Hello all,
This is Marc writing.

There has been some progress in the diagnostic process for Hanna, though we haven’t narrowed to a definite diagnosis. I’ll report on that in two steps—first the short summary, then news about a difficult new part of the story.

The short summary
Hanna had the EMG last Friday (see the 4 January update for a little about what that is), and a consult with a neuromuscular specialist about both the EMG and the results of a big battery of blood tests. The doctor said…

• Hanna’s blood tests for Myasthenia Gravis are negative.
• 90% of people who have Myasthenia Gravis (MG) show positive in the tests that Hanna took. There’s another 10% that present a false negative, so…
• Hanna is going to take MG treatment pills, starting tomorrow and continuing through February 6. If she has MG, she will notice a dramatic improvement in her symptoms, probably returning to her full old self.
• If she doesn’t have MG, she may still experience some improvement, but not to an “I’m my old self again” degree.
• In that case, the doctor will proceed with next steps, including a repeat of the EMG in three months.

Now the difficult addition to the story.
All the stuff above about MG tests happened as I described. Then the doctor said, “I have a concern about what this might be. Would you like to hear it now, or wait three months until a repeat of the EMG confirms or disconfirms my concern?”

Hanna said, “I’d like to hear it now please.” And so we learned…

• The doctor’s concern is that this could be ALS, which is difficult to diagnose—there are no specific indicators or tests. The doctor said that she found evidence of ALS during the EMG in two parts of Hanna’s body, but for it to count as a diagnosis it needs to be present in three.
• In the continuing process of inquiry, the neurologist asked for an additional MRI test, “to rule out any structural etiology causing your arm weakness.” (Marc’s I’m-not-a-doctor interpretation: “Let’s make sure there’s no structural issue in your neck area that might be the cause of what we saw in the EMG.”)
• So if the MG pills are not effective, the next step will include referral to her colleague and friend who is an ALS specialist. If it’s ALS, it is very early. Which is the good time to catch it. This doctor’s clinic participates in clinical trials, and it’s very likely that Hanna would qualify.

That’s tough news. ALS is a knee-weakening prospect. AND there is still uncertainty. And there are promising trials that could slow the condition’s progress, extend life and function, etc. If this is the battle one needs to fight, the medical resources in Pittsburgh make it a good place to be. There is community and support and love available connected with all of these possible outcomes. We’re all trying not to fall too far into The Worst Story, and hold the buoyant story of what’s possible and what’s present all around Hanna, around each of us.

Hugs to us all.