Got myself into a right tizz and need a good talking to

[WorryingLikeMad]

Right. Namechanging regular. I've got myself into a right state here and need to take some control.

For the last few years I've had a range of symptoms. Started with dizziness/off-balance feeling, not constant. GP did bloods all normal. Referred to Cardio because of old symptoms there. All okay. I let it sit a while after that and went back to GP as sick of feeling like this. This time I'd bloods done again (okay), back to Cardio and put on meds for tachicardia which have helped, ENT referral, again all clear. Had brain MRI which was thankfully clear. Then started getting twitchy muscles which I ignored but a few mths later I went back to GP again as I had facial neuralgia. He didn't think an of these symptoms were linked but referred me back to neurologist. Neurologist, again, gave me the all-clear and said my symptoms were probably down to being rundown, stressed and over-tired. What freaked me out and is streaking me out is that he said the only major disease the twitching muscles are linked to is motor neurone but he wasn't concerned in my case as even the way the twitchiness ss presented didn't fit. The twitching/jumping muscles are quite common - in people maybe who exercised lots and then stopped (not me) or if one is run down (me). He said he had absolutely no worries. But I do! I can't stop thinking about it, can't stop analysing everything my body does and panicking at any unusual feeling.

Since all this started I've become very anxious that something is 'going to happen', have lost all confidence - even going into local shop invokes what I presume is an anxiety attack - feel funny, like I'm going to pass out, or that I want to abandon my trolley and run for the safety of the car. I give myself a good talking to or chat to a shop assistant and it passes so I know it's anxiety. I haven't mentioned this to the GP as, quote frankly, I feel really silly.

All this worry and analysing of aches, pans, twinges is taking over my life. I'm trying to do mindfulness type deep breathing to keep my mind off it but I can't do that 24/7. In the time since I saw consultant I haven't managed one full night's sleep let alone an early night. We have a child with a chronic med condition who requires attention during the night. Permanently tired but usually have the get up and go to get on with life the next day though. This is getting me down and frustrating me. I keep thinking what if I have that awful disease he mentioned. In all the time with the various symptoms, I've had no meds and consultant said there's nothing to give. Am so worried and browned off.

Please be gentle with me - I don't want to be told I might have something. I want to believe the consultant. I need to. For heavens sake, he's the expert but I'm worried and scared. Don't want to go back to GP as last time I saw him, when he was referring me back to Neuro, he told me that these are things I might just have to live with. Everyone medical is tellong me I have nothing to worry about. I need to find a way to stop this effecting my life the way it is. How do I control, then stop the anxiety.

I'm sorry this is so long but I really need to get it off my chest and get sme perspective. Thanks.

Oh my love, you sound like you are suffering from some sort of anxiety disorder or panic condition. I also have suffered from generalised anxiety disorder and if basically means that when I get a bit worked up I feel dizzy, I tense every muscle, I forget to breath properly which equals more dizziness, hyperventilation, more dizziness, more panic etc etc etc.
You need to ask your GP to refer you for some counselling. I also suffer from chronic hypochondria and google any slight twinge so a cold equals a fatal tropical disease. You will be fine but you need some cognitive behavioural therapy. You have my sympathy. xxx

I can identify with 2 of your symptoms.
Tachicardia - when my Thyroid was overacting - Hyper thyroidism-, but expect you were tesated for that in the blood tests?
Panic attacks
Due to extreme nervous exhaustion and tension/stress. Once I felt the ground under my feet swaying to and fro like being on a boat, but mostly were like you describe. Got a lot while in bed at night too.
I think it is caused by stress and lack of sleep.
I once was given tablets to reduce my pulse as was on the higher rate, but they made me feel like a limp rag, so after 3 days stopped them

Magnesium supplements are very good for twitchy muscles and most people are low in Magnesium, certainly won't do you any harm and nervousness and irregular heartbeat are also associated with low magnesium. I also recommend a high vitamin D3 supplement during the winter as again no one has enough due to lack of sunlight in winter.

That reminded me of when I was in Germany, I was given injections of magnesium by GP to relax me. I got quite addicted to them, as felt so good.

They helped me with insomnia that went along with a nervous racing heartbeat.

You DO have a condition

It's called Health Anxiety - and that is what you need to be speaking to your doctor about.

All you need to know is that if there were something serious it will develop.
Stop stressing and self diagnosing, it's ridiculous.
If you stay as you are or get better just forget it.
If you develop some genuinely serious symptom go back to Dr with that... Not vague tingling feeling dizzy or tired, something definite like weakness of arms or legs etc
Not being cruel just you are getting way over the top with borderline symptoms we all have.
Am hcp.

I could have written every single word of your post - right down to the twitches.

The only illness that all of your symptoms fit is anxiety. And, let's be clear, anxiety IS an illness. It presents as an illness and produces actual physical symptoms like any other illness.

I think we have a tendency to assume that "worrying" cannot actually cause proper symptoms, that it must be "psychosomatic" or something - and that's total tripe. What happens when you're scared? Your heart beats faster. This proves that what you're thinking can produce actual physical signs and symptoms. They are not imaginary, they are real.

The good news is that they may feel deeply unpleasant, but they will not and cannot harm you - and you CAN beat it. I think you need to go back to the GP and say "Right, so if all these things aren't down to an organic disease, then I have clearly developed an anxiety disorder, and I can't cope with it. What can you suggest?" - and regard it as any other illness.

And, you know what, just reading your post has made ME feel better about what I'm going through, which is almost exactly the same.

How old are you OP? I'm 43 and I'm beginning to think some of my stuff can be attributed to peri-menopause stuff. I'm currently having the oddest period of my life, so something chemical is obviously happening in my body. Might that be the case for you?

What are you taking for your tachycardia? One of the common drugs, amiodarone can cause anxiety and can affect your thyroid function. Has that been checked?

What sort of tachycardia was it and was it cardio that started meds? Unlikely to be amio unless you were told you had a life threatening rhythm or have an ICD. Was it AF . Or just sinus tachycardia ?

I agree anxiety. I am currently getting over a bout of anxiety using Prozac. I have had it several times and now know the physical symptoms are the anxiety and this helps me deal with them and to some extent ignore them.

The first time I had it my whole body was buzzing, I had pains in my jaw, palpitations. Weird sensations during the night feeling I had swallowed a phone on vibrate.

Can you get treatment, when I get medication it usually gets a bit worse before it gets better but works really well long term.

Thanks for all your comments and empathy. Yes, I do need to be told to stop being ridiculous hogmanyay, so thank you. It's just sinus tachicardia and I'm on Procoralan which has really helped. I do have definite symptoms and am not actively seeking out new ones , I also have plenty of aches, pains and niggles which I ignore. What browns me off most now is the dizziness/lightheaded feelings - its horrible and can last days. Anyway, I think if I can pull myself together and get rid of the anxiety element, it will help a lot. So that's my aim!

Wiggly and Digerd - thanks for mentioning magnesium - great idea and can't do any harm. I do not usually google any health things but have just googled this and saw something which said magnesium deficiency is sometimes linked to potassium deficiency. Interestingly (or not!) I was potassium deficient in the early summer and the muscle twitching started not long after. So I wonder whether I am a bit low there - shall take a supplement and increase my green veg intake to see whether it helps.

Ellie I'm 45 so, yes, we are very close in age. All this started a few years back for me during a time of significant stress and I often wonder whether it's all linked. I'm sorry you are going through similar but, like you, reading your post, has also made ME feel better .

Thanks again. New Year Resolution is to overcome this anxiety - and quickly.

Sorry to activate a zombie thread.
OP did you overcome this? How? I have health anxiety, MS and now muscle twitches and going out of my mind with worry!

@Mum233 hi! How are you? Did you say your health anxiety is of ms or you have ms ? X

Hi
I have ms x

@Mum233 hows yours twitches now x