Table 3.

Diagnostic odyssey in the study group (“-” means, that ALS was finally diagnosed, N = 24)

Diagnosis 1	Diagnosis 2	Diagnosis 3	First symptoms (perceived by the patient)	Time (from 1st symptoms to diagnosis; months)	Treatment attempts
Lyme disease	–	–	Speech deterioration	10	–
Lyme disease	–	–	Unsteady gait	7	–
Autoimmune disease	–	–	Hand weakness	15	–
Weakness	–	–	Choking	27	Yes (condition deteriorated)
Myasthenia gravis	–	–	Speech deterioration	12	Yes (myasthenia treated for half a year, the condition deteriorated)
Lyme disease	Paraneoplastic disease	–	Hand weakness, pain	5	–
Neurosurgical diseases	–	–	Hand weakness	19
Mental illness	Lyme disease	–	Tingling on the face	12	Yes (1 year of psychiatric treatment, worsened condition)
Lyme disease	Neurosurgical diseases	–	Hand and arm cramps	23	Yes (spine rehabilitation without improvement effects)
Cardiac disease	–	–	Shortness of breath	19	Yes (stents placed)
Neurosurgical diseases	–	–	Hand weakness	9	–
Mental illness	Lyme disease	–	Loss of balance, trouble walking	9	–
“Something serious”	–	–	Left foot drop	16	–
The disease of the vocal cords	Nerve inflammation	Stroke	Deterioration of speech, weakness of the hands	64	Yes (anti–inflammatory injections, hospitalization for suspected stroke)
Lyme disease	Parkinson’s disease	Cancer	Hand tremor	36	–
ALS	Neuropathy	–	Unexpected leg cramps, weight loss	25	–
Neurosurgical diseases	Neuropathy	–	Back, neck, and shoulder pain	31	Yes (massages that worsened condition)
Lyme disease	–	–	Hand weakness	5	Yes (1.5 years of ilads antibiotic therapy, worsened condition)
Parkinson’s disease	–	–	Hand weakness	10	–
Lyme disease	Neurosurgical diseases	–	Shortness of breath and choking	7	The patient was referred for spinal surgery, which ultimately did not happen
Neurosurgical diseases	–	–	Stumbling, difficulty climbing stairs	19	Yes (orthopedic treatment, collar)
ALS			Muscle fasciculations	106	–
ALS			Muscle fasciculations	5	–
ALS			Respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, choking)	3	–