Exploring GAD Symptoms and Causes

Highlights Only
S

saralyn

Member
Hello -I have been reading for at least 2 weeks but haven't posted. My calf muscles began twitching about 3 weeks ago (2 weeks and 5 days, but who's counting :) )I am not sure what information is pertinent, but I will fill you all in a little about me. I am a 34 year old female, married with 2 children ages 4 and 6. I have GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) that is largely, but not prodomintently, centered around Health Anxiety. It seems summer time is the worse for my anxiety - I am not sure why. I am a worst-case scenerio type of gal when it comes to many things. For example, last summer I had some odd pressure in my upper right quadrant of my abdomen and was convinced it was Ovarian cancer. Why Ovarian cancer? Because it is a pretty worst-case-scenerio 'reason' for my pressure. Long story short, had numerous clinical exams, endoscopy, abdominal ultrasound, and transvaginal ultrasound. Since everything was normal, I decided (with the help of an increase of my Effexor) to let it go, it was nothing serious. Sure enough the symptoms improved. I have had the same pressure here and there, but nothing that has sent me to the doctor. Fast forward to around 3 weeks ago: I am in bed reading, and a musle in my right thigh just starts going nuts - twitching, throbbing, etc...bending my leg up would stop it, but then it would return after I relaxed my leg. This went on for about a 1/2 hour. Typical of me, I thought it was possibly a blood clot. That episode passes and I didn't think much about it until my calves began to twitch about 2 days later. This was mainly in the left calf, but also some in the right calf and the left bicep. The twitches are now what I would consider true fasciculations; they are kind of like little lightning strikes all over the calfs. I used Dr.Google, went into complete freak mode when I saw it was a sign of ALS. Got myself worked up to a full-on panic attack within a couple of days, ended up at the doctor (GP). She did the strength tests, and reflexes, said all normal, that I was very strong. (I am 6 foot and around 190 pounds, so I am pretty strong for a chick :cool: ). She gave me Xanax which is helping quite a bit. I have also began to exercise, do strength tests: walking on heels, walking on toes, handstands, riding my bike, playing tennis, jogging, etc...just to try and reassure myself that I am not losing any muscle weakness. I also have started to drink more water and take a multi-vitamin, and dropped around 10-12 pounds. However, the twitches continue. Some days are worse than others. Last night and today are pretty bad in my left calf, I am telling myself because I rode my bike hard for 3 miles last night. Some days, they aren't as bad, but always there. Sometimes I even feel them in my buttocks?! Anyway, I have a follow-up appointment with my GP on Monday, and wondered if I should insist on seeing a Neurologist? Or does this sound pretty in-step with BFS? I don't want to have an EMG unless my GP thinks it is necessary as that will cause me debilitating stress while waiting for the results. From what I have been reading, and when I let the rational part of my brain dominate, it seems that ALS would be unlikely due to the fact that the twitches are in more than one area, and I have no weakness or atrophy. However, the anxiety side keeps pointing out that my left calf seems to be effected the worse, and this could just be the beginning....the twitches have only been occuring for the 3 weeks, so who knows if I will wake up with foot drop.Sorry so long...any comments/suggestions would be appreciated.
 
Hi darling,If you would think about foot drop - with your GAD you even can get it. There are two excellent stories here - Chrissi's and SuzyQ, they both were practically disabled with fears and managed to get rid of it, so I hope that would encourage you by demonstrating that even strong health anxiety could be defeated. I am an old GAD sufferer too, 42 now, suffering starting 6 years old, however my GAD is around loss of my family members... but as we here in Russia and Ukraine say, "horseradish is not more sweet than radish itself", so I have a lot of sympathy to you in your journeys thorugh fears.looks like your symtpomes are very typical for BFS, moreover, please think that calf twitches exist almost in every healthy person, they are so non-specific that most of the doctors do not give them any special attention (same for periocular twitches). And if you will read Chrissi's posts, you would see her striking 126 or so symptomes list, covering paractically all what anxiety can do to human being - and she went through all that and won. Please also consider that the more strength test you will do, the more pains and twitches you would experience. I am for 10 month almost in BFS, and I never felt myself so bad like in the days when i decided to test my grip strength... My hands were sore for weeks then... Please believe me that clinical weakness usually does not need a test and it is very evident, so all the rest is a strength test itself. Can scratch your nose - fine, can jump once - right, no falling out of the blue - Ok, etc.I think, two children of such vivid age are enough to make stress and cause BFS even in a very strong person :)). Please let the time go, BFS is weird but not killing thing, and you might have improvement in weeks, month or years - it depends on nobody knows what, or you might stay twitching, but still no disability is your fate...
 
rlcline,This is BFS. No need to see a neurologist. The lightning type twitches in your legs are very very common with BSF. I have them. I have twitching all over including my tongue. Started just like you, in my calves, then they went all over most likely because my anxiety went through the roof. I was just on vacation with my family and I was checking out their legs just for fun. My mom, brother, and two sisters also twitch! Just like you said, those lightning type twitches in their calves and thighs. Theirs are less frequent, I could see 1 every 5 seconds or so. In my legs, i can see 2 or 3 per second in each leg. Its been like this for 14 months now (probably longer, I only noticed it 14 months ago). I hope this helps. -Matt
 
Thank you both so much for responding. It sounded like BFS to me based on my reading, but I still had this nagging fear of ALS. I did finally get to the point, probably with the help of the Xanax, of just saying right now I am strong and active and able to do the things I want. Until that changes, I am going to do my best not to worry. Some days that attitude works better than others, but I will keep trudging on. This site is very helpful, and I really appreciate the responses!
 
I agree, no need to see a neurologist - you will get diagnosed with BFS. You have no weakness and that is the key. Your symptoms, along with your anxiety (I also have GAD, and your story of worrying about ovarian cancer is SO much like me), pretty much make you a perfectly fitting member of this group.But, considering you have GAD, try to realize that twitching may be with you for a long time, and may not go away. I tend to freak out every single time a symptom changes, which is such a waste of my time and energy.Reach out to this group for support and listen to your doctor. If your doctor feels you should see a neuro - do it, if he/she doesn't, try to just let it go. They know so much more than we do about these things.Mitra
 
I concur with the above knowledgeable vets. There is not any need to see a neurologist about your symptoms. If your symptoms were worrisome to your GP, then he would have recommended that you see a neurologist. Both your symptoms and profile are very much in line with an overwhelming majority of folks here. Do not waste your precious time worrying about and illness that you don't have. trust me on this one Welcome to the forum and this kind community. Greg
 
Mine started in my eye, then went all over, mainly in my calves but I have them in my neck even! One week it was my upper lip right under my nose. Everyday a new spot, lol. SO annoying. Stressing and getting nervous will make them worse.. Try to get just forget about it as much as you can. I even have a recurring "tired" leg. It'll get better & then be tired again. I'm going onto my 7th month here soon. you'll be fine. :) stay off google! Only come here! Yay & welcome!! I really hated the finger twitch.. Had it a day or two after I READ about it!!!
 
rlcline - Your story sounds amazingly similar to mine -- except for the fact that I'm a 48 year-old male who has not had any concerns regarding ovarian cancer :LOL: -- but that's one of the few things I haven't worried about.4 years ago I had a pressure/dull ache in the right mid-abdomen that could not be explained by my PCP and a gastro specialist. Lots of tests, all clean. After 6 months, it went away and hasn't returned. But a few weeks after that, the foot and calf twitches started, and for the most part have been around ever since, along with a lot of other twitches, and other various symptoms that seem common to those on this board.I, too, had ALS freak-outs early on, as most of us do. I, too, suffer from GAD/Health Anxiety (taking Paxil 20mg currently, with mixed results). I, too, seem to be worse in the summer. I, too, have younger kids (8, 6, 6 now...4, 2, 2 when this started). I, too, was "convinced" I had cancer at one time -- throat cancer in my case, which turned out to be just some GERD issues. So, our stories are very similar. The abdominal pressure preceding the BFS symptoms is the part of your story that really struck me, as I've not heard of anyone else experiencing that. I've often wondered if there was a connection between that episode and the twitches, but I will probably never know for sure. In any case, I hope it helps you to know that there are others in the same situation. It may not help you to hear that I have crossed the three year mark and am still twitching. However, take comfort in the fact that those of us with more twitch-time are still here, and still doing reasonably well, for the most part. Control the anxiety and the rest takes care of itself one way or another, I think!
 
Andrew - I wondered if the abdominal pressure and twitching were related, but so far my pHD in Google Diagnosis hasn't connected the two ;) I am finding that this particular health issue is a hard one on the mind regarding anxiety...I keep thinking "what if.." Does alcohol make this worse? I hardly every drink, literally a handful of times a year, but I had a few drinks this weekend and the twitches seemed worse.I had a follow-up with my GP this morning, but she had to cancel due to a family emergency, so I will need to reschedule. I plan on letting her know th etwitches are still there, but no weakness or atrophy, and then I will let her decide what (if anything) should be done from there. If any thing, I am stronger in the last 3 or so weeks I have been twitching due to all the strength tests I have been performing on a daily basis. And, I can now do a handstand without having a wall to balance against...who knows, maybe BFS will lead me to a life performing in the circus :LOL: I hope everyone is doing well, and I so appreciate the feedback and support.
 
Holy God, I am jealous!!!!!!!!!!! I hardly can do this being an 18 years student!!!!!!!! (I mean handstands)!!!!Everything would be really OK. And do not drink - it really makes things worse. I got a bit yesterday - and feel like a wreck today...
 
Here is a small update on me. I returned to my GP one week ago today. I have now been twitching 6 weeks and 6 days as of today. I went in mainly as a follow-up to my anxiety as I was a big bag of crazy when I was there before convinced of ALS. My anxiety was under control at this appointment. GP did a clinical exam, reflexes, strength, etc...was completely normal. She did ask if I was still twitching, and I told her yes - sometimes all over. She advised that for my piece of mind, and because neurology is not a specialty of hers, she wants me to see a neurologist. She suspects that he will do a clinical exam and pronounce this as benign, but did say EMG is a possibility. This is where my anxiety sky-rockets. On one hand, I want the EMG to give me piece of mind, but on the other hand I will be frantic with worry on what the EMG might find. Can anyone tell me, is the EMG done by a doctor where he can give me results real-time, or will I have to wait, or does it vary? Also, after almost 7 weeks, wouldn't I (typically) hae weakness or other signs of ALS if this was the diagnosis? Thanks for all the feedback. I had been doing very well, thinking big deal, I twitch. But some how the 'bad' thoughts have creeped in and are trying to take root, and I trying like hell to not let that happen.
 
First of all, should you have ALS, your first symptome in 95% or so would be weakness, and only then twitches (there is small percent of that small percent who have ALS, for whom twitches were the first sign).I had my own EMG at about 6 weeks or 8 weeks after onset (can not remember exactly but definitely within 2 month), and my neuro actually sugested it just to see my baseline, I believe.there were very small regular dischrges on it, but generally I was cleared out of any motor unit damage. 6 weeks is enough to see if you have any plain denervation, for example, in case of neuritis or so. So generally you might calm yourself down and take EMG as a baseline check.regardsYulia
 
Yulisar,I'm slipping into my old habits and freaking out again. I went to the neuro and was diagnosed BFS with just a clinical exam and no emg. My twitching has been going on for almost 5 months. I read in your previous post that there is small percent that twitching is their first sign. Do you know how long you would have the twitching before the weakness set in to be diagnosed with ***? My right foot is where the twitching all started and now it feels really strange and I'm afraid the muscles in it are wasting away. I can still walk and run so I'm hoping that's a good sign. Any reassurance would be nice!Logan
 
Logan,In rare cases twitching is the first symptom an ALS victim might notice. That does NOT mean that clinical weakness was absent at onset of twitching. What this means is that even if twitching was what brought them the doctor, a clinical exam would reveal "red flags" (ie: clinical weakness) which would indicate possibility of MND. Morale of the story.....if your symptoms were due to MND like ALS, then your visit with the neuro would have went VERY different. If he looked you over and gave you benign diagnosis, then that's the end of story. Also keep in mind that REAL victims of ALS don't experience symptoms as you described... "feels really strange". Real victims go about their days feeling completely normal except something no longer functions correctly due to weakness, but the affected area "feels normal". So everytime you feel weak, shakey, fatigued, tired, etc. etc......remind yourself that this isn't what ALS victims experience.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top