Fasciculations: Benign or a Worry?

Highlights Only
D

DonJose

Well-known member
Hi all, I just got back from my GP appt. We discussed the fasciculation issue...of course. He told me he believes almost all fascis to be benign. He has practiced medicine for 20 years and he said he has never seen an **S patient present with fasciculations. He said **S patients have much bigger issues to worry about. He told me to scratch it off my list of worries. All good stuff right? Then why don't I feel better? I asked him about BFS specifically and he reverted back to the fascics by themselves are benign and almost everyone has them. I said I am starting to have "health anxiety" issues. He did not say I need to see a shrink, but I felt it was kind of implied. I really like my doctor but he is not one to offer up anxiety meds. I am wondering if I should make an appt. with a shrink and get on something for my anxiety or should i keep pressing the **S issue and go see a neurologist? The GP didn't even want to see me back again for the fasiculations...only for my autoimmune thyroid problem...and not for 6 months. His last words to me were have a nice summer and stop worrying.What would you guys do?Linda
 
Hi Guy and DD, thanks for your posts. yes, of course you are right...I need to stop worrying and have a nice summer. Just not sure how to do that.And DD, yes, I have been pursuing the autoimmune thyroid for months. All you can do is treat the symptoms and take synthroid...or whichever thyroid replacement they put you on. My thyroid levels are now pretty good...first time since September. So, I might feel better as my body heals from all the ups and downs from that. I had been swinging hyper to hypo and that is hard on your system.I guess what bugged me today, is the GP didn't really recognize the twitching as being part of a syndrome. I know some neuros don't either. It just made me frustrated, even though he did say it was benign, he didn't recognize BFS.Thanks for the responses. it helps.Linda
 
Linda:I'm about in the same boat you're in right now. GP doesn't think much of them, did all physical neuro exams and all check out, says they're benign and nothing to worry about. It's just the persistence of the fascis's and random nature that keep my mind wandering ...I too wonder whether or not it's worth it to go to a neuro or just try and wait this thing out or learn to love with it. Personally, I think some counseling may not be a bad idea at all (I have health anxiety also and now with these issues), it doesn't hurt. My two cents ...
 
Well you can pay your GP a little money to say twitching is benign and brush them off as non-important. Or pay 3x as much for a neuro to say the same exact thing. :confused: All been there.DD
 
Hey 17 Live and DD. Yes, I know the neuro would be more expensive than the GP, and I am thinking like DD, i might be better off getting some counselling for the health anxiety. I have had this for awhile with other diseases too and really need to get a grip on it.Thanks for the posts.Linda
 
Hey Linda, I just saw my psych yesterday and I don't regret one bit having gone to one. I asked him yesterday if after twitching for 6 months, shouldn't I see some obvious things going on. He told me that while I wouldn't be just like totally incapacitated, I would definitely have some difficult in function and I just don't. From what I have gathered, neuros are not the most empathetic drs in the medical system (I know some of you have seen exceptions). I kinda think that it may actually cause me more anxiety, especially if I didn't get the care I felt like I needed.Just my thoughtsCindy
 
Hi Cindy, I am pretty much like you...thinking the neuro could cause me even more anxiety. Is the psychhelping you with your anxiety? I need to get the anxiety under control and I think my symptoms would be much improved. And to be honest, if it isn't **S I am worrying about it will be MS or cancer or something else. So, I truly think I need to tackle the root of the problem and that is why I thought some counselling for the health anxiety would be better maybe?Thanks for responding Cindy :)Linda
 
Hey Linda - You are okay. Take it from me - it is your thyroid - you are just like me, Hashimoto's can cause all of the twitching, etc. You also have a high anxiety level, as I do too, which will aggreviate all of your symptoms.I just had an appt with the *** clinic, and I am feeling a lot better, as my thyroid has finally stablized for the first time in a year - YEAH! But, who knows next month it can go wacko again, and I will be here crying over some new symptom that has developed.I can tell you if you go to see a neurologist, they will tell you it is BFS - not MS or *** - and I promise you that!! I have been where you are, and I know that maybe it will take for you to go and see a neurologist to help clear your mind of it being anything sinister - but it is NOT - I promise!Karin
 
Hey karin, i am so happy to see your post! You have been on my mind and when I didn't see you on the thyroid forum, I was wondering how you were doing?Please e-mail me or PM me and tell me about your most recent visit. and how your symptoms are now. I do think my symptoms are thyroid related due to the hashi's. My twitching is much much better, but now I have muscle pain like fibromyalgia...moslty in my shouder. It comes and goes and drives me nuts. It is a burning pain. Do you have any pains like these. I know muscle pain is very common with Hashi's. Hope to hear from you. Would love to chat.Linda
 
I think they all think it is benign and then some call it that and others bfs depending on weather they know it or not. The problem with only calling it benign and not bfs is that then your only talking about the fasc. not the pain, buzzing etc which is supposed to be part of bfs. That's why I would like to get the bfs. diagnose instead of only normal fasc. bc. It would be nice be diagnosed with soemthing which includes the pain as well. I do think your problem is caused by thyroid maybe by thyroid it self or maybe the thyroid tricked bfs. So you actually have some kind of cause for your symptoms( wish I had). It would be strange to get *** at the same time as thyroid. I would also advise you to try to get that under control and then some anxiety control as well. A neuro would proberbly not tell you anything new, but if an EMG is what you need to relax then it is a good idea. I haven't had an EMG, but would like to just to take the last 1% of fear away, it is just not possible to decide that myself in Denmark. The good news is time is working for us all :D)
 

Users who are viewing this thread

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