Greetings - Health Anxiety Under Control!

AveryzAveriezA

Well-known member
Greetings!!

It has been awhile since I have visited this site, because, apparantly, I have the whole health anxiety thing TOTALLY under control. Yes, I still twitch all over all the time, but time and some great doctor's appointments convinced me of the reality that this is a benign condition. Days, weeks and then months of worry free living and twitching have passed and it's all been okay.

So, my husband and I went to a fantastic hotel/spa perched on the edge of the Pacific Ocean for some much needed R&R and to attend a wedding. The weekend was off to a great start, sleeping in, great meals and spa treatments. Until I had a massage. For some reason, I decided to tell the massuse sp?? about the fasciculations in my legs, so she didn't think I had some bizzare condition (which in some ways I think I do!!). She proceeded to tell me that she couldn't see the fasciculation, but that she thought I have super arched feet (something called pes cavas arch) that is a sign of muscle weakness. UGGGGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Suffice it to say, that my sweet husband examined my feet, reassured me that they have always been arched like that forever and let me examine his. I got on the phone and set a date with the neuro for today. My reasoning was that I wasn't going to obsess about this like I have about everything else. So, the nice doc did the complete neuro exam, looked at my feet (normal) and answered my two questions: 1) if I did have pes cavus, would it be related to the body wide twitching? Answer: NO - pes cavus has something to do with an inherited neurological disorder and 2) After 18 months of twitching do I have anything to worry about? Answer while trying not to laugh: NO. This coming from a man who told me early on, "this is not ALS or anything like it" after doing exam and emg.

I've got that feeling of a "new lease on life" that follows these doctors appointments and I know deep down I'm just fine. I think part of managing my BFS is managing the fear associated with it and for me visiting the doc nips it all in the bud.

The upside is that I'm kissing and hugging the kiddies more today and I feel like my priority clock has been reset on what's really important. Just thought I'd let you in on this -- we've all got our good and bad days with this -- the good news is that with time, it's easier to be on track for more good days!! :D)

Ava
 
Hi Ava:

In the end, your story is most uplifting. The masseuse on the other hand, should keep her mouth firmly shut, and keep to what she supposedly does best: namely, de-stressing others.

Cheers,
Basso
 
I totally agree with Basso...the masseuse doesn't know what they are talking about and that is a lot of crap...i'm a physical therapist and pes caves is genetic and perfectly normal and has nothing to do with weakness....grrrr. that really *beep* me off. Lynn
 
I agree with Lynn. This just highlights how vulnerable many of us are and how some 'innocent' comment can send us off into an anxiety frenzy.
 
Ava,

Sorry that the "diagnosing massage therapist" decided to to diagnose you. Believe it or not in my kids school there is a teacher like that. If your kid is sick she'll say Mrs. so and so, your son/daughter is coughing, you should have it checked it could be pneumonia etc.. She has done this to me personally when my son had chapped lips. Told me she thought he had herpes...I said yeah, yeah, yeah. It was a long school year.

Glad you received the reassurance you needed from your neuro. Now back on the wagon! :D)
 

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