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Really just anxiety??

Posted , 5 users are following.

Tuffy77
Tuffy77

Hi all 

My problem started back in 2008 when my wife was waiting for a major back op. Around the same time as this I developed a small infection which I was convinced was testical cancer.....(which I was given the all clear from, but during the episode  I started to develop pins and needles in my forearm, and lower part of both legs, and a creeping sensation all over me from time to time and constant palpitations. 

Then one day out of the blue the tiny muscles in my calf went crazy!! They settled down but never totally stopped up to this day! Went to gp whom said... You are stressed and anxious! 

A couple of months ago I started to feel unwell, I visited the gp who said I was run down (1 year old son, so probably right!) had loads of blood tests that all returned fine! 

In my head I had a serious illness, started to really worry and the symptoms I had back in 2008 returned, twitching muscles picked up pace again, funny vision in one eye (checked by option, all fine) pins a needle in forearm again, tingling on my back, twitching muscles in my arms and constant palpitations!  

Returned to gp a few weeks ago whom again said anxiety! But to put the demon to bed (his words) sent me to a neurologist who carried out a full examination (no MRI ) and concluded anxiety plus hypervigilants.

Can all these symptoms really be brought on my worry/anxiety? I fell reassured for about a hour after I've seen the professionals but then start to think.... Maybe they've missed something

I don't understand even when I'm relaxing in the evenings not even thinking about things the symptoms persist. And, bang! There they are when I wake up !

Does anyone else experience things like this?? 

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

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  • jmcg2014
    jmcg2014 Tuffy77

    Posted

    Indeed these and other feelings can and do persist with anxiety. Just because we may not feel anxious, the feelings still persist, especially on waking. many of my problems are worse when I wake. Therapy could help you if you want to break the cycle
    • Tuffy77
      Tuffy77 jmcg2014

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply. I'm soon to be starting a course of CBT.  And have taken a couple of sessions of acupuncture 

      My main trouble is, as I mentioned is I always think the professionals have misdiagnosed and are too quick to put it down to anxiety

      I try to reassure myself by thinking I wouldn't be able to play football a squash if I was seriously ill...... But as we all know the negative mind is apowerful thing.  

    • jmcg2014
      jmcg2014 Tuffy77

      Posted

      Ah indeed, these kind of traits are common with ocd, which itself is common with anxiety. We seek reassurance then when we get it, its never enough. The only real way forward for me is therapy ,medication can't help us break the pattern, which is really all it is. CBT I'm sure will help a great deal
    • Tuffy77
      Tuffy77 jmcg2014

      Posted

      Several people have told me that the CBT should help a lot. 

      I tend to self diagnose and Dr google , which isn't good! 

      It's just hard to take on board that anxiety can actually cause all these symptoms! 

    • jmcg2014
      jmcg2014 Tuffy77

      Posted

      Oh yes always best to stay away from Google! It can make us sure we have terrible things! I know what u mean, but its easier when the anxiety lifts, even for a short while and all these issues lift with it
  • blackpoolred
    blackpoolred Tuffy77

    Posted

    Hello,

     sympathise with you. I have similar symptoms to yourself. Mine too started in 2008 during a stressful period of my life.

    I woke up one night the room was spinning, I felt sick and when I got out of bed to rush to the toilet my legs gave way and I had to crawl to the bathroom. I had a temperature and every muscle in my body was twitching and crawling, my jaw felt like it was 3 stone and my heart would not stop palpatating, I managed to get myself to the hospital where they initially passed it off as just a bit of stress smile and was told to go home as there was nothing seriously wrong.

    I, however, was convinced I was dying. Eventually after numerous visits to the doctor and hospital I was told that I had, had an ear infection(Labyrinthitis), that had caused my vestibular system to stop working.

    Whether it was an ear infection ot not I still have all the muscle twitching, headaches, palpatations and exhaustion to this day.

    It might be worth looking up Labyrinthitis to see if you have possibly had this infection too, it can do lasting damage to the inner ear, which means the symptoms can be permanent.

    I am not convinced that my symptoms was anything to do with an ear infection though and almost sure it was down stress.

    I have got into a positive thinking regime now and it is helping. Instead of waking up in the morning and monitoring my symptoms, I play relaxation and hypnosis recordings(all free on youtube) and do the same before I go to bed.

    Try and keep your mind off the constant monitoring of your symptoms if and when you can.

    Your mind is an amazing powerful tool and it can do more than we are aware. If you concentrate on happy thoughts you will eventually become happy and have a warm glow in your body, on the other hand if you have thoughts of dread and doom then the body will start to show negative physical symptoms sooner or later.

    Good luck

    • Tuffy77
      Tuffy77 blackpoolred

      Posted

      Hi. Thanks very much for your reply and I'm sorry to hear about your episode 

      I'm trying not to think about my symptoms but as we all know it's difficult when they keep tapping away saying...... I'm not going to let you forget about me!...... Are you sure you want to ignore me??? I may be telling you you're actually ill !! 

      As you rightly said...... The mind is a powerful thing

  • Mo786
    Mo786 Tuffy77

    Posted

    Hi Tuffy,

    Very typical of anxiety, dont let it consume you.

    Think positive, Doctors dont lie and technology is good in the 21st century.

    Best Regards

     

    • Tuffy77
      Tuffy77 Mo786

      Posted

      Hi. Thanks for your support. 

      I try not to let it consume me but it's a tough one ..... Went to bed last night with flickering calve muscles in both legs...... Woke this morning with a blury left eye too! 

      It hard to forget when it's aways there to remind you. 

    • Mo786
      Mo786 Tuffy77

      Posted

      Agreed mate, but muscle flickering is very common, I had it on my arm.

      Dont think much of it, something that helped me was when I was anxious was a trip to tukey, lots of drinking, smoking and laughing with a good group of mates.

      Also I dont mean to scare you but this happens for a few months and you will not like the reaction your gut gives you.

      There are people out there dealing with cancer and various other terminal ilnesses, this is only anxiety !

    • Tuffy77
      Tuffy77 Mo786

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply.   

      Yes, getting it in perspective there are people far far worse off. 

      I too find socialising and sport helps with the symptoms. 

      Still, it's hard to comprehend that symptoms can persist for so long after! 

  • Tuffy77
    Tuffy77

    Posted

    Does anyone else have crazy symptoms that persist even when you're not actually  feeling anxious? 
    • jmcg2014
      jmcg2014 Tuffy77

      Posted

      Yes indeed, all the time. The feelings then tend to bring anxiety, but often I don't feel it initially. Physical symptoms linger too sometimes 
    • Tuffy77
      Tuffy77 jmcg2014

      Posted

      I just find it hard that these physical symptoms can be down to anxiety, this crazy visual thing in just one eye is a pain! 

      And I've also developed difficulty swallowing...... Feels like something is stuck in the back of my throat once I've eaten. 

      Mad mad stuff! 

    • jmcg2014
      jmcg2014 Tuffy77

      Posted

      I get eye probs too, i also get the lump in the throat very often. I have it,right now in fact- classic anxiety.  The problem is I think we focus on these things because we notice them when we are anxious.  As soon as we do that we then associate these issues with anxiety. So then we are,constantly checking for these sensations- and as soon as we check- then there it is,and  the cycle carries,on. Its super common, and totally understandable- but it really is a ninightmare to deal with
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