I think I might have a fatal disease...

[Homesrfan]

I'm scared. Really scared. I can't think about anything else. My father had a disease called 'ALS' or Lou Gehrig's disease. The disease is 100% fatal with no cure, and he died when I was six years old. The disease slowly paralysis you, usually starting with your hands or feet, and eventually gets to your lungs and voice box causing you to talk strangely and not being able to breath without some kind of life support.

Over the past couple of years I have been developing painful foot cramps. This especially happends when I'm swimming, but it also happends just randomly. My toes or my entire foot will cramp up and I can barely walk on it. I've been reading the symptoms and that is definitely one of them. One of the others is a shortness of breath, which I have developed for a long time now. Sometimes, I'll just be sitting down and I'll noticed myself having to breath harder. Recently, at night, I've been trying to go to sleep only to be violently woken up gasping for breath. Another symptom is tripping, which I do a lot. This could just be from being clumsy, but I notice myself in the hallway walking akwardly. If there is someone is front of me, sometimes I try to go to my left, but my foot doesn't go out far enough so I do this akward kind of pause and almost a small pivot. It's strange and slightly embarrassing.

ALS is hereditary, but hereditary ALS only accounts for abou 5-10% of ALS cases. As far as I know, my father is the only one in our family that has had ALS.

At this point I've almost assured myself I have the disease, but I know I shouldn't think this way. I'm starting to become depressed and have had trouble going to sleep. My main delima is telling someone. I know I should, but its very complicated. I'm terrified to tell my mother because I really don't want to scare her like that. She has a terrible time when our father died and I'm scared at how she would react with myself having, or potentionally having the disease. I don't want to do something drastic... she seems depressed lately. I'm just really confused and scared, and I don't want to over react.

[Warezkid2]

Is just part of growning up

that all.

[Homesrfan]

Is just part of growning up

that all.

Thanks for the help. :rolleyes:

[Warezkid2]

Foot pains -- crumps, i get them alot.

Shortness of breath - i get it, any chance your a fast runner btw?

sounds like you got a breathing problem, not a blooming illness that cant be cured.

Clumsey. i knock alot of things over.

[Homesrfan]

Foot pains -- crumps, i get them alot.

Shortness of breath - i get it, any chance your a fast runner btw?

sounds like you got a breathing problem, not a blooming illness that cant be cured.

Clumsey. i knock alot of things over.

Okay, that was actually helpful. Should I still tell someone though. I suppose I could just wait and see if it gets a bit more severe before scaring anyone.

[benjamin]

go to the doctors.. it isn't anyone on this forum can help with if it is that, and the only propper way you'll find out is getting it checked.

i'm sure it's fine though.

[Homesrfan]

I hope it is okay. My main issue is telling my mom. I just really don't want to scare her.

[kk.]

Go to an appointment by itself if ur old enough so you dont worry ur mum. Hope ur ok though.

[Acinuoulation]

Good luck on that....


LOOOL!!!!

[Metric.]

I am familiar with this topic. Your brain is fine, but your body slowly looses function.

Sue Rodriguez had ALS.. but I won't get into that.

All I can say is.. if you have it.. you have it. You can't do anything about it, just live your life to the fullest and take nothing for granted.