Hi,

I am a pediatric nurse. I began to have severe pain in my neck three years ago. I go in to have neck surgery on 9/28/2023 within a few weeks I began to notice problems with my tongue and speech. The right side of my face was numb. When the feeling came back the pain was unbearable on the right side of my face. I went to my surgeon to find out what happen to my tongue. The surgeon informed me that he had damaged my hypoglossal nerve. The surgeon referred me to a neurologist. The neurologist informed me I have ALS. The problems is I was evaluated though UTSW. UTSW informed me that its hypoglossal nerve damage. The Mayo Clinic of Minnesota called offered to see me. They want to evaluate my tongue and speech. Because I can no longer to speak to where I am understood. Somedays I cant speak at all. I want to go to Mayo clinic to find out if it is ALS, hypoglossal nerve damage or both. I can no longer work. I love to work. My speech is so terrible I cant make a phone call or order food from a drive through. I cant talk to my friends or family.