im terrified of als! someone respond please

[naynay363]

im 33 weeks pregnant, 29 years old..i take zoloft and ativan for extreme anxiety-----i have a fixation and fear that i have als---- here are my symptoms for about the last month

--- twitching ALL OVER MY BODY everypart of my body,,,all day long, every day for about a month so far
--- "perceived" weakness in my hands and wrists...along with sore fingers and wrists
---  excess saliva and tight swallowing with lots of phlegm stuck in my throat all the time!
---  feelings of breathlessness...like a take a deep breath often to make up for it.

ive been to the neuro 3 times in month and a half because im sooooo scared!!! she says im fine, declined further testing such as emg, etc because im prego. but did say that even if i wasnt prego she thinks im fine so probably wouldnt test anywyas. im very scared, even though the neuro and my gp have done a thorough work up and exams.  i had a clean mri in may right before i got pregnant. my neuro, gp and ob all say anxiety and stress...i guess im having  a hard time believing them. also, my pregnancy hormones probably arent helping anything!

anyone with advice please help! im afraid of als. and the body wide twitching is really freaking me out.

[naynay363]

I also want to add that everything I experience is bodywide its never localised and I have a major history of anxiety and being a hypochondriac and that's why I ended up because I started googling.

[naynay363]

Thank you for your response . I'm not sure if it resembles als because I'm not a dr. I only go by info that I find on the web twitching can come along with als and that scared me. My neuro says no way and I've seen her twice in a month because I'm so scared. She didn't run any tests because she doesn't feel I need them. I'm trying to make myself believe that my aches ansd cramps are pregnancy related. I know u cannot diagnose me but dr what do u think? I can still walk button shirts pick things up and talk etc. Its just twitching bodywide and soreness in certain random spots. My neuro and gp both say anxiety and pregnancy related

[Dr Sharma]

Hi there. ALS oramyotrophic lareal sclerosis may include twitching, cramping, or stiffness  of muscles, muscles of arm or leg, slurred and nasal speech or difficulty in chewing and swallowing.some patients see the effects of the disease on a hand or armwhere they experience difficulty with buttoning a shirt , writing etc. others notice pspeech problems.to be diagnosed with ALS one must have signs and symptoms of both upper and lower motor damage that cannot be attributed to other causes. Usually doesnot affect the cognitive function, so patients are aware of their progressive loss of function and may become anxious and depressed. Eventually ventilatory support becomes mandatory.presence of upper and lower motor neuron signs in a single limb is strongly suggestive. Can you relate to these ALS symptoms? take care.

[naynay363]

I always have had anxiety and hypochondria all my life my neuro said she sees me all the time for my own peace of mind not bc she thinks I have als has ur hubby seen a .neuro? What did they tell him?

[Paramat4]

Your symptoms are my husbands and we have no diagnosis either. He thinks he has ALS as well. No history of anxiety or depression. I agree with an earlier post about breathing during pregnancy it's hard. Keep a journal of your symptoms.. Go back to nuero in 6 months

[PrincessKimD]

That's my problem too... googling ailments.  In my 36 years, I have overcome having a brain tumor, congestive heart failure, skin cancer, ALS, MS, lung cancer and nonhodgkins lymphoma. (Obviously I never had these things, but at one point I was convinced I did)

[naynay363]

i'm a HUGE hypochondriac lol and then i started googling my symptoms...BIG MISTAKE lol. well, i def know im not alone. im going to private message you some info.

[PrincessKimD]

Hi,

I have been having twitches for over a week too.  I don't know why, but I am also afraid of ALS. I am a hypocondriac, so I probably shouldn't be giving you too much advice, but have you tried doing any of your own neurological tests? Maybe your DR has already done these and your fine...
http://www.ms-gateway.com/understanding-ms/diagnosing-ms/a-guide-to-common-neurogical-examination-62.htm

I think the biggest thing for you to remember is what you wrote repeatedly in your posting. You have a history of anxiety/stress.

I know it's scary.  I wish I could say something to make you feel better.  I think part of the reason you are struggling with breathing is because you're pregnant. Being short of breath is not uncommon in pregnancy.

[naynay363]

anyone????