel funny and weak but it's not. Precieved weakness is not clinical weakness. My mind was also so focused on my leg idk how much was my mind or not!!! I have buzzing in that leg as well.. crazy sensations lol. 

You aren't alone that's for sure !!! 

Hugs!

[DoxieMoxie 316]

Yes, like Holls I also had a lot of strange sensations in my left leg and arm.  Sometimes it felt like it was covered in a blanket; sometimes pins and needles; sometimes cold or hot etc. Very very strange.  

Remember, ALS is a disease of motor neurons; not sensory neurons so it does not cause weird feelings or sensations.  ALS patients will typically say that their foot, leg, arm, or whatever part in which the disease presents feels completely normal, they just cannot move it or lift it.  The weakness then slowly spreads from there.  It is a disease of failing not feeling; not weird feelings or sensations.  ALS is also largely a painless disease until very late stages of the disease when patients experience bedsores and joint pains due to inability to move.  

Interestingly, bc there are lots of less serious diseases that can cause weakness, eg pinched nerves, diabetes, MS, etc Drs will often ask whether any sensory symptoms accompany the weakness in a patient.  They start seriously worrying about ALS when a patient has profound weakness in a hand or foot WITHOUT any pain numbness or sensations.

 

[Bailey 1]

Twitching eyelid is a symptom of stress ( I get it all the time) as is a tight throat. I get that a lot too. I know Google is not our friend normally but there is a great comprehensive list of anxiety symptoms that I find very helpful when I am dealing with a strange feeling. Just Google 100 anxiety symptoms. Many things that you would never associate with anxiety are on that list. I have learned over the past month and a half that the mind is an extremely powerful thing and that stress, worry, and fear can manifest itself in all different physical symptoms that mimic many serious illnesses. I find comfort in the fact that my symptoms come and go, aren't worsening, and the tests I had at the ER all came back fine. Have you been to a neurologist to rule out the illness that you fear you have?

[Holls 1505]

5 hours ago, Bailey said:

Twitching eyelid is a symptom of stress ( I get it all the time) as is a tight throat. I get that a lot too. I know Google is not our friend normally but there is a great comprehensive list of anxiety symptoms that I find very helpful when I am dealing with a strange feeling. Just Google 100 anxiety symptoms. Many things that you would never associate with anxiety are on that list. I have learned over the past month and a half that the mind is an extremely powerful thing and that stress, worry, and fear can manifest itself in all different physical symptoms that mimic many serious illnesses. I find comfort in the fact that my symptoms come and go, aren't worsening, and the tests I had at the ER all came back fine. Have you been to a neurologist to rule out the illness that you fear you have?

Well the good thing is your PCP can do a neuro test and rule it out there.. I had one at my PCP.. they will do.strength tests and reflex tests.