shortness of breath & twitching

[Twitchy5377]

Hi. I started bodywide twitching about 6 months ago (including tongue). About a month after the twitching started I started having intermittent shortness of breath. At first it would go away for a day or even a week before it came back, but for the past 2 months it goes and comes all throughout the day everyday (I don't feel like I'm stressed when it comes on). Anyone else? I'm worried about having a weakened diaphragm in combination with my twitching.

I had an EMG in September that showed radiculopathy in a few areas and an "arthritic like" condition in my neck.

[tryingtosurvive1]

well I think the EMG would have picked up you-know-what in Sept if you said things started six months ago. Instead you had a basically benign study.

---------- Post added at 22:10 ---------- Previous post was at 22:07 ----------

shortness of breath seems especially subjective to me. Are you gasping for air? Just a bit winded? What are you doing when it comes on?

[Twitchy5377]

I've never seen the EMG report but that's what the doctor said the results were.

Definitely not gasping. Just having to take big, deep breaths more often and my chest feels tight. It seems to come on when I'm relaxing. Usually when I'm on the couch watch TV or something.

[Colicab85]

You have a mental health condition. They cause your body to go mad.

[tryingtosurvive1]

If the doctor said that was what the EMG report said, that's what it said. Which isn't ALS.

It definitely sounds like the breathing stuff could be anxiety. You're not gasping after all and you can exert yourself without difficulty.

[Twitchy5377]

I did have a clinical. The neuro suspected neuropathy after it -no idea why. The NCS came back clean though, no neuropathy. She said she "didn't think this was ALS, but these diseases can unfold over time." She never suggested a follow up appointment.
She did say if she couldn't calm my ALS fears that she could send me to a specialist but didn't believe they would want to see me based on her findings. Does that mean she is not concerned at all about ALS and was just being overly cautious with her phrasing?

---------- Post added at 00:40 ---------- Previous post was at 00:37 ----------

I had this shortness of breath feeling happen one other time in May while walking then never had in again until September. Since September I feel like the shortness of breath is coming on more frequently and lasting longer. A lot of my ALS anxiety has calmed down although it is still in the back of my mind constantly. Could this just be my body reacting to the extreme stress I was having about ALS a few months ago?

[tryingtosurvive1]

I actually do have neuropathy (a genetic variant) and believe me, it popped up on the nerve conduction study quite clearly, as well as my sister's. Other sorts would show up on the EMG. So it sounds like you are fine there.

It doesn't sound like either your clinical or EMG exam suggested ALS. (ALS has upper motor neuron signs that neuropathy lacks.)

I think the neurologist was just being super cautious by noting things can emerge over time. It's also true that the EMG picks ALS up early. And she thought you had no reason to see a specialist. I would take these facts as definitive, or as definitive as can be given we are finite beings.

Given all this . . .do you have a regular therapist? You could end up wasting several more months or heaven forbid, years, worrying about ALS even though you don't have it; it might be good to be proactive in working on your health anxiety. You could also exercise more. That could be good for your anxiety and make you less nervous about dreaded muscle diseases.

---------- Post added at 22:56 ---------- Previous post was at 22:50 ----------

I don't know exactly what's going on with shortness of breath and you. The problem is that breath issues are super typical for anxiety so you could be anxious. In any case most of the time people have weakness in their hands and feet by the time their breathing is compromised in ALS.

I would really consider exercising, trying to stay off google, and pursuing therapy. After my nerve conduction study as well as my sister's was wildly abnormal I tend to think that stuff will show up on those diagnostic tests (EMG and NCV) and they can guide diagnosis quite well. (A genetic blood test confirmed our result) So I think anyone who has a normal study should take themselves as normal.

anyway, maybe try the no google challenge? we have a thread going. it's just to check in and say "didn't google."

[Calvin Harris]

I have had the same thing still do sometimes. I put it down to chronic hyperventilation syndrome and/or weak adrenal function. Any progress?