Constant muscle twitching, achy jaw muscle, worried about serious neurological condition

[Bighugs88]

Hello everyone,
I have spoken to my gp and most recently out of hours gp last Thursday. I am 34 yrs old female, normal bp, normal cholesterol, bmi 19.1 (lost weight 1 stone in the past month due to ongoing health concerns, I am eating well now). Had a recent blood test on 2/7/2022 and gp on phone said blood tests are normal I have requested for a copy of my results. The following was tested: vitamin b12, ferritin, folate, electrolytes, full thyroid, full cholesterol, haemoglobin).
I am currently staying with my mum and my daughter is 5 yrs old has autism. Husband is working full time so staying with mum to keep my mind distracted and not to over worry.
Started off with:
Beginning of may 2022 started getting sharp centre chest pains and travelling over to right and left arms and lasting 4 mins this happened 4 times over weeks so went to local A&E they did quick ecgs, blood checks for inflammation viruses and troponin and chest x rays all results were clear. So I have been referred to cardiology and I did have the 24 hr ecg monitor requested by gp awaiting result most likely will contact surgery next week as it has been 3.5 weeks since 24 hr monitor . However, I started getting fluttering sensation of my heart which are palpitations and when I started googling symptoms I started panicking thinking I have a heart problem so this was occupying my mind all the time and so from there the dizziness started feeling like I am on a boat daily feeling like the ground is moving up and down under my feet, constant pressure in my head and neck stiffness. However, staying with my mum for the past 1 month the palpitations have reduced and I don't feel that dizzy any more.

Some of your symptoms sound a bit like cervical myelopathy?

@AnnaMagnani
I stopped taking sertraline as I was fine the anxiety last year during the summer was relating to a finance issue but I didn't have severe health concerns, I was vomiting and lost weight and had negative thoughts but not relating to health or illness so after relaxing the sickness stopped and I only took setraline for 1 month and stopped. However, the cardiac pain started in may 2022 and then from there a range of symptoms which are affecting my motor skills.

It's just that I want to get an MRI scan to check my head and spine (neck) as it's been hurting. Today I have been stumbling a lot especially on my left foot

@Mumzoo5070
It could be that I have been stumbling a lot day when walking. I can walk fine with my both feet but throughout the day 3 to 4 times I stumble with my left foot (coordination is affected), have been having pins and needles. That's why I was asking about mri scan of my head and spine as my blood results have come back normal. But I don't think gp will refer me to neurologist or do a scan referral as they think it's all anxiety. Which is there but today I have been busy but the head and neck is still very stiff and keep tripping when walking about

Please look into Lymes disease. Your symptoms sound like mine and this was what I had

1 month of sertraline is not a treatment for anxiety.

It needs as many months until you are fully well, then at least 6 months of being fully well, and then you can consider coming off.

I think it's significant that you had anxiety, sertraline made it better but you only treated it for a month, you stopped the sertraline and all these symptoms started again.

The good news is you know sertraline works for you!

Can I ask what your ferritin level was? The NHS reference range starts ridiculously low (15) and you can be very symptomatic if you're at the lower end of normal. Ditto with B12.

@inigomontoyahwillcox
My ferritin level is 42, the gp said it's fine. I have a copy of my recent blood test results the ref range is 14-150. My vitamin b12 is 536.

I am not sure what is causing the pain at the back of my head and upper neck, but I do believe sleeping really high up with pillows during the time I was really unwell with vomiting in July 2022 must be a contributing factor that I can think off because I haven't had any recent injury. But the pain in the upper spine and head is making me really unbalanced and I am stumbling. Let me see what the gp says this Monday. I will let u guys know. I did take nurofen tablet as the pain was quite bad this afternoon. It's feels like I have excessive weight on my entire head especially when the skull meets the spine like my head is really wobbly. Thank you everyone for your messages.

A lot of these symptoms are similar to how peri menopause started for me. Tingling in particular and internal vibrations. Plus anxiety.

I'd see a physio about your neck and or a regular massage for a while - Bowen technique really sorted my neck out but others work well too. Hope you get answers soon.

Ps: Spatone x2 a day (with vit c) gets my ferritin up quite quickly if I follow what the instructions say - can't deal with any form of tablet.

Wrong pillows is a disaster for neck pain bitter experience

Do you work with screens all day? A desk assessment worked wonders for me, literally putting the screen up on a box to the right height was a miracle. Google 'tech neck' it's a big issue.

Dentist for teeth grinding, plus a physio to sort out your neck. Mine made me do loads of homework and getting a lower pillow was some of it. If I'm in a hotel and have a higher pillow I will be feeling it the following day.

Have you considered seeing a physio, ideally a neuro physio?

I had all of your symptoms with severe anxiety after my dad died. The more I focussed on each symptom the more it snowballed. I literally had to ignore each symptom and had cbt.

I have had all the muscle twitches. Was quite stressed at the time. Check out benign fasciculation syndrome.

So glad I took the time and effort to answer

@Likelookinginamirror
Thank you for your message I did reply back stating my phosphorus levels. I did politely ask about what specific tablet or food based things I could eat to increase ferritin as gp sad your level is fine and so he is not prescribing anything.
I will speak to gp about sertraline as other medication did not help.
Talking therapies I am still waiting for the sessions as I only had the initial assessment and they actual said your physical symptoms should be investigated to find out if there is an underlying cause. I never had long term medication for anxiety but this run in with health physical symptoms are never ending its one thing which calms down then something else comes along even frightening and then back to initial symptoms. I do have my cardiology appointment next month so hopefully the palpitations can be investigated.

@Hairyfairy01
👋, I am hopefully waiting to speak to gp this Monday morning and see what they say. Most likely will go private for physio.

Have you been vaccinated against Covid?
Sounds like an adverse reaction.
Have a looks at jab_injuries on Instagram.
Hundreds of stories just like yours.

@PortMac
Yes I had both Pfizer vaccines in 2021 but decided against booster.

Good morning everyone
Slept OK, but for the past 4 days I do feel very nauseous so trying not to vomit instead walking in my back garden to get fresh air and will have breakfast later on. I have been taking well women multivitamin tablet for the past 4 weeks and having more green vegetables in my diet. But I am going once a day early in the morning my stools are very loose and a dark green colour. I don't know if this is making me nauseous as I do take the tablet after a full stomach. Should I try something else or just take tablet a few days rather than every single day. I started taking the tablet when I was vomiting to avoid weakness and due to lack of eating when I was really unwell back in July.

Morning OP. I've had all of these symptoms- all anxiety related. I'm on citalopram now and it has truly changed my life- I can just 'be' rather than spending all my time monitoring myself and worrying. It's no way to live

Ps my eyelid once twitched for six months. It's a classic anxiety symptom

This is nonsense

Neck pain is usually because anxiety means you will be clenching your teeth and hunching your shoulders even if you don't realise it

Why is it nonsense? What do you know?
People constantly get told it's anxiety. Gaslit by doctors and nurses.
I know. I am a nurse that has seen loads of these injuries.
But hey, it must be nonsense cos you said so.

OP,

DH has had serious health problems and I’ve been anxious on his behalf, so I am deeply sympathetic to anyone with health anxiety. His ongoing issue is a highly treatable neurological disease that presented with foot drop. (He is doing really well since treatment began. He remains healthy and athletic and there is almost never a time when anyone would guess anything was wrong.)

Because of my tendency towards anxiety I was concerned about MND as the worst case scenario. The neurologists were able to rule that out early on, easily. But they didn’t know I was worried and did not mention it. From what I’ve learnt, a knowledgeable GP could give you a fairly confident judgement concerning whether the leg weakness needs to be pursued neurologically, but the key word there is ‘good’.

I have two points for you. Firstly, although obviously I don’t know, I think that MND almost always presents more focally than what you are describing. Secondly, have you actually confided your fears around MND to a doctor? They might be able to reassure you immediately. I wish I had done that and saved myself some worry instead of reading up on the tests that had been done on DH.

I know your misery is real. I’m very far from denying that you might have a physical problem! I just don’t think it sounds like the MND patients at DH’s former neuromuscular clinic. I did some CBT which helped although I know that isn’t for everyone either. I hope you find some peace soon.