Update On My Situation - Just Had EMG
Hey Everyone,
I wanted to come back and give everyone an update on my health situation. Some of you may remember by very long thread a while back that started about lymph nodes and ended up on ALS a full year later. A brief recap, my symptoms were / are:
- Muscle pain in various muscles throughout body, but primarily in my right shin.
- A feeling of muscle fatigue where my muscles wear out more easily.
- Twitching in various places. Sometimes focused in one place for a week at a time or more.
This has been going on about 7 weeks. I went to PCP which sent me to Rheumatologist, which referred me to Neurologist for an NCV + EMG test in order to rule out any nerve problems.
Today I had the NCV + EMG and both were totally normal. The neurologist said I do not have anything like ALS and ALS is very obvious on an EMG.
I just wanted to provide that follow-up because I know I appreciate when someone has similar symptoms as me and posts an update that everything turned out fine. I don't know where I'll be going from here as I think the Rheumatologist may still want to pursue some other things - but, ALS, which was my main fear, is apparently out of the question based on the EMG results.
Re: Update On My Situation - Just Had EMG
Quote:
Originally Posted by
darkside4k
Hey Everyone,
I wanted to come back and give everyone an update on my health situation. Some of you may remember by very long thread a while back that started about lymph nodes and ended up on ALS a full year later. A brief recap, my symptoms were / are:
- Muscle pain in various muscles throughout body, but primarily in my right shin.
- A feeling of muscle fatigue where my muscles wear out more easily.
- Twitching in various places. Sometimes focused in one place for a week at a time or more.
This has been going on about 7 weeks. I went to PCP which sent me to Rheumatologist, which referred me to Neurologist for an NCV + EMG test in order to rule out any nerve problems.
Today I had the NCV + EMG and both were totally normal. The neurologist said I do not have anything like ALS and ALS is very obvious on an EMG.
I just wanted to provide that follow-up because I know I appreciate when someone has similar symptoms as me and posts an update that everything turned out fine. I don't know where I'll be going from here as I think the Rheumatologist may still want to pursue some other things - but, ALS, which was my main fear, is apparently out of the question based on the EMG results.
Dark side that is fantastic news I’m so chuffed for you you must be so relieved ! I am currently suffering exact same as you - 10 months of it to be exact - unfortunately don’t seem to qualify for getting an emg . It’s really comforting to know that these symptoms don’t mean that dreaded illness !
Re: Update On My Situation - Just Had EMG
I can already feel myself slipping back into health anxiety. Wondering why I do have shin muscle soreness in my right leg. Maybe I have some other very serious disease or even cancer. Maybe MS. Maybe some sort of cancer. Maybe some sort of debilitating muscular disease. Heck, maybe even ALS even though I’ve had a clean EMG - although I do still accept that is unlikely.
I have to admit I still have strange muscle soreness in my legs, particularly my right shin.
I don’t want to go back to this dark place.
I have to accept that death is always a possibility at any time. I think that is the root of hypochondria. Scared of dying and leaving people behind. Scared of your family members being sad after you’re gone, etc. Scared for my kids to not have a Dad.
But, I need to accept that that is always a possibility. How many kids lost their dads just this week? Thousands? Someone dies in the US every 12 seconds. Multiple people have died since I started writing this post just in my country alone.
Re: Update On My Situation - Just Had EMG
You're sounding really rational right now, Darkside. Try to hold onto that?
Re: Update On My Situation - Just Had EMG
Quote:
I think that is the root of hypochondria. Scared of dying and leaving people behind. Scared of your family members being sad after you’re gone, etc.
I agree with this Darkside, my HA (which incidentally I've not had now for decades) certainly came from what my doctor referred to as a fear of dying.
Now, you know its going to be said....so give us our moment :winks:....we all said there was nothing going on AGAIN. Cos lets be honest here, you swing from this serious illness, to the next and the next and the next year after year. We all said time and time again that there was no ALS and that your symptoms had absolutely nothing to do with it. It is my opinion, (and I've said this to another member who recently had an EMG with a 'normal' result) that it should never have even got to the point of having an EMG. I am pleased when I hear of them being refused, as if there are no concerns at all from nerve/neuro tests and nothing in presentation that leads a consultant to think its necessary, then it shouldn't be done. I don't want those who haven't been offered an EMG to think that this means they are missing out on their defining moment of ruling out ALS/MND, there are plenty of other signs and symptoms that doctors would be alert to and if they had any concerns you'd have been offered the EMG. Trust in medical professionals needs to start much earlier than after having had a major scan/test.
It is good that you updated though, as you are right people do deserve to hear the outcome after replying to you for so long.
Re: Update On My Situation - Just Had EMG
And yet I find myself still fearing I have ALS because I can’t tap my right foot (leg with fatigue sore shin muscle) nearly as fast as my right. Sigh. Maybe I have early ALS and the EMG missed that or not quite the right muscles.
Re: Update On My Situation - Just Had EMG
Quote:
Maybe I have early ALS and the EMG missed that or not quite the right muscles.
Well, that major reassurance lasted a shorter time than I expected. :shrug:
This is the lesson to learn from this thread ladies and gents, not that Darkside feared ALS for ages (despite being told he didn't have it etc) and had a clear EMG. That is no surprise. The lesson is that no matter what tests and reassurance is given there is always the 'what if....' Unless the faulty thought processes related to anxiety are dealt with, there is always the 'but....' and doubting, and moving onto the next illness.
Re: Update On My Situation - Just Had EMG
We all knew this would happen.
Darkside - GET SOME HELP for the HA
Re: Update On My Situation - Just Had EMG
Glad you're ok Darkside, as we all thought you would be. Thank you for taking the time to let us know, and as you say, hopefully it will help others. Now, instead of falling straight back down that rabbit hole, why not finally seek support for your health anxiety?
Re: Update On My Situation - Just Had EMG
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Carys
Well, that major reassurance lasted a shorter time than I expected. :shrug:
This is the lesson to learn from this thread ladies and gents, not that Darkside feared ALS for ages (despite being told he didn't have it etc) and had a clear EMG. That is no surprise. The lesson is that no matter what tests and reassurance is given there is always the 'what if....' Unless the faulty thought processes related to anxiety are dealt with, there is always the 'but....' and doubting, and moving onto the next illness.
Another....Flogging a Dead Horse,Carys:)