Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Scared something is really wrong with me

77 replies

Beebityboo · 04/04/2021 00:49

Just feeling very anxious and need to vent. Since Christmas I have been having constant, daily muscle twitches all over my body. I mainly notice it when I'm at rest and sometimes it's accompanied by pins and needles. I put off going to see the GP as I was shielding and I could tolerate it.
But for the last four weeks I have been woken up every single night just before sleep either with one big twitch or because I hear a sound in my head that wakes me up, like a beep or a buzz. Im always terrified after and feel hot and sick and my heart is pounding. I'm utterly phobic of going to bed at this point and I'm exhausted. The GP did some bloods that has shown low folate levels and wants me to take supplements for four months, otherwise he isn't concerned.

I'm terrified though. This doesn't seem normal to me? could this be an issue with my brain or some other kind of neurological issue? It happens every night, sometimes multiple times and the twitching is relentless. Just don't know what to do, I'm scared there is something really wrong. Advice/reassurance would be very appreciated.

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 04/04/2021 08:43

Er, Hairy, you said:

Well, even MS is linked to gut dysbiosis. Maybe looked up the many symptoms of autonomic dysfunction.

I'd say that's a random diagnosis or at least suggestion of autonomic dysfunction, which you can't know anything about, in relation to the OP.

SpeckledyHen · 04/04/2021 08:48

OP is there a particular GP in your practice that you like ? If it was me I would try to get an appointment, preferably face to face , but phone otherwise to discuss it further . Second opinion not a bad thing . Follow your instincts .

PufferFish · 04/04/2021 08:49

I had terrible trouble with pins and needles and being woken from sleep and was convinced that I was starting with MS. GP did bloods etc which were all ok. I ended up seeing a neurologist. He checked all my reflexes which were fine. He looked at my bloods and said that although all my levels were within the normal range my Vitamin D and B12 were at the lower end of the scale. He suggested that I supplement both and see if it helped. I was very dubious but within a fortnight it was loads better. I think it’s worth you trying both as it’s an inexpensive and non-invasive option. Since I’ve been through this, a couple of people in my friendship circle have had the same experience, so it’s not altogether uncommon (although I’d never heard of it before).

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
thehairyhog · 04/04/2021 08:50

Another poster brought up MS, I was simply responding to that. Autonomic dysfunction is not a diagnosis, it's just your nervous system not working very well, frequently due to poor gut health. Anyway I don't want to get into a back and forth. As I said, good luck Op!

JeannieTheZebra · 04/04/2021 08:53

Both anaemia/low folate and low magnesium can cause these symptoms-and low magnesium isn’t usually checked for in blood tests. I would try decent iron and magnesium supplements for at least 6 weeks before re-assessing. Maybe vitamin d too as you’ve been shielding/it’s coming to the end of winter and no one has had enough sunlight. Low vitamin d can make you feel awful. It can take a while for vitamin/mineral levels to come back up, so you have to be patient.
Also, bear in mind that we’ve all had a terrible year-especially if you’ve been shielding-so this could just be anxiety, and that’s ok too. Magnesium before bed will help with sleep/sleep anxiety if that’s a factor.

TabbyStar · 04/04/2021 08:54

Sleep jerks are really common with BFS and also in the general population, I don't know about noises as I don't get these other than very occasionally. From what I know (my own GP and other people), twitches across the body are not likely to be the cause of anything serious, it's symptoms that start in one part of the body that might indicate this (though these can just be nerve impingement rather than anything serious too!)

redsky21 · 04/04/2021 08:55

OP are you on antidepressants? I take sertraline and mirtazapine and my muscles twitch constantly, mostly in my calfs but alot in my arms as well. Psychiatrist not concerned, said it was just side effects. I also get the jerking just as I'm falling asleep.

30mph · 04/04/2021 08:55

Are you on any prescribed medications..? Some can have/develop side effects similar to those you describe. My 'highly trained' GP was seemingly oblivious to this. Check it out. If you suspect there might be an issue, do not reduce or stop your medications. Get further advice, possibly from another GP in the practice.

itsgettingwierd · 04/04/2021 09:10

I'd go back to the GP.

It can always be something or nothing and something like vitamin and mineral imbalance to neurological conditions.

You mention you have a rare condition you don't want to mention as outing.

You are just assuming they aren't linked.

You state you have mobility problems so there's a reason to think it could be related.

My ds was also born with a condition (not rare) and started with muscle twitches etc at around 8 at night which we were convinced was epilepsy. (As that is common with his condition).

Eventually found out as his mobility worsened it was a rare muscular disorder and the condition he was originally diagnosed with can be related.

He's now on medication and things have improved massively for him.

I felt like you for years. To me it was concerning because it wasn't normal. But to a consultant or GP they look at the immediate health. They get concerned when there is major dysfunction of organs etc.

It takes time but you need to speak to GP and explain how you feel and discuss a plan of action for the future (eg how long to wait for meds currently on to have effect, what will you try next, when will you blood test again, what's after this etc).

Like I said it can be something or nothing. But I don't think you'll be able to relax enough to see if it's anxiety all the time you feel unsure if the plan.

ACCx · 25/09/2021 16:48

Hi OP I’m currently suffering with the same symptoms. Did yours go away on their own?

crumblebug · 25/09/2021 16:58

I had these exact symptoms with severe folate and b12 deficiency

Please find out what your b12 levels is. If low, it shod be corrected before taking foalte supplements

Hen2018 · 25/09/2021 18:08

I do magnificent twitches - like a full body wave down the left side. It’s PTSD for me.

Polkadots2021 · 25/09/2021 19:04

@Brownteddybear

Your have stated that your own GP isn't concerned. This is someone who presumably had years of medical training and has diagnosed your blood test results and you want unqualified internet randoms to reassure you about your health?

Have I got that right?

This is a really mean post. No, you haven't got it right, GPs aren't omnipotent god's and often miss things and why would you kick a woman when she's down, scared for her health and vulnerable?

OP Im hoping you're ok and I'd be worried, too. Definitely get a second opinion and seek out a private specialist if you can afford it.

Starrr123 · 13/12/2021 20:22

@ACCx hi! Did your symptoms go
Away? X

ACCx · 13/12/2021 20:26

@Starrr123 Hi, yes they did but only when I started taking medication for my anxiety. It seemed that anxiety was the cause for mine x

FreeBritnee · 13/12/2021 20:28

I’d want to rule MS out. Mid thirties is a common age to start exhibiting symptoms.

Starrr123 · 13/12/2021 20:30

@ACCx im very anxious atm! Thinking of taking citalopram the dr gave me but super nervous :(
Xx

ACCx · 13/12/2021 20:34

@Starrr123 The dr gave me sertraline in May and I was to scared to take it for months. I only took it at the end of September as the dr said the muscle spasms will only go when the anxiety goes. Turns out it’s the best thing I’ve done! I wish I started sooner. I get the odd one now and again but nothing compared to before xx

Starrr123 · 13/12/2021 20:36

@ACCx that’s brilliant you are feeling so much better!
Im so nervous to try them incase i feel awful to strt with . Also the dentist says i clench my jaw and apparently they may make me clench x

bloodywhitecat · 13/12/2021 20:37

@Brownteddybear

Your have stated that your own GP isn't concerned. This is someone who presumably had years of medical training and has diagnosed your blood test results and you want unqualified internet randoms to reassure you about your health?

Have I got that right?

DH's GP wasn't concerned when DH turned bright yellow, instead he referred him for a routine scan. It was fucking cancer. GPs are not gods and they do get it wrong.
Starrr123 · 13/12/2021 21:02

@bloodywhitecat thats awful :( xx

poppymaewrite · 13/12/2021 21:04

You’re experiencing this OP. I used to have it bad, got much better when I went vegan. Felt that my nervous system settled down massively. I still get them occasionally but very mild and not scary.
www.sleep.org/hypnic-jerks/

Gingernaut · 13/12/2021 21:07

You're describing hypnic jerks which are perfectly normal and hypnagogic hallucinations which are also perfectly normal.

ACCx · 13/12/2021 21:08

@Starrr123 with me the first few days were abit rough so I snapped the tablets in half and got on much better that way. After 2 weeks I took full tablets. Yes mine make me clench also. I do it without realising which is annoying x

Starrr123 · 13/12/2021 21:09

@ACCx oo no :( does it make your face an teeth hurt ? Cx

Swipe left for the next trending thread