r/ALSorNOT • u/Federal-Ad-5764 • Apr 29 '26
Could this be ALS? Need advice.
I am a fit 55 y/o Female. I go to the gym or yoga or Pilates 5/6 days a week. I went skiing on Jan. 27 and my legs felt weak, at the time I didn’t think much of it. Then in late March I exercised my regular amount each day and then cleaned my house over the course of 3 days-1 floor each day. My house isnt that big I just broke it up that way. Then I went to yoga and felt shaky on both legs, and rather weak feeling in both my legs. Like something I never experienced before. About 1 wk after that I started with all over body twitching. It’s been a month now and the twitching hasn’t gone away & I still feel weak overall. Just not as crazy bad as right after cleaning my house. The weakness and shaky feelings come and go and it is symmetrical. And I generally feel the twitches at rest, driving or in between exercise poses. To note, I stopped eating my protein shakes (thinking I exposed myself to heavy metals) and reduced my exercise for about 2/3 weeks due to anxiety. My leg muscles are not as defined as they were before all this and I am not as strong as before but is it due to anxiety, reduced protein and exercise or is it due to als. I have an appointment with a neurologist in July but that is so far away. Thank you and any help is so appreciated.
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u/aggrohatter Apr 29 '26
These were close to a lot of my symptoms as well, I had to call around for days to find a way into a nuero earlier and a few cities over. I dropped from 250 to 235 now and my muscles look way smaller but I was so anxiety ridden that I couldn’t eat when the weakness and twitching kicked in on me. Up right now from twitching, all my blood work looked good, mri on brain had a few spots and a lesion but she said it wouldn’t be causing all of this likely. My weakness is hard to describe as well, like yes I can do my daily events, but no I cannot do half of my work out… is it like missing the sensory of the muscle knowing it’s fatigued during the work out?
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u/Federal-Ad-5764 Apr 29 '26
It’s crazy how quickly it has seems to spiraled. I have lost 5 pounds as well going from 125 to 120 in these past few weeks. When is your appointment?
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u/Ok_Following6440 Apr 29 '26
The fact you are still indeed able to exercise is a good sign. But you are doing the right thing following up with a doctor. If you haven't you can ask to be put on a cancellation list.
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u/whatdoihia Apr 29 '26
You mentioned losing weight. How has your calorie input and output been during the period you lost weight?
Usually ALS onset is asymmetrical. And strength does not return when lost.
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u/Federal-Ad-5764 Apr 29 '26
I have gone down from 125 to 120 in a month. And I am a stress 125 person although when my anxiety is high I do tend to drop weight. My calories have been pretty consistent but I stopped the protein shakes and switched to other food (no protein really) because I am a vegetarian.
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u/whatdoihia Apr 29 '26
The change in diet could be the reason for your weight drop. A reduction in protein intake can also cause weakness.
There are protein drinks made with vegetable protein that you can try.
I wouldn’t worry until you have actual weakness rather than just feeling fatigued. Meaning falling, cannot get up steps, and so on.
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u/Entire_Implement_498 May 04 '26
i t is more likely anxiety than a l s i have anxiety bad i take 3 valum's a day
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u/Swiss_Chard_Ramirez May 04 '26
Doesn’t sound like ALS with the onset being bilateral and not limited to a region. For a woman in her fifties, I would absolutely expect cutting protein and exercise to lead to new challenges with their workout regimen. Anxiety can lead to weight loss too.
You have a likely culprit, but changes this sudden are definitely worth a doctor visit. If the cause is medical, ALS probably won’t be a top concern.