Anxiety or Ms

[Chanletch87]

Hi, im really struggling at the moment, since sept last year iv been suffering with a lot of symptoms (ill list them below) iv seen the doctor numerous times and a neurologist who told me its anxiety. The problem is because my doctors know I suffer with anxiety I feel like there dismissing alot of my symptoms and they could be missing something serious like MS. I did have a shocking year I lost 2 of my much loved family members 😭 but these symptoms came out of nowhere, im not helping myself by googling but I cant help it I feel like I need reassurance. I have an amazing support system but im scared there no longer interested. Im a mum of 3 but I hide all of my worries from them, I never want them to over worry like I do. Advice would be much appreciated as to what you think my symptoms are.
Thank you for reading x

Swaying, bobbing sensation
Pins and needles in hands a lot for no reason and sometimes feet
Arm weakness mainly when waking up
Tender scalp
tingly face
Tingly tongue
Neck ache
Tremors (sometimes)
Back ache (between shoulder blade)
Squeezing sensation/pain/tingling in forehead, eyebrows and bridge of nose (mainly at night)
Ear pain, fulness, itchy, crackling and sticky/squishy sound when unblocking ears
Tinnitus (pulsating, whooshing) Sometimes
Sometimes sharp pain in head
Kaleidoscope vision when eyes are shut (sometimes)
Body jerks when falling asleep (sometimes)
Head can feel heavy
Tingly legs
Sometimes vision is a bit cloudy, have to blink to clear it.
Can only sleep for a couple of hours
Heartburn
Diarrhea and constipation
Nausea and stomach cramps

Had a check at opticians, eye sight is perfect and behind the eye is too

Hi @Chanletch87
I was just going to write a post similar to yours. I went through a really stressful time at the beginning of the year and weeks after my symptoms started. I have nearly all of the symptoms you listed. I've been to GP who just says it is health anxiety, which I know I have I just feel like this is something else.
Do you take anything for you anxiety?

I have MS OP. What tests did the Neurologist perform? I would assume physical exam. Did you have MRI? I having been diagnosed with MS, I would say it more of a thing to rule other conditions out first. I had many blood tests, chest x ray, mri head, cervical & whole spine. MRI found lesions on my brain & two areas of inflammation in my spinal cord. Even then I was not given an official MS diagnosis until further relapse 2 years later, when I have more MRI and a new lesion was confirmed. Good luck.

@DancingQeeeen I was on 10mg citalopram but iv come off it as it wasn't making a difference x which symptoms do you have x

@Roselilly36 iv had 2 neuro physical examinations one by the doctor one by neurologist. Im waiting on an mri but she said shes only doing it for my mental health as she doesn't think there's anything to be concerned about other then anxiety x

@Chanletch87. That sounds like good news OP. But unpleasant symptoms to have though. I hope they clear up soon for you. Best wishes for the future.

@Roselilly36 thank you. I need it to its impacting on my daily life so much 😩 x

Could peri-menopause be at play? So many of your symptoms are common in peri, especially the increased anxiety, tingling, pins and needles, insomnia, digestive issues, etc. Honestly, the havoc that peri can cause is incredible.

Agree peri menopause. I also have all these symptoms off and on and am in peri. It's not just hot flushes.

I have pins and needles in arms, dead feeling in right side, stomach aches and diarrhoea, pressure headaches, nauseas, blurred vision (had eye test and just recently got some bee glasses), chest pains.
I also was started on citalopram but it made me worse and so I stopped. Doctor thinks it is just anxiety/panic disorder

I also had covid couple of months ago and gp says it could be long covid. Have you had covid?

@Aquamarine1029 im 34 so not sure if it could be that but ill look into it x thank you

@DancingQeeeen im not sure, I had all the symptoms in Dec 2019 of covid but obviously it was known about then. So its possible but not 100%. The tingling in my face started the day after my aunties funeral i was so upset and I think the reality of loosing her and my grandad within 4 months of each other just hit me all at once. Once the pins and needles started I was panicking and more symptoms started popping up and they have never gone. So the chances are it is anxiety but I cant seem to accept it and convinced myself I have MS 😭 I try so hard to ignore it all and carry on and to be fair I do carry on being mum, wife, working ect but the thought that I have a serious illness is always there. Sorry for blabbering on I just feel stuck x

@Chanletch87
I know exactly how you feel. With me, one thing resolves and then something else starts. I just can't accept it's my anxiety. I just wish I was normal and often wonder if I will always be like this. I always feel irritated

Have you had any blood tests done? Some vitamin deficiencies (eg pernicious anaemia) can cause neurological symptoms but might be easily treatable. I’m sorry you’re having such a difficult time

@DancingQeeeen its awful isnt it 😢 just one thing after another x

@piglet81 yeah all my bloods came back fine apart from vit D was low but not low enough for the doctors to prescribe anything x

I had a lot of those symptoms that hit me like a freight train last October, it was frightening. My gp said migraines. A few trips to a&e and a head ct later and nothing, just kept throwing pills at me. I kept telling them my neck and shoulders were killing me, eventually I had a cervical spine X-ray which showed wear and tear where my neck meets my shoulders. Saw the neurologist who sent me for an mri on my head and cervical spine. Orthopaedics phoned me and told me I have 3 bulging discs in my cervical spine which will cause a lot of these symptoms, he suggested physio. I've found a private one and she's been brilliant, she's done massage, dry needling, cupping and traction and I'm getting some form of life back. I also do neck stretches twice a day. The neurologist also suggested duloxetine which can help with the anxiety and nerve pain. I'm 38 and think I'm having symptoms of peri too because some of this gets worse round my period, my dr has told me to wait until I'm 40 I still have my off days and just go for a lie down on the sofa for a bit but a lot better than I was. Good luck with your mri and hope you feel some relief soon

I've also started taking magnesium and vitamin d which has helped a bit.

@Bluearsedfly36 Thank you for this, my husband keeps saying he thinks its to do with my neck, its sore to touch and so are my shoulders, I use deep heat twice a day. This makes a lot of sense. Im booked in with a chiropractor on the 11th Aug so ill see if he can shine a light on anything. I get what I think are tension headaches daily its like the skin on my forehead, nose and eyebrows becomes tight and tingly. Its not painful but it does stress me out as it happens numerous times a day, has anyone experienced this? X

I'm taking vit D supplements that I got myself to try and increase my levels x

@Chanletch87 try a wheat bag or hot water bottle round your neck and shoulders, I get the headaches too. I use a headband with an ice pack in and the relief is immense. You can get these on amazon, just search migraine relief. Don't let the chiropractor do any manipulations, might do more harm than good. I would personally wait for your mri. My physio knew what she was dealing with then and did manipulations but knew where not to touch. I bought a cervical pillow too which has really helped and when driving I keep a wheat bag round my neck for support so my neck doesn't get jolted around too much. Magnesium can help with the tingly sensations. There are fb groups I am on too, just look up cervicogenic headaches xx

Thank you for this, its been really helpful. Can I just ask was your headaches the same as mine, they really make me think there's something seriously wrong with me. I bought a cervical pillow for night time but thats it. Ill have a look online. Thank you

I had some similar issues and a possible diagnosis of MS was floated around, however I went to see a physio who said my entire left side was completely locked and rigid. The muscles were pulling on all my nerves creating the strange sensations down my left side - tingling in my face and cheek, my arms, my legs etc. I had some acpuncture and physio and it really loosened everything up and years on I no longer get those symptoms. I also have regular massages to keep my muscles supple.
OP, have a neck and back massage and see if it alleviates some of the symptoms you're feeling. It's hard to believe that a lot of these could be simply from neck/back tension.
Obviously it could be something else, but this is an easy option to see if it helps.,

I've had nearly all your symptoms. I get the pain between my shoulders blades and the left of my neck. Try an Indian head massage, I had one the other week as a go between for physio. It was great, she could feel all the tension. They work on your neck, shoulders and scalp. My headaches aren't as bad now but used to be constant, round the back of the head and forehead and head pressure sometimes tingling and numbness, that's where the headband came in handy. Since physio I don't get them as bad. I've learnt to live with it now. I hope I've helped relieve some of the anxiety, that's all they used to say to me and duloxetine has helped. I take lansoprazole for the heartburn too. Used to get awful chest pains. Feel free to message me if you want xx