I went back to my Gastroenterologist yesterday, thanks to being worked in. He wants to try me on a new antibiotic that I had never heard of, called Alinia, that targets organisms in the upper intestinal tract. He says if this works I should feel better within a week.

He was relieved when I told him that the horrible throat tickle seemed to be improving. I explained about the old diagnosis of Functional Dysphonia I had been given a long time ago, while I was still teaching. Basically the ENT said that stress was causing me to tighten up my vocal chords to the point that it was difficult to speak at all. He gave me some relaxation techniques and speech tips to help at that time, put me on a muscle relaxant, and sent me on my way for 2 weeks of voice rest. He left me feeling like it was my fault, and I was ashamed and embarrassed to tell anyone about it.

I can look back now and realize that it was the Myoclonus showing up, because of excessive voice use and stress. I no longer view that episode as having been “all in my head” and have stopped blaming myself for it.

Anyway, when the Gastro assured me that the Endoscopy showed no sign of inflammation in the esophagus, I had to start thinking of what else it could be. And that’s when I remembered the yawning and starting words with a breathy sound that the ENT had taught me. I talked way down low in a May West kind of voice for a few days, and it did get better. I have only had that gagging tickle a few times since then.

When you have ALS in your family history any kind of apparent muscle weakening is of concern, so he is as relieved as we are that this symptom seems to be improving.

I will start on the Alinia today, since our little pharmacy had to order it, and we will see how it goes.

We passed our 100,000th visitor to our Lost Toys Search Service blog yesterday, so I’m celebrating that milestone. At the rate we are going it won’t take anywhere near three years to get the next 100,000 visits. The popularity of the site continues to grow exponentially, with each happy family spreading the word. So that keeps me busy in a positive way. I credit it with helping me to overcome the depression that often sets in when I feel so yucky.

So … yucky tummy … but staying busy and trying to stay positive!