ams
28-04-08, 17:51
So here's my saga:
I've always been a somewhat anxious person, and at different points in my life, it's resulted in some health anxiety...I've had heart issues, headaches, muscle pains, etc. but usually have no issue getting things under control after a doctor's visit. This past few months, though, it's been a little different.
At the beginning of March, I was a little stressed out. I had moved, grad school was bugging me, and I work full time. I started to notice some aches/pains and muscle twitches. Also, I felt a little tingle in part of my lip. Of course, I went the full 9 yards and did all sorts of internet research. I thought I had ALS, Parkinsons, MS, etc.
Finally saw the Dr., who said he didn't think there was anything neurological going on. Sent me to a podiatrist for some ankle stiffness, ran some blood tests, and told me not to worry about it. The podiatrist says I have high arches, and that could cause some pain, stiffness in my ankles, no biggie.
But here I sit, still anxious about all of this. The thing that gets me is that my symptoms seem to cycle. I was having eye pain and percieved increase in floaters/flashers, but the eye Dr. said I was fine, no retinal detachment, no optic neuritis, and the eye stuff has gone away. Once I decided I likely didn't have ALS, the muscle twitches and electric shock feelings decreased notably. The whole thing brought my heart fears to the fore, but as soon as I had gotten over that, the pains/sensations disappeared.
But now, I'm still dealing with the lip tingle. It's not a full-fledged "pins and needles" tingle, and I don't think it's actually numb, though it feels a little desensitized. It's one spot on my upper lip, and I don't think it's constant (though I suppose there's the chance that I just don't notice it sometimes), though it comes for a few days, disappears, and sometimes comes back a few days later. I had initially convinced myself that it was anxiety, or dry lips, but now I'm fearing MS, worrying that perhaps I didn't mention this symptom to my Dr. Now, other parts of the right side of my face feel a little tingly. My ankle/foot have been tingling intermittently, too, but I think that might be due to my foot/ankle being messed up by my arches.
I had an MRI of my brain done 4-5 years ago, when I was having headaches. They sais it looked fine, but I can't help but wonder if they just didn't mention these white spots? And though I'm 90% sure I don't have MS, I can't shake this worry about it...every time I've thought I've had it beat, a symptom reappears and I get nervous again. I don't think I want to go back to my Dr. again, that seems crazy.
Sorry this is so long. I've just been bummed, driving my girlfriend insane, and keeping myself frim truly enjoying things, though, overall, I'm doing pretty well. I just need a little reassurance, and I'm hoping maybe someone here can help to convince me that I don't have MS...
Thanks!
A
I've always been a somewhat anxious person, and at different points in my life, it's resulted in some health anxiety...I've had heart issues, headaches, muscle pains, etc. but usually have no issue getting things under control after a doctor's visit. This past few months, though, it's been a little different.
At the beginning of March, I was a little stressed out. I had moved, grad school was bugging me, and I work full time. I started to notice some aches/pains and muscle twitches. Also, I felt a little tingle in part of my lip. Of course, I went the full 9 yards and did all sorts of internet research. I thought I had ALS, Parkinsons, MS, etc.
Finally saw the Dr., who said he didn't think there was anything neurological going on. Sent me to a podiatrist for some ankle stiffness, ran some blood tests, and told me not to worry about it. The podiatrist says I have high arches, and that could cause some pain, stiffness in my ankles, no biggie.
But here I sit, still anxious about all of this. The thing that gets me is that my symptoms seem to cycle. I was having eye pain and percieved increase in floaters/flashers, but the eye Dr. said I was fine, no retinal detachment, no optic neuritis, and the eye stuff has gone away. Once I decided I likely didn't have ALS, the muscle twitches and electric shock feelings decreased notably. The whole thing brought my heart fears to the fore, but as soon as I had gotten over that, the pains/sensations disappeared.
But now, I'm still dealing with the lip tingle. It's not a full-fledged "pins and needles" tingle, and I don't think it's actually numb, though it feels a little desensitized. It's one spot on my upper lip, and I don't think it's constant (though I suppose there's the chance that I just don't notice it sometimes), though it comes for a few days, disappears, and sometimes comes back a few days later. I had initially convinced myself that it was anxiety, or dry lips, but now I'm fearing MS, worrying that perhaps I didn't mention this symptom to my Dr. Now, other parts of the right side of my face feel a little tingly. My ankle/foot have been tingling intermittently, too, but I think that might be due to my foot/ankle being messed up by my arches.
I had an MRI of my brain done 4-5 years ago, when I was having headaches. They sais it looked fine, but I can't help but wonder if they just didn't mention these white spots? And though I'm 90% sure I don't have MS, I can't shake this worry about it...every time I've thought I've had it beat, a symptom reappears and I get nervous again. I don't think I want to go back to my Dr. again, that seems crazy.
Sorry this is so long. I've just been bummed, driving my girlfriend insane, and keeping myself frim truly enjoying things, though, overall, I'm doing pretty well. I just need a little reassurance, and I'm hoping maybe someone here can help to convince me that I don't have MS...
Thanks!
A