Clarification of symptoms

[Nervous Guy]

Clearly from these pages, many people are obsessively concerned with ALS symptoms, particularly fasciculation.  Considering that statistically, only one in 600,000 Americans get this horrible disease (that would mean that out of all the people at 11 sold out games in Yankee Stadium with no repeat attendees, only Lou Gherig himself would have had the disease!), there really is a high level of irrational anxiety out there.  While I am fairly certain that I have nothing to worry about, I am one of those irrationally very anxious people.   I apologize for asking redundant questions but I am confused by all the postings and opinions of well meaning (and wonderfully supportive) lay-people.  I sincerely and respectfully hope that a NEURO DOC can answer this.
First, is it true that fasciculation by definition are twitches that can be SEEN and not simply felt under the skin?  The latter being more likely to be just stress, anxiety, fatigue or hyper vigilance?
Second, is it true that early ALS related twitching tends to be localized whereas benign twitches tend to be random and more generalized over the body?
Third, I have also read on these pages that ALS related twitching is profound, occurring as often as 30 per minute and that 6-12 small twitches per day is quite normal and really unlikely to be related to a progressive neuromuscular illness. True?
Fourth, I have also read that twitching that occurs only at rest is usually benign and will stop as soon as a muscle is engaged whereas neuropathy related twitching occurs regardless.

[KLwriter]

I'm a lay person but I have had twitching. The moment I engage my legs, the twitching stops. It is most pronounced while my legs are immobile under my computer desk.

Benign twitching can be in a localized area ("hot spots), BUT...BUT...people with benign twitching ALSO have body-wide twitching. ALS twitching starts in localized area AFTER person notices weakness in that area. If ALS twitching is body wide, by then, person is disabled.

Fascics may or may not be seen.

Based on my reading and experience, two biggest causes of benign twitching are rigorous exercise and, coming in at No. 1: Anxiety, especially over the twitching. Many people report the twitching occurs AFTER they notice "weakness." In ALS, it's the other way around. People freak out over the weakness and panic, and this causes twitching. Please e-mail me at ***@**** if you are interested in sharing your "torment," because I'm planning on writing a feature article about benign twitching/ALS panic for consumer magazines. This wide-spread problem needs media attention.

[KLwriter]

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[KLwriter]

MY ERROR, I said "in ALS, it's the other way around," as in twitching comes first. This is WRONG. In ALS, weakness comes first, THEN twitching.