I'm a twitching mess

[Terrifiedshakes]

Me again. I'm back. This time my username matches my problem.

I'll begin by explaining that I've got hurrendous health anxiety. Always have, Always will. So please be kind. Please.

Here gos...

I've got terrible twitches all over my body. Began over a week ago with burning in my ankle. Then my feet went to pins and needles and feeling genuinely weird. Then the bad twitches began, all over my body. It's awful when my neck twitches as it shakes my head. My knees burn too on and off but I have been squatting lots. However my body is used to lots of excercise, you should see me. I'm a machine.

I'm terrified to go to the doctors as I can't put myself through more tests and results. I'm not ready to do all that again.

What I will say is this. I exercise a lot. Daily, evening runs around 7k to 8k. Then when ive finfihes my run ill do about 10 mins of extra cardio. Plus an exercise class in the morning, every morning. Since the weather has got warmed I've noticed I've been sweating more, which I didn't do in the winter.

I'm also not a bit drinker of fluid. Maybe 2 cups of tea a day, 2 glasses of milk, a couple of small glasses of cordial.

Please talk to me about these twitches. You all know what I'm thinking. MS, MBD, brain tumours.

I can hear my muscle in my ear spasm now as I type and I've got a rhythm of twitches all around my body right now, like a symphony.

I've written this quite calmly, but that's taken disabling to calm myself the.fuck.down. as I'm feeling really quite worried about a trip to the doctors who might want to do blood tests, refere me on for tests.

I'll add I had bloods done in January fir something else. All came back normal apart from iron and blood count one. I've not been taking any supplements for iron as I don't feel tired.

My BMI is 19.1 but I've got some good muscle mass with that for my size, my quads and calfs are good and my upper arms are strong looking for my frame. My abs are formed too. I'm 5ft 1.

I'll take all the above advice. I do not get enough fresh fruit and veg and the protein shakes are probably full of shite too.

Thanks for everyone's time to listen and support me. It's not fallen on deaf ears honestly.

Low blood sugar can cause you to feel very wobbly and trembly. Given your BMI and diet I think you need some more fuel! It's sounding as if you're generally depleted.

I've had three mornings off gym class this week so far. I've also not run for 2 days but I really need to go tonight. I'll make sure I'm hydrated before and after my run and I'll stick to 5k.

@Terrifiedshakes ,

I suspect you are borderline anorexic.

Although you are (just) within the healthy range, muscle weighs more than fat, and shorter people should have slightly higher BMIs (as we aren’t flat!).

Also, small people get dehydrated more easily (cardiologist told me this and it makes sense).

Given all the above, it seems your body is doing its very best. With underlying conditions, you would probably be very sick by now.

So, you need to deal with all this! Can’t you talk to someone (a personal trainer maybe) about a healthy eating and drinking plan, and cutting back on the exercise to a healthy level?

Did you say the gp said your blood tests showed iron was low? If so get your prescription for ferrous fumarate and take that. (It's apparently better than ferrous sulphate which I think gets prescribed more as it's cheaper)!

Yeah my iron was low. I did get prescribed something but I only took them for around 2 weeks and lost them so forgot to take any more. No idea what I was given.

I've also got some beta blockers type tablets here that was prescribed for anxiety a few months back, but they are doing nothing for the twitches.

Oh and sorry to jump in with this, but there is generally a reason for addictions to anything, be it drink, comfort eating or exercise.

Therapy can help. It sounds like you feel controlling your body is one way of you having some control over your life. So presumably some bad stuff has happened or is happening.

Speak to your GP about that too. You could get talking therapy like counselling or specialist counselling to help you get through the difficult out stuff in your life.

Look after your body. It's not the enemy. You are a team with it. Look after it.

I hope you feel better soon.

I have a prescription for ferrous fumarate 210mg tablets take one tablet twice or three times daily.

If you can buy something like that I'd try it.

Or just phone the surgery and tell them you lost the prescription sorry can you have another.

I don't think your twitches are anxiety. They sound physical. Your body is telling you that you're not looking after it.

Honestly I'd get to the doctor if you can. I know you don't want to and we are trying to help you but it may put your mind at rest and the GP is best placed to give you medicine anyway.

You can tell him about over exercising, not eating as well as you could, and not taking enough fluid. These things can really make you feel awful.

DeliciousApples, you have hit the nail on the head. Exercise is filling a massive void. It's too outing to discuss on here but thank you for acknowledging this.

If I didn't get the buzz from Exercising, I'd have nothing.

OP this is addictive behaviour and you need to get help because you are damaging your physical health and not taking steps to deal with your mental health. I know how hard it is and I understand many of the reasons. Please be honest with your doctor.

You’re going to be hugely dehydrated… replenish your electrolytes and I’m sure the twitches will stop.

go for the most obvious cause first, before you start torturing yourself with thinking you have MS.

(Been there done that!) xxx

OP nows the time to have a good think about how you want to proceed. I know it's daunting and scary but you are brave and it needs to be done.

This is your life and you deserve to be happy so if there are some changes you could make with some support now is the time to ask.

You can't go on punishing your body and torturing yourself like this.

Give the gp a ring and tell him/her the truth about everything.

Womens aid are a great help and resource if you need advice on how to get away from someone dangerous in a safe way.
Even the Samaritans are there if you need someone to talk to. You don't need to be on a cliff edge to give them a ring. They know details lots of places that can help us also.

You can get out of this vicious circle. You really can. You just need to decide to do it.

Twitching, known medically as 'fasiculations', can be caused by (in no particular order):
Low potassium,.
Low magnesium,
Low B vitamins including 6 and 12,
Low ferritin (iron stores)
Conversely, high B6,
Neuropathy, for example caused by undiagnosed coeliac disease

Low ferritin.

My ferritin was low in January and I've done bugger all about it.

Well I've increased fluid intake today, I've taken vitamins, including evening primrose oil and cod liver oil. I've eaten fresh fruit and had spinach on my ham wrap. I have peppers to add to my tea this evening along with more spinach, along with more fluids, along with one less protein pudding, replaced by pomegranates.

I'm still twitching as if I'm involuntary trying to knock the dance moves out to Micheal Jacksons 'Thriller', but I'm trying to stay calm about it after reading all your comments. I know it's a long process to get the balances in my body correct again.

DeliciousApples. Thank you too for your advice.

Twitching comes from low iron count and you got help for it but refused to take it which doesn't make sense at all. Start looking after yourself properly

I've just looked. My ferritin results was 5.

It says normal range begins from 15.

The Dr was very cool about it and because I'm not tired I thought it was something and nothing!

Come on woman it's one thing asking us to be kind but quite another to tell us all that you have and expect us to not say:

Your body is yelling at you to slow down and look after it 😊

Have you got any trauma in your passed? If so are you getting support for that?....

Talking therapy,.Sand tray therapy, Art therapy, EMDR, tapping?

Yoga, Sound bath, scented candles?

If your dehydrated you often don't feel thirsty. Odd I know, but when I start drinking enough water again I will then start to feel thirsty. Your drinking enough to wee ok, but not enough to be properly hydrated.

In fact before I read anyone else's replies after reading your first post. Where you stated you are having twitches and pins and needles, then I read your exercise regime and your fluid intake. This first thing I thought was dehydration.

For example DD does an 1 1/2 swim workout in the morning (forget its swimming, their coach encourages them to drink). She'll drink an 1 litre sports drink. Then a protein shake when she gets home. Then she drinks a water bottle another 1 litre during the day. Then whatever we have with tea, juice maybe 🤔. She can then still complain she's thirsty.

Drink more, have at lest one day a week rest from physical activity. DD trains swimming but they have one day a week break as you are supposed to have at lest one recovery day.

Drink more fluids! Even if you don't feel thirsty, you will be dehydrated.
Also, considering the exercise you do, I don't think you're eating enough
The twitches may be something simple like low blood sugar
Anxiety can also cause numbness twitching and pins and needles

By the way, it's almost impossible to rebuild ferritin levels by diet alone. Most people use prescription level iron to restore their levels. For some people who can't tolerate these or have absorption issues, they need to have an infusion. Either way, you should be looking at what's causing low ferritin (its usually an underlying problem rather than just diet).

Just found my tablets of ferrous fumarate. I'll keep on these properly now.

Forgot to add earlier, I think you need to eat more slow release carbs. These break down into glycogen which fuel your muscles.
Even a banana before exercise will help

You have health anxiety, so why not drink fluids?