How about using medical science to help you build facts to over-rule your intrusive thoughts? ALS is extremely rare. MS is also rare. You know you suffer miserably with anxiety.

There is a saying in medicine, When you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras. ALS and MS are zebras. Anxiety is the 1500 pound Clydesdale horse in the room.

There are some neck and upper back injuries that can cause inflammation in the throat and esophagus. Been there, done that. Esophageal Refux can also cause this. AND, Esophageal Refux can be caused by ANXIETY.

I suggest you ask your doctor for a script for Paxil or some such SSRI to reduce your anxiety. Stay away from the benzos. Too many side-effects to encourage your anxiety. Paxil will just leave you with no libido, with ED, possibly insomnia, possibly nausea.

Or, you can make intelligent thought choices.

Your choice.

My best to you.