Worried I have ALS.

[Sambowers]

Hello. I'm a 23 year old male. I'm worried I have Als because my uncle very recently passed away from it. I read its less common to be inherited but I keep reading about people who say several of their family members had it. It's been bothering me because both my thumbs feel stiff and also my arms feel sore and weak (though I have been playing drums). I'm probably being ridiculous but my anxiety is quite out of control as well as my depression and I can't help but believe every single horrible thought that occurs. The Internet doesn't help because it basically tells you opposite things leaving you nowhere. Please help if you don't find me too annoying.

[trainwreck]

Sam,

I lost a brother to ALS, so I know that it can be scary as about 5% of ALS cases are genetic.  But, as it was explained to me, by his doctor after he died, if you only know of one family member that has had it, then it is sporadic.  The genetic type tends to show up in clusters in those families.  ALS is very rare.  It would be even more rare for just 2 people in a family to develop inherited ALS.  And even rarer yet to see it start to show up in a 23 year old.  (Average age of onset is 55). 

Put it out of your mind or you will start to associate every strange (but normal) sensation you get anywhere in your body to the disease. 

[Inaflap]

I completely understand your fears.  My dad just passed away from it and I am obsessed with the fear of developing it.  I've had loads of what I think of a symptoms since he was diagnosed - never had any before.....which suggests I am interpreting either normal behaviour or anxiety symptoms as ALS.
I find it is always with me just under the surface so as soon as something even slightly possibly connected to a symptom happens to me I am in complete fear again.  And it is an obsession.
Having some counselling at the moment to try and help me through it but the fear of what if, what if is still nagging.  And it's not even what if one day?  It's what if now.....
And of course it is everywhere as soon as you fear it....in the newspaper today, with others who mention it......it is all encompassing and I absolutely have to find a way to break the fear.
I know others who have had relatives pass away from something and then immediately developed the symptoms themselves (only to find it was pure anxiety) so it is not unusual to fear like this.....but it can take over your life.
So many normal things that our bodies do can be interpreted as ALS too that no wonder it is one of the top fears...not like an illness which requires a great big red boil to be present or something, it has so many mimics.
Trainwreck is right, familial ALS will usually be noticeable because several family members have had it......I only know of my dad (although I can't help but wonder about other relatives who died young...but that is me speculating and making links where there probably are none). 
It's a tough one and I don't have answers at the moment as I too am in the midst of it. But my rational brain says don't be ridiculous....
So let's try and get on top of it, before it sinks us....the fear, that is

[Sambowers]

Sam,

I lost a brother to ALS, so I know that it can be scary as about 5% of ALS cases are genetic.  But, as it was explained to me, by his doctor after he died, if you only know of one family member that has had it, then it is sporadic.  The genetic type tends to show up in clusters in those families.  ALS is very rare.  It would be even more rare for just 2 people in a family to develop inherited ALS.  And even rarer yet to see it start to show up in a 23 year old.  (Average age of onset is 55). 

Put it out of your mind or you will start to associate every strange (but normal) sensation you get anywhere in your body to the disease.

Thanks for the reassurance train wreck. It actually made me feel better.  . I think the best thing to do is go out and have fun with friends because its all in your head and getting out I think is the best antidote for circular thought.