Living in Fear of Neurological Disease

[anxiousgirl27]

I've been an observer of this site for months now, and I can't tell you how much it has helped.

To introduce myself, I am a 27 year old female, recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in the summer of 2011 and as of a month ago, diagnosed with hypothyroidism and a long time sufferer of GAD. Prior to my diabetes diagnosis, I was misdiagnosed as doctors "found it improbable that I would develop diabetes at my age/weight/lifestyle." I proved them wrong I suppose, and now constantly fear the worst case scenario.

The last 6 months have been hell due to muscle twitching that has sent me in a tailspin. I twitch anywhere and everywhere (calves, feet, face, arms, butt), but most concerning are my eyes and fingers. I probably only twitch up to 10-20 times a day, but each time it happens, it stops me in my tracks and my mind races wondering what it can be.

After a month of twitching, I went to my GP where she did bloodwork and a basic exam but seemed unconcerned and suggested I get my anxiety in check.

I then went to see a neurologist, who within minutes could tell "I fell down the WebMD blackhole." He said right away, you do not have MS or ALS but proceeded with a clinical exam and EMG--all which came out clear.

At my routine endo appointment, he detected hypothyroidsm which I am now on medication for. I wonder if my twitching is due to my thyroid or something more sinister. My main fear is MS or Parkinson's.

Beyond twitching my symptoms include:

Trouble focusing/concentrating
Heart palpitations
Perceived Weakness
Irregular periods
Nausea
Sweaty palm
Muscle jerks before falling asleep
Endless worry

Has anyone experienced anything similar? I know I'm too young for most of the diseases I fear, but I'm constantly living in fear.

[Nicole80]

Sounds like we're going through the exact same thing. I'm a 28 year old female and fear the same diseases especially the worst one! I wish I had never googled muscle twitching, such a mistake. I've had these twitches all over but mostly arms and legs for 3 straight months! My new one is a vibrating sensation in my right leg that comes and goes, it actually feels like a cell phone vibrating under my skin.

Hopefully it gives you some comfort to know someone else is having the exact same symptoms and worries as you. Hang in there:) I'm  doing my best to!

[joshf123]

I've been having the exact same symptoms for about a month now, but I'm not diabetic and don't have hyperthyroidism to my knowledge.

It started with perceived weakness in my legs, followed a week later by muscle twitching/spasms mostly in my calves and thighs, but recently showing up in my triceps, forearms, abdominals and back, lips, eyelids, and feet. I also had intermittent "awkwardness" in my hands which seems to have completely gone away.

I was able to make myself jog a mile and a half just a couple of weeks ago, but now I feel like my legs are going to give out if I stay on the them for more than 15 minutes at a time. It isn't just a sense of weakness; I'm in near panic looking for a chair or something to grab after walking short distances. I'm apprehensive about going anywhere I think will require me to walk freely for too long. Once I sit down, the weakness seems to subside, but the leg twitching gets crazy for several minutes. Last week I was at a music festival and walked about a half mile from the parking garage. My legs were shaking and I had to sit down. I was terrified I wouldn't be able to make it back to the car. Strangely enough, I made the walk back, legs shaking and all.

Sometimes it feels like my strength returns to normal, but my left knee feels like it is slightly dislocated. It just feels awkward, and I can feel a slight pop when I walk on it. It's not painful, just feels odd. I'm wondering if I suffered an injury without realizing it. My last job was quite physical and involved plenty of heavy lifting and climbing.

I've also noticed it's worst in the mornings when I first wake up. I even shake all over for a few minutes.

My recently I've noticed the buzzing/vibrating at the top of my thighs. It feels exactly like a cell phone vibrating. I can sometimes make it happen if I move my leg a certain way.

My family, friends, and GP have constantly reassured me it's nothing terminal or degenerative and it will get better. This certainly helps, but it just doesn't feel like some "sense of weakness" or like it's all in my head. It literally feels like I've burned out my calves and hamstrings and my legs are going to give out only after walking/standing for a short period of time. I haven't fallen (yet) and I don't have trouble standing and walking on my toes or even jumping in place.

The fact that it has been over a month now with seemingly no progress for the better really concerns me, but I'm just trying to be patient. I've been down the Dr Google trap, and I've decided to stop. It took away several days of my life because I was convinced I had some horrible MND and it sent me spiraling into depression and doom. Now I just read these anxiety forums because it feels good to be able to relate to someone.

My best advice (because it has helped me tremendously) is to stop googling your symptoms and listen to your doctors, friends, and family. It's only natural for us to assume the worst case scenario, and that's exactly what the internet provides. Try to remind yourself that you're not a medical professional and you don't have the necessary expertise to form a well educated opinion. We as "laymen" for lack of better word can only make simple symptom associations which is only part of figuring out the true problem. You can find the same symptoms in all kinds of different things. Try and get the idea of "it could only be this. I just feel it." out of your head. I can't count how many times I've KNOWN I was right about many different things and was completely baffled when I saw for myself that I was wrong.

I hope this brings you some reassurance. Know there are plenty out there experiencing the same thing and know how to work through it.

[MTBR]

Hi anxiousgirl,
                          Your list of symptoms sounds verbatim like one I could have written 2 months ago when they first hit me. Mine aren't as bad now...they've calmed down A LOT, but are still there. Sometimes they go away for a day or two altogether...which is a real blessing! Mine are mostly in my feet, and calves, but I have had them sometimes in my quads, triceps, biceps, neck, shoulder girdle, cheek, eyelid. Mine aren't constant....maybe every 5-10 minutes...maybe every 30 minutes. I have pretty much given up trying to find a pattern for prediction, and have resolved myslef to the fact my system is FRIED.

Couple things to take note of:

1. Make sure you stay VERY hydrated as lack of water intake can and will cause muscle twitches...this has helped me a TON.

2. Make sure you're supplementing with Calcium Citrate, Vitamin D-3 and Chelated Magnesium, and maybe even some Vitamin B-12, as a deficiency in anyone or any combination of these will cause muscle twitches and spasms. I read the other day where something like 70% of the pop. is deficient in Magnesium and Vit. D. (which should be taken together by the way). Talk with your Doc about this first of course.

3. Start a daily meditation routine. here's the one I do on a daily basis...it's awesome, I feel like I could sprout wings and fly when I am done!
 http://www.freewebs.com/healing-israel/koicarp.pdf

4. And most importantly realize these are not harmful in anyway....take the fear, anger and emotion out of the symptom and you'll find they are much easier to manage. This is something we can all get better at!

5. If you don't already start an exercise program, because it will help you sleep better at night if you expend some energy during the day. I Mountain Bike about 12 miles everyday at lunch, and I can tell a MONUMENTAL difference in my sleep quality if I layoff for a few days. The other night I was tossing and turning around 3am and my wife rolls over with this ticked off look on her face (because I woke her up), and goes "I don't care how bad the weather is, would you please ride tomorrow so I can get some sleep"

As for the muscle jerks before sleep...no worries, my wife and son do the same thing...completely normal and everyone does it. My wife gets annoyed when I ask her if she knows she's twitching when she's falling asleep. She answers, "I have no idea...I don't care, please shut up"

Ahhhhh....what it must be like to not give a !*#$ what goes on inside your body.

Best Regards,

MTBR

[Catesykes]

I've had exactly the same symptoms with my anxiety. The muscle twitching and googling sent me off the edge into the hypochondria pit. Scary stuff. I've had lots if jerks all over especially when resting. Little jerks inside my limbs. I'm finally beginning to accept its anxiety. Anxiety is very powerful over the physical body.

[anxiousgirl27]

Thank you all for your replies, it helps to know that I'm not the only one feeling like this!

After 6 months of this, my symptoms haven't progressed or gotten worse, so I have to believe it can't be anything too scary. I'll have hours and days that go by where I don't have a single symptom and then the minute I say to myself, "Wow I haven't twitched in days!"--I start twitching! Who knew the mind was so powerful 

My doctor has now explicitly said several times I don't have disease X,Y and Z that I fear, wish I could just believe him and move on with my life. This has already consumed 6 months of my life, I don't want it to take a day more!

[MTBR]

I'll have hours and days that go by where I don't have a single symptom and then the minute I say to myself, "Wow I haven't twitched in days!"--I start twitching!

Yes, I get most of my spasms in my left leg....sometimes I'll start wondering why they are not in my right leg...5 minutes later the right leg starts and the left leg stops. It's actually kind of comical.

Who knew the mind was so powerful 

It's amazing isn't it? I haven't twitched all day until went to write this post....seriously.

MTBR

[anxiousgirl27]

I was doing so well the last couple of days--no eye twitching and my overall twitching slowed down a ton, but now I am back to fearing Parkinsons as I noticed my hand was shaking when I reached for my water this morning. Now I can't stop checking to see if it continues, someone help 

[MTBR]

Go outside and take a walk...and BREATHE deeply while you're doing it. Focus you're attention on everything around and outside of you rather than what's going on inside.....get some fresh air and get you're mind off of it for a little while.

MTBR