[Melinda M Dutka]

My first symptoms was biting my tongue and cheeks. At the same time, I noticed some slurring with my speech and wasn’t sure if the tongue biting was causing the slurring.  Also I had two dental implants one on each side. It was a dilemma for me because I didn’t know if I was allergic to the implants and material they were made of, did I have a TIA or what. I started with my physician who ordered an MRI. From there I was sent to a neurologist after the reading of the MRI, in between this I saw ENT because of hoarseness.  Path was still unclear. I went to a different neurologist who ordered 2 more MRI’s and I have seven EMG’s. In October I was told   that it might be bulbar palsy or myasthenia gravis . I started IVIG’s for the MG which didn’t show improvement in speech along with prednisone.  In December, it was established by additional EMG that I had ALS with bulbar palsy.  I too wear a mouth guard at night. I am also on oxygen at night. I have to be careful sneezing because I recently bit my tongue very hard to create a gash.  I thing the symptom of yawning which I have is due to less oxygen.  I have noticed that this has subsided a little (yawning) with the addition of oxygen but sometimes I yawn so hard and big that I worry I will hit the car in front of me when driving. I really appreciate this group and hope if I can help someone with their ALS journey, I will feel blessed.