I was diagnosed with Lou Gehrigs disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2011. I was one month shy of turning 40 years old. Needless to say, a pretty crappy birthday gift. 

 

 My symptoms were so subtle that I didn't even realize that they were symptoms.  It started with my hands getting stiff occasionally to which I attributed to as the start of arthritis from my Coast Guard days being out on the water in the dead of winter. No such luck.  Then I noticed that I would be more emotional with different situations. I was never one to be a cryer, and found myself tearing up at a wedding for people that I barely knew.  At said wedding I had one glass of wine and feeling perfectly fine people were teasing me about being drunk because I was slurring some words. Then towards the end of the day at work, someone asked me if I was drunk because again I slurred.  Since I knew I hadn't had any alcohol I made that dreaded doctors appointment.  

 

While waiting for the days until my appointment I visited every doctors nemesis,  Web MD. I found this quite helpful because I wanted to be prepared for anything.  So, I was  determined not to go down that rabbit hole, I quickly reviewed ALS and prepared for the worst but hoped for the best. It was not a great feeling when the Dr. got me a numerology appointment that same day.

First neurology appointment consisted of my first EEG.  This test consists of little needles put into the muscles all over my body.  Did you know that your muscles make noise?   They sound similar to a helicopter propeller.  So then he gives me the worst case scenario, "I believe that you have ALS." He asked how far I would be willing to travel for more testing?  Since their isn't a definitive test for ALS they have to rule every other neuological disease first.

Low and behold it IS Lou Gehrigs disease. That was the diagnosis from the head Dr. at the ALS center at Columbia University hospital in NYC. This was also the Dr. that gave me the best advice I could have gotten. STAY POSITIVE. I know for some that may sound strange but for someone as stubborn as me I wasn't about to go down without a fight!  

Every Dr. will tell you that your life expectancy is 3-5 years.  This October 4th will be year 13. I still eat regular food and don't require oxygen. I do need assistance with practically everything, but I still get up and dressed and put in my chair every day and participate in life. Of course I have my moments but they are few and far between.  I find that the negativity does impact my health so I just do what the Dr. told me and stay positive.

There is always a first person to be cared of something, why shouldn't it be me?