Anxiety or MS PLEASE HELP ME

[salvatrucho]

I came across this site in my daily research of symptoms in the internet. I have always suffer from Anxiety, but I have never taken any medicine. When I say that I have always suffer from Anxiety is, because since I can remembers disease had made me very scare and most of the time I have felt mild symptoms of them. I am 26 years old Spanish male who have never had a girlfriend or had sex my whole life, because the fear of getting AIDS. I been worry about it since 1997. I rarely shake hands with people who I don't know and when I do I has to wash my hands very quick. I been in the ER thinking I had stomach cancer and brain tumor, because I had felt some mild symptoms and the doctors had told I didn't have anything wrong.

Things have gotten a lot worst in the last 6 months. Everything started it about 6 months ago when I woke u in the middle of the night with my right side of my face a little numb and my eye very red. I don't know if this was due to the position on which I was sleeping or something else. After a few days I started to get some mild headaches and tingling on the top of my head. The pain was very mild I bet most of the people would not worry about it, but I thought this was a sing of Brain Cancer. I went to the RE ( I don't have Health Insurance or that much money for a doctor) where the doctor did a CAT SCAN, which came normal. Except the doctor told me I had a Sinus Infection. I took some medicine for about a week, but it didn't do that much difference. That’s when I started to look in the internet for the symptoms that I was feeling which at the time only were: very mild headaches, tingling only on top of my head and tingling on my right upper eyelid. MS came up as a disease which my symptoms could be relate it to and ever since my life nothing, but a living hell on earth. In the period of 4 months had develop the following symptoms: tingling all over my body especially arms legs and my right side of the face ( my upper eyelid is most affected), my whole body twitching I can see my legs and arms muscles jump, dizziness, kind of weak, a bright spot on my vision (I wear glasses and the eye doctor told my was not big deal), frequent urination ( I had always had this problem off and on since I was very young), bowel problems, and in the last week I have develop a buzzing sound on my right ear "Tinnitus" and I been having problems swallowing this started it 2 days ago it feels like I need keep swallowing my saliva and I feel like the food get stock on my throat ( I do been getting heartburns for a long time) .

I been to 2 doctors of general med and they told me my symptoms were due to Anxiety and not MS. I went to a Neurologist in El Salvador that’s the country that I originally from and she sent me to get an EEG which came up normal and she told me my symptoms were due to Anxiety. I can't effort to get an MRI that’s why I haven't done it, but all the Doctors told me I didn't need it. My biggest problem at the moment is the Tinnitus, a burning sensation feeling on around my right eye and cheek ( feels like a sun burn or when the heater is to high) and the tingling on my body this is off and on. The Tinnitus I am not sure if I had always had it, but I just started it paid attention to, because I had a bad ear infection three years ago and the hearing of my right ear felt less than my left ear and always one my nostrils is stuff. I still have some headches and my Mom keep telling could be still the Sinus problems that hasn’t gone away.

I been looking on the internet of my symptoms for six months now and they since to appear more and more. I read that people who have GOUT rarely develop MS and I have GOUT. They said the climate is a factor I was raise in a warm climate which make me less in risk. Could all this be the symptoms of Anxiety?. The symptoms get worst when I am depress and sometimes I don't feel any for a couple of days. Please I need feedback I am going crazy.

[miika]

First, You DO NOT HAVE MS!(I will give you 10000euros if you have) ;)
Believe me, I`ve been there where you are now. I`ve had all those symptoms you`re afraid of. And I`ve been afraid of MS. Twitching, tingling, pins and needles all over my body, numbness, burning sensations, constant dizziness etc. I still have twitching every single day, but I have (finally) lost my fear about those. Maybe because I have new symptoms, that I`m scared of :-\  But anyway, it`s your anxiety what is causing your symptoms...It`s hard to believe it, but someday you have to (including myself).

I have lots of free time in this week, so keep writing stuff, and I will answer.

[justin]

Hi guys, I'm new to the site. I've been suffering from health anxiety for about 4 years now and MS is probably one of the things I worry about most, attributing almost everything to possible MS. Sometimes I worder if I'm imagining symptoms or if they are a product of intense axiety. Lately though I've been getting really worried. I've had these brief buzzing or pulsing sensations in my heel and arch of my left foot and around the knuckles of my hands. I also get funnybone kind of shocks in my feet and hands when I stetch them forcefully sometimes (internet says this might be carpal tunnel but in my feet too?). I get brief muscle twitches quite regularly, usually in my legs and feet, and sometimes ones that last until I massage them out. I've also been having sort of glare, shadows (especially on bright signs) and ocasional bright spots in my vision that maybe most people wouldn't notice but obviously I do. I went to an optometrist who did a bunch of tests and said my eyes are perfectly healthy but its hard to believe when I keep seeing these things!! My right eye or eyelid also seems to spasm a lot. I'm worried that all these symptoms are indicative of MS or some muscle wasting condition but also realize it could be anxiety. I have an appointment to see a neurologist but would appreciate any comments or experiences you guys have that might help me feel less axious. Thanks

[fearless]

Hi, this is my first time joining this web site, God knows i've researched about my symptoms a million of times!  As I read all these posts i get the same feeling of panic and desperation that i have gotten myself sooo many times! This disease thats in our heads is worst than anything else that we are so afraid of getting, because its already preventing us from living a normal life just like any other disease that we fear! I wish there was more research or better yet a cure or somebody to tell us; "look we invented this machine that predicts the future and you are never going to get sick you'll live until 100 years old!"  But than back to reality and to the scary voices in out heads and the symptoms in our body!
About 10 years ago i started having panic attacks, they appeared out of nowhere and the first time i had one i thought i was going crazy! After that my life became consumed by anxiety and it wasnt long til the fear of dying became an obsession with getting sick! I've always been afraid of disease, AIDS, Cancer, u know the biggies, and 2 years ago my dear Friend died of cancer that he's been battling for several years. I was practically at his bed side when he passed.  Not long after that I became pregnant and had no fears or anxiety whatsoever.  Once my baby was born everything came back stronger than ever. I feared not only for my life but for hers as well and the fear of cancer took over my life.  A couple of months ago i discovered a lump on my neck and freaked and ran to the doctor who sent me to another doctor and so forth. It turned out that i had thyroid CANCER. Yes my worst fear come true!  I had to have surgery and than radiation treatment and right now im actually recovering from it.  Doctors say i should be OK and that they took it all out, but i have to go back for check ups and theres a possibility of it coming back.  I dint have cancer history in my family (knock on wood) so my big question is; "did i bring this on upon myself or was it sixth sense? My anxiety levels skyrocketed and i feel sooo uncomfortable inside my body and my mind. I'm afraid of thinking and feeling and living.  I hate myself for the thoughts i have and for the symptoms that my body throws at me that drive me crazy.  Is there a light at the end of the tunnel or how are people suppose to live when they are soooo afraid of dying?

[kgirl]

OH MY GOSH!!! What a blesssing to have found this site! I too have the constant fear of MS!!! I have always suffered from health anxiety - about 2 years ago it really got bad - I was convinced I had either MS or ALS - my body hurt (badly) all over and I was twitching all over too. I had a break down and went on Zoloft - magically - the symptoms and worry disappeared! BUT..because I want to have another baby I went back off the Zoloft in October. Then, about 6 weeks ago I had a dizzy spell - well, after worrying a great deal about this I reached the point that I feel CONSTANT dizziness - I feel off-balance, floaty, fuzzy in my head. It does not let up - it is least in the morning but after being up for a few minutes it is bad all over again!! I am now having twitching again!! So, there are others who have this constant dizziness?? Even sometimes when I don't feel anxious I still have it! It never lets up!!! I did go see Dr. and she said it is anxiety! I don't want to go back on meds b/c I want to have another baby!! Any comments and/or advice would be much appreciated!!!!

[miika]

I`ve had constant dizziness for 15 years now. I feel out of balance, my eyes are jumping etc.

[kgirl]

miika - have you ever taken anything for anxiety! My biggest fear, besides MS is that it will not go away! It is awful - how do you deal??? I

[miika]

I have medication, but it`s not working too well.

How do I deal? well, one day at the time. I dont know, I`ve been a real mess last two years. been worried about every cancer there is, MS and ALS.

[abelle]

The brain can sometimes trick you into feeling those symptoms if you are not breathing right.

When I am in deep thought, my breathing is quite sparse and I don;t get much oxygen, which can cause tingling sensations and twitches. I know, because I am having that now.

Dizziness can also be a side effect, and can also be one of the symptoms of hyperventilation.

[michelle]

Fearless,   I am so sorry about your situation.  I can't even imagine being a person who obsesses over health issues.  aka hypo.  Anyway I was just saying this the past few days, I have been having terrible shoulder pain, that I need to think I would rather have this 100 times and all my pains than what other people in this world are goiing through and reading your post made me think even more.  May God Bless you!  Anyway I don't think anyone will ever know if thinking something makes it happen considering even the most calm people get cancers and illnesses.  Hope you will be o.k. write back soon. Michelle