A Thread for Newcomers Worried about Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

[Pan]

 Hey Pan,

 I know you're right, MS is the worse possible scenario for our neurological type physical anxiety symptoms. But it's possible!
 And now, after i have read that sentence above, it's more possible..   

Reading that sentence does not make a single thing more possible in reality....all that sentence has done has made you more fearful and increase your anxiety.  You either have MS or you don't have MS, you either have physical anxiety or you don't have physical anxiety....nothing you or anyone else says will change that.

Same as for the vast majority of us this would appear to be a control and risk issue for you.  You are overplaying the risk and grasping for control where none can possibly exist.  Me, You, or anybody could have MS, ALS or cancer...or maybe all 3 if we had some real bad luck but remember, this is a health anxiety forum and we are here for a reason.

You are correct, there are no guarantees.....it is accepting that and how you then live your life that is crucial.

[Gem]

As a ms worrier i help it finds to read as much positive stuff about the subject as possible, so that even if it is your 'worst case scenario' it actually isn't the worst possible thing in the world. Try to read about the fact that in the next 10 years or so, amazing new drugs are going to come out that they believe can cut relapses by up to 75% and in the next 15 - 20 years there will be many more plus possibly a cure!
Try to also remember the majority of people with MS live very normal lives. In the latest official statistics it said that less than 15% of people are using a wheelchair after 20 years since being diagnosed, and that's before using any of the newest drugs, so while we all fear it, and i do believe the main reason is because its a disease you cannot have control over, it really isn't a total death sentence.
Not to scare anyone but you could get in a car crash tomorrow and be paralyzed forever more, or have MS and just a few mild flare ups in your whole entire life. We just don't know.
I know what its like to be scared of it but, the only thing which helps me is going with the fear,rather than fighting it. Instead of saying ' omg omg i might get MS and its gonna be terrible' just say ' ok so, everyone thinks i have anxiety and it most likely is that but IF i ever develop MS, i will cope with it and take the best course of action for me'

[Silverburst]

What is the weird internal vibrating feeling? How does numbness feel on peoples faces and how long does it last.     I think that is what is happening to my nose.   It has been almost two weeks and it is on the bridge and sometimes moves under my eyes.    If I wear sunglasses I don't notice it, but when I am home alone it freaks me out and then I have to talk myself out of panic.   I never had this symptom of anxiety.   It feels like it is numb but when I touch it, it goes away for 10 seconds, then comes back, I can feel it so it really isn't numb.     

[sixpack]

What is the weird internal vibrating feeling? How does numbness feel on peoples faces and how long does it last.     I think that is what is happening to my nose.   It has been almost two weeks and it is on the bridge and sometimes moves under my eyes.    If I wear sunglasses I don't notice it, but when I am home alone it freaks me out and then I have to talk myself out of panic.   I never had this symptom of anxiety.   It feels like it is numb but when I touch it, it goes away for 10 seconds, then comes back, I can feel it so it really isn't numb.

numbness regarding MS is a deep, deep numb.  Those with MS( my understanding), the numbness doesn't come/go during the day, it lasts for days or weeks.  I vibrate with anxiety.  It was actually a new symptom in Nov '08.  I hadn't had it before.  I've heard it described as buzzing, vibrating, feeling like a cell phone buzzer.  it isn't seen, just felt.

I had my right side of my face, from half my nose to my ear down my jawline, feel this way--numbness, pain, pressure.  If I ate, I would get big pain as well.  I would stroke my face and it would spread along the run along my face.  It happened about 4 or 5 years ago.  then last Jan it started up again.  I knew this time it was a symptom of MS.  This is what got me into the neuro.  He wasn't very concerned about this symptom at all and thought it was connected to TMJ or ear/ sinus issues or anxiety.  I had a clear x-ray on my sinus' and no ear infection. I had two MRIs one on my neck (doc believed I had issues with that from different issues I had going on--which according to the MRI, I do) and one on my brain for my reassurance.  Even after I KNEW it was not from MS, it took about 3 wks for it to subside.

Try not to underestimate what anxiety can do to you.  It knows what you fear.

I don't remember if you've been to a neuro, but if you think it would help, go and get a good neuro exam.

[Silverburst]

Thank you so much for that answer 6 pack.     I really appreciate this.  I am having a full physical this Thursday with my GP.   The symptom with my nose is the buzzing, but when I touch it, it goes away for 10 seconds.  Today when I woke up I felt my body panicking so I went for a walk with my dog, enjoyed life and my buzzing and anxiety is 50% better.  I guess  my body is Hypersensitive and when the symptoms started showing up I freaked.  I play guitar and my picking and fretting hand work fine, I workout and have no problems with balance,  It just is that horrible doom feeling I get, but once in a while I see clarity.   Thank you so much.   

Silverburst

[tpearson]

This is such a great post. 

Thank you so much for writing this.

[carolinagirl2398]

What an awesome post.  It was like it was written just for me. :)  I've been convinced I have MS for a few days now and reading this has really made my mind at ease.

[cornflower]

I just wanted to share this with everyone worried about MS. There is one less reason to worry. My parents who know how worried about this I am, told me they saw a program on CTV in Canada called W5 about an Italian doctor who has found a cure for MS. His name is Zamboni or something along those lines. I would post a link, but I haven't the time. Either way, he has had great success with a easy treatment that increases blood flow to the brain and many patients have had no furter episodes after his treatments. Check it out and good luck to all.

[greatsommelier]

I just wanted to say this thread just, without sounding dramatic, saved my life.  Well, the quality of it anyway.  Thank you to the original poster.  I have been terrified of MS and ALS.  I am so glad I found this site.  Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart.  And my husband and two toddlers with echo this sentiment when they see they have their mother back.

[jack1000]

OMG!!!

I posted my post (Jack 1000) and then read this.    What an amazing post, this was so helpful for me, in many ways it mirrors much of my fears that I mentioned about ALS and MS, despite being told I don't have them.

Thank you so much for posting this, it really helps.

I guess the part that confuses me still is when I am not anxious I get symptoms, I think what this post implies is that the time line of when you feel anxiety does not always correspond with the symptoms?

There I go looking for reassurance again!

[alwaysnervous]

I'm so glad I read this post, I might actually be able to scratch 1 of many illnesses off my imaginary list.  I really have never known anything about MS my whole life, then one day while putting together my new furniture I suddenly got pins and needles in my arm, it scared the hell out of me, I thought I was going to pass out, I ran to the computer started googling and within minutes had convinced myself that I had MS, I spent the rest of the night on the couch under a blanket, talking myself out of a panic attack.  I got this weird pins and needles, numbness thing for a couple of days, this was about 8 months ago, its never happened again since.  But I did actually try and convince myself that I didn't have MS, I thought maybe I pinched a nerve while lifting my furniture, after visiting a chiropractor a couple of times (and not finding anything wrong with me) and telling him about my MS fears, I gave up, it never happened again and im pretty sure the Chiro thought I was insane..lol..A couple of hundred dollars down the drain, if only I read this post back then...now if I can get rid of my heart attacks and strokes!!!

[boosie77]

My problem is that I have seen some lousy dr.s that have missed things in the past and I did have to self diagnose myself with certain issues such as insulin resisitance and PCOS. I worry because some doctors seem to be in such a hurry and are not thorough enough. I have one great dr who is an endocrinologist who is a model of how I wish every dr could be. She has helped me regain so much of my health just through listening, running proper tests and doing what she can to help me. I will post my story in another section because yes, like others I think I have MS along with other health concerns. I have been aware of my health anxiety for 12 years. Thank you for posting the MS info as I have all of those symptoms and it does make me feel better even though I do have to go back for more tests in 4 months....

[jeniwall]

Thank you so much for this post... I found it by googling "anxiety muscle twitching", because I wanted to find information that my symptoms could be caused by anxiety, not MS or ALS.  I am trying to accept the answer that YES it can be anxiety, just like my doctor/neurologist/cardiologist/endocrinologist/ENT/psychologist have all reassured me.  As I'm sure all hypochondriacs would agree, it is difficult to trust the expert's opinion when the symptoms are so physical and persistent.  I'm hoping that I can overcome the damage that anxiety has done to my nervous system soon!

[SusanIL]

I haven't visited the site in awhile and I don't think I have ever posted before but reading this thread made me want to share.

I have a lot of mental craziness due to cybercondria. I am positive that I am going to keel over at any minute because of a passing ache, pain or thought.

But, the one thing I am sure of is, I DO have MS. And coming from someone with MS, it was hard to miss the initial signs. First I had a blinding headache and double vision. Next I had extreme vertigo. An MRI, spinal tap and sometime with my doctor confirmed it. It has been almost 2 years since my diagnosis. I give myself shots 3 times a week (doesn't hurt), I watch what I eat, stay out of the heat and get plenty of sleep and exercise. The quality of my life hasn't changed at all. Yes, when I don't sleep enough parts of my face get numb but it's more of an annoyance, not a disability.

And, when the doctor told me I had MS, I said "really, is that all?" because I was convinced I had a terminal brain tumor. Sometimes preparing for the worst can made something bad not really that bad at all!

[Gregor]

Susan. Great post and thank you so much for sharing. I think its so important to remember to actually live this life we're so afraid of losing, or at least losing control of.