Recent content by jasonsamara

  1. J

    Looking for some advice on possible ALS for my dad?

    Done with the doctor today and feeling a little frustrated. Dr Smith will not give him an als diagnosis only probable als. He only shows Lowe motor neuron signs and not upper at this time. She says there is no need for a spinal tap and really says it's just a waiting game. I will post more...
  2. J

    Looking for some advice on possible ALS for my dad?

    So I actually did get some news today. Dad called me to tell me his DNA test came back and that he doesn't carry the gene for the ALS that is hereditary. I still hold out hope that he has something else, but ready to deal with it either way. I still would like for some of you experienced people...
  3. J

    Looking for some advice on possible ALS for my dad?

    I'm going to the doctor with my dad Monday. I know a doctor doesn't want to sit there and answer novice questions and I want to make the most of our time there. This will be with an als doctor in Morgantown wv. What questions should I ask? The only real questions I can think of is could he try...
  4. J

    Looking for some advice on possible ALS for my dad?

    On one of dads Mris they found a spot in his lower spine and he had a second MRI yesterday and his brain looks normal and they did a dye on that spot but still can't figure out what it is and how could something in your Lowe spine affect your arm anyway? On a side note he says his muscles...
  5. J

    Looking for some advice on possible ALS for my dad?

    Dad said the EMG at Hopkins and the one locally was 1 needled poked around on him. The one in Morgantown was various needles and dad seemed to think much more in depth. The Dr. at Hopkins told him she was 99% sure, but wouldn't give him a diagnosis yet.
  6. J

    Looking for some advice on possible ALS for my dad?

    I have not posted lately, but thought I would give an update. He did go to Johns Hopkins in January and they couldn't find anything to sway them away from ALS. The Dr. there told him that they thought it would turn out to be ALS, but would not give him a diagnosis. They thought he had muscle...
  7. J

    Looking for some advice on possible ALS for my dad?

    So with dads grip strength increasing, does this start to lean away from als?
  8. J

    Looking for some advice on possible ALS for my dad?

    I talked to my dad last night and he said they did a strength test at physical therapy yesterday. He has increased his grip strength by 20 points in each hand. That gets his right hand (the bad one) up into the 90s. Of course his hand still looks bad and I'm sure it always will, but he said he...
  9. J

    Looking for some advice on possible ALS for my dad?

    My dad went and had an EMG today and they did his right arm and right leg. A different doctor performed the test and talked to him a little bit about what she thinks. He absolutely has something wrong in the right arm/hand area, but she says it could be the Ulnar nerve. The right leg has one...
  10. J

    Looking for some advice on possible ALS for my dad?

    Well what I'm hoping for and what may be reality can be 2 different things and I'm well aware of that. Just because I hope against ALS doesn't mean I will not accept it if that is what it is. I guess what I'm asking is, does that doctors note in your eyes point towards ALS? Thanks for your time.
  11. J

    Looking for some advice on possible ALS for my dad?

    Ok so I have finally got a paper from my parents, but this is from our local Neurology Center and goes back to before he went to WVU. I'm hoping someone might be able to give me some direction as to how this looks as far as heading towards or away from ALS. Patient was seen for weakness...
  12. J

    Looking for some advice on possible ALS for my dad?

    It's been a few days since I have updated on my dad. Saturday my daughter and I went out of town shopping with my mom and dad. Dad drove and seemed tired the first half of our trip. He played with my daughter and wrestled around with her at the food court while we were snacking. It amazes me how...
  13. J

    Looking for some advice on possible ALS for my dad?

    I hope you guys don't mind me posting so much, but I feel it does me good to talk to people and you guys are the experts. My dad went to therapy the other day and they have him doing small exercises like putting paper clips together and undoing them and squeezing different balls. He says some...
  14. J

    Looking for some advice on possible ALS for my dad?

    Thanks again for the advice. To clear things up as far as the emg goes - he had his arms done here in town back in September but not his legs. He goes later this month for a full emg and then we wait till his appointment feb. 19th. Apparently the lady in Morgantown is a ALS doctor according to...
  15. J

    Looking for some advice on possible ALS for my dad?

    I have spent the past few days reflecting on gregs advice and receiving advice from people I trust, but have no experience with ALS. My dad has not had an emg in his legs even though his left foot is weaker than his right. It's so hard to wrap my mind around such a horrible disease. I'm pretty...
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