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Do I Need To Be Worried About ALS? Roughly 2
Question: Do I need to be worried about ALS?
Roughly 2 months ago I noticed that my right forearm was getting more fatigued when holding my phone up. I was also getting more fatigue in my muscles around my temple when I would eat. I also became constipated having ribbon like stools/diarrhea everyday even to the point where my doctor recommended a colonoscopy, which came back normal. Fast forward to a week and a half ago, I became very weak all throughout my body (mainly in my right wrist and ankle) and very twitchy all over my body. I twitch all during the day at work. My back and neck have also been very sore and stiff. In addition I have also been achy and short of breath. I went to see my general physician who ran a series of tests and my only possible cause of explanation is a low iron count (39 mcg and 14% saturation) My doctor said due to the normal ferritin/blood levels it should not be a cause but after an extensive blood test its the only thing I got. I started taking iron supplements 2 days ago. In addition, a spirometry test showed that I am mildly restrictred in my airways. I'm not sure if that would be an indicator or not. I am worried about neurological problems at this point mainly ALS. My fingers also twitch badly when they are extended.
I am a 23 year old male who's 6'2 220 pounds. I quit smoking and drinking back in April. I am extremely worried and it is definitely affecting my everyday life. The soonest I can see a neurologist is OCT 23. Thank you for any advice/ information provided.
A summary of the tests I have had completed:
EKG: normal
colonoscopy: normal
spirometric: mildly restrictive (I have terrible allergies and have been congested?) I don't really know much about this test
Extensive blood work including lyme disease: negative besides slightly low iron levels and saturation.
My doctor does not think anemia due to ferritin levels being at 77 and normal blood count and TBIC.
Roughly 2 months ago I noticed that my right forearm was getting more fatigued when holding my phone up. I was also getting more fatigue in my muscles around my temple when I would eat. I also became constipated having ribbon like stools/diarrhea everyday even to the point where my doctor recommended a colonoscopy, which came back normal. Fast forward to a week and a half ago, I became very weak all throughout my body (mainly in my right wrist and ankle) and very twitchy all over my body. I twitch all during the day at work. My back and neck have also been very sore and stiff. In addition I have also been achy and short of breath. I went to see my general physician who ran a series of tests and my only possible cause of explanation is a low iron count (39 mcg and 14% saturation) My doctor said due to the normal ferritin/blood levels it should not be a cause but after an extensive blood test its the only thing I got. I started taking iron supplements 2 days ago. In addition, a spirometry test showed that I am mildly restrictred in my airways. I'm not sure if that would be an indicator or not. I am worried about neurological problems at this point mainly ALS. My fingers also twitch badly when they are extended.
I am a 23 year old male who's 6'2 220 pounds. I quit smoking and drinking back in April. I am extremely worried and it is definitely affecting my everyday life. The soonest I can see a neurologist is OCT 23. Thank you for any advice/ information provided.
A summary of the tests I have had completed:
EKG: normal
colonoscopy: normal
spirometric: mildly restrictive (I have terrible allergies and have been congested?) I don't really know much about this test
Extensive blood work including lyme disease: negative besides slightly low iron levels and saturation.
My doctor does not think anemia due to ferritin levels being at 77 and normal blood count and TBIC.
Brief Answer:
Symptoms are not suggestive of ALS.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for posting your query.
I am Dr Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist, and I would try my best to help you.
I have noted your clinical details. Based on this, I do not think that you have ALS. In ALS, the symptoms come on slowly, affecting only one limb. It takes months to years for symptoms to spread to other limbs. For all 4 limbs to get affected, it takes at least two years. In addition, there would be thinning (wasting) of affected muscles, which is not the case with you.
The most likely explanation in your case is benign fasciculation syndrome (BFS), which can get aggravated with anxiety.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Symptoms are not suggestive of ALS.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for posting your query.
I am Dr Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist, and I would try my best to help you.
I have noted your clinical details. Based on this, I do not think that you have ALS. In ALS, the symptoms come on slowly, affecting only one limb. It takes months to years for symptoms to spread to other limbs. For all 4 limbs to get affected, it takes at least two years. In addition, there would be thinning (wasting) of affected muscles, which is not the case with you.
The most likely explanation in your case is benign fasciculation syndrome (BFS), which can get aggravated with anxiety.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My biggest concern is that I am so weak to go along with it. My entire body is extremely fatigued and twitching. Are there any similar diseases that could be causing this? Or perhaps my anxiety?
Brief Answer:
Possible anxiety is making it worse.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
The most likely cause of your fatigue and twitching could be anxiety, stress and lack of sleep/rest.
We also need to exclude any low grade infection or metabolic derangements such as low calcium, low sodium, etc.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM
Possible anxiety is making it worse.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
The most likely cause of your fatigue and twitching could be anxiety, stress and lack of sleep/rest.
We also need to exclude any low grade infection or metabolic derangements such as low calcium, low sodium, etc.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have tested for all of those things with my general physician. Everything comes back as normal besides the Iron count. My doctor had mentioned that due to the normal ferritin amounts that the iron should not be causing how I am feeling. My iron count is 39 mcg and saturation is at 14%. Ferritin levels exist at 77 and normal. So it appears that I am looking at either stress/anxiety being the cause or a neurological condition.
Here is what my doctor said:
No Diabetes. No Thyroid disease. Normal Hormone Levels. No Anemia. No Vitamin Deficiency.
No immediate life-threatening illness, disease, or cancer is present .
There does NOT appear to be any obvious metabolic, inflammatory, auto-immune, or infectious pathology that could explain your presenting neurological symptoms.
We should consider a Neurology consultation if your symptoms persist or progress for further testing.
Here is what my doctor said:
No Diabetes. No Thyroid disease. Normal Hormone Levels. No Anemia. No Vitamin Deficiency.
No immediate life-threatening illness, disease, or cancer is present .
There does NOT appear to be any obvious metabolic, inflammatory, auto-immune, or infectious pathology that could explain your presenting neurological symptoms.
We should consider a Neurology consultation if your symptoms persist or progress for further testing.
Brief Answer:
Then, anxiety is the cause.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back with more details.
Since all other work up is negative, anxiety seems to be the root cause. A neurological disease seems unlikely.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM
Then, anxiety is the cause.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back with more details.
Since all other work up is negative, anxiety seems to be the root cause. A neurological disease seems unlikely.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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