Hi All
Just wanted to introduce myself to the group.
I’m Andrew 60 years old recently retired end Feb 2022 and I live in
Chester Le Street, County Durham. Married to Jan with 3 adult boys.
I was diagnosed yesterday with Bulbar onset MND. My symptoms started in July 2021 with slight slurring of speech. I was immediately sent to the stroke clinic and had a CT scan and this was clear. Some significant tongue fasciculation was noted at this time but was not dwelt on.I was sent home with an outpatient appointment to see a neurologist in September. After a thorough physical inspection he concluded that my speech issue was probably mood and anxiety related. I was experiencing some anxiety as I was in the process of retiring but was not convinced this was the cause of my speech issues as I have been anxious most of my life . I was also experiencing what I now realise to be pathological crying which continued for many months until I eventually made the connection to this being a symptom of MND.The neurologist set a follow up appointment for March 2022. In the meantime I underwent a speech therapy course.I also commenced on Sertraline and undertook a CBT course to address the anxiety and mood. The CBT helped as it gave tools to address my thoughts/ feelings etc. I did not like Sertraline as it made me feel a bit fuzzy and I did not believe I had depression in any case, so I came off that. By the time of the March appointment my speech was very poor, I had fasciculations in my arms and legs. My left arm was weak and my left grip very weak, I had footfall in my left foot and was experiencing some swallowing issues and some hand cramps. The neurologist arranged some EMG tests which was a very thorough exam on the 22 April. The results were with the Neurologist for a follow up consultation just a couple of days later when my wife and I were given the diagnosis confirming the thoughts that we had kept to ourselves over the last several months.
That is my MND journey so far and I am so pleased to have found this forum to benefit from the experiences of the group and to share my own in the hope that sharing will make the journey that bit easier for us all.
From what I have read on here so far I am sure it will.
Just wanted to introduce myself to the group.
I’m Andrew 60 years old recently retired end Feb 2022 and I live in
Chester Le Street, County Durham. Married to Jan with 3 adult boys.
I was diagnosed yesterday with Bulbar onset MND. My symptoms started in July 2021 with slight slurring of speech. I was immediately sent to the stroke clinic and had a CT scan and this was clear. Some significant tongue fasciculation was noted at this time but was not dwelt on.I was sent home with an outpatient appointment to see a neurologist in September. After a thorough physical inspection he concluded that my speech issue was probably mood and anxiety related. I was experiencing some anxiety as I was in the process of retiring but was not convinced this was the cause of my speech issues as I have been anxious most of my life . I was also experiencing what I now realise to be pathological crying which continued for many months until I eventually made the connection to this being a symptom of MND.The neurologist set a follow up appointment for March 2022. In the meantime I underwent a speech therapy course.I also commenced on Sertraline and undertook a CBT course to address the anxiety and mood. The CBT helped as it gave tools to address my thoughts/ feelings etc. I did not like Sertraline as it made me feel a bit fuzzy and I did not believe I had depression in any case, so I came off that. By the time of the March appointment my speech was very poor, I had fasciculations in my arms and legs. My left arm was weak and my left grip very weak, I had footfall in my left foot and was experiencing some swallowing issues and some hand cramps. The neurologist arranged some EMG tests which was a very thorough exam on the 22 April. The results were with the Neurologist for a follow up consultation just a couple of days later when my wife and I were given the diagnosis confirming the thoughts that we had kept to ourselves over the last several months.
That is my MND journey so far and I am so pleased to have found this forum to benefit from the experiences of the group and to share my own in the hope that sharing will make the journey that bit easier for us all.
From what I have read on here so far I am sure it will.
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