Health and Worries of a 38 Year Old

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swiftguru88

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Guys,I'm 38, married with 3 children. I work as a designer and work 60+ hour weeks almost always. I'm also somewhat overweight and I can say that I'm really prone to worrying about my health as demonstrated over the past few months. Could you all look over this and give me your opinions.I've been REALLY afraid and paranoid of ALS but read further... I think i'm mostly over these fears of ALS now but the anxiety still waits around the corner to come back.I've seen two neurologist's who did full neurological exams and said they felt no reason to run an EMG based on their observations. They both spent more then a half-hour with me and my wife (who went with me for moral support) and asked me a TON of questions. One neuro I saw right after the twitching came back in 3rd week of November. Second one I saw last week. I was scheduled for an Nerve Conductivity Test but as he was putting the electrodes on he started asking me questions because he could see I've been concerned and then he said "I don't think we have to do this test". These are two neurologists that I've seen at two different offices and both have been recommended to me... the latter by my family practitioner who is also aware of my complaints. I've had full blood-screens run about a month ago... all clean, including thyroid.I have had restless leg off and on for several years now, not facilations but just a feeling of restlessness. I had been taking simply one "health" supplement that had a slight amount of caffeine in, certainly less then the heavy-duty stuff, and it was working great. I had cycled off of it in august and the day after my throat went tight... it did not go away but got better or worse based on stress level. In September I cycled back on and the day I did I noticed, while working at the computer, my right thumb and index finger would twitch when in seeming positions of using the mouse. I was slightly worried but it went away.In November, the day after I cycled off of them again the same fingers started to REALLY twitch when in those exertion or primarily positions and have not totally gone away since then. It comes back in degrees and sometimes seemingly goes away all together for a week or so. Its primarily my right arm and I've noticed that when I worry or am uptight or my heart beats faster when I'm concerned the twitches or hand-shaking definitely gets worse. I noticed, again, when at the computer working or holding a book that sometimes my hands shake. It seems to happen noticeably when i'm uptight... even if I don't think I am.I've noticed the shaking slight shaking in both hands now when holding a book. When i'm totally at ease it goes away. I do not have any of this when totally at rest but it does seem "Positional". I have experienced what feels like the "Chills" down one side of my body when you would normally feel excited or moved emotionally... just rarely. I've had sporadic intermittent pains at the tips of my elbows and in my pads of my right hand and in the wrist slightly, arches of my feet and on the inner-sides of my knees... i'd say a decrease in those pains now but i've had them. I've noticed ONE twitch about a month ago in my right bicep and last night in my left bicep.Yes, being afraid of ALS or Parkinson's or MS I've got one of those little hand exercisers to compare strength. I have my dumbbells and have curled those to test... so dumb and paranoid I am. I have occasionally done that. I've noticed when I'm worrying or really uptight I have trouble typing with my thumb on the tiny little blackberry keys... work gave me that as my work phone and i'm used to iPhone. I can play piano just fine and type just fine. Everything gets worse with anxiety.The first neuro thought that this was probably just essential tremor or benign tremor of a light sort. My sister said that several years ago her right hand particularly would shake but left hand too when she was holding books or scripts. Both my mom, sister and several family members have fully-diagnosed Fibromyalgia.So, I've not had any EMG tests but I've seen two neurologists and my family practitioner. I've been to the ER twice, where I saw two ER doctors a rhumatologist and then, as I've stated, my family practitioner and two neurologists. They all say that this is anxiety or harmless tremors that many people get.Oh... we are also buying our first house and so that is stressful.So what do you guys think? Everything, if i stand back, points to BFS. I've had no noticeable weakness at all. Just weirdness and twitches and some pain but its intermittent and no consistency. When I get hand twitches they seem positional. Also, just another thought, when I initially was having the right-hand twitches for a few weeks, when I did the hand-exerciser for a day they got significantly worse.What are your thoughts... I'm just trying to get some peace-of-mind and know that i'm going to be ok. Thanks so much everyone!
 
Sounds like BFS to me. I can't tell you how many crazy symptoms I have had over the last 2 years. No wonder I thought I was dying. No really, try to calm down. Can I ask you if your doctor went ahead with the EMG or not?
 
You have nothing to worry about. And I can't do any better than your neuros who would have started testing you if they thought anything was up. Tremors are not a sign or symptom of ALS, my neuro told me. Any kind of exercise makes my twitches go wild, I went running about two hours ago and as I sit and type this now both calves are just going wild. Many people here can illicit their twitches with motions. Twitching in a flexed muscle is complete normal. Don't let your imagination get the best of you, you are OK. Good luck on buying your new house, Best Runningbear
 
Thanks guys... The Neurologist said we can do the test but his opinion was "You don't need the test and the tests when you don't need them will just make you feel worse". Yes I know I could say "I got peace of mind" but if I'm ignoring TWO neurologists which have examined me and said the same thing then I'm really being totally ignorant I think. So no test...
 
I think your first paragraph says a lot "...married, 3 kids, working 60 hrs a week" because that is like 3 full time jobs right there. How much do you think your system can stand before you start frying your nerves? How much can one person do without feeling like they are not accomplishing parts of it well? Sigh, if you look or ask you will find that most people here are either workaholics, perfectionists, people pleasers, or some sort of personality that over-stresses themselves. Many of us have had good results with simply learning how to relax and stop pushing so much. 'Stop trying to be the perfect whatever and realize that perfection is not all that it is cracked up to be' sounds OK but it is not as easy to do as to say as we are habitual creatures often driven by unknown impulses. But we all can change and that includes coping with bfs which seems to be where you are at now. Lots of little symptoms, with endless variation, we have either had or heard them all here. Just take it one thing at a time - people will respond to you and you will see how common this stuff actually is. Best of luck.
 
Hello,being a physician MD medicine doc,i feel u have nothing but bfs.You should trust ur neuros completely.You can get emg ncv study just 4 ur peace of mind not bcoz u will get some bad thing in it,trust me.I will advice u 2 cut down ur stress n learn to relax,you can do yoga n meditation .Clonazepam(antianxiety med) .5mg twice works nicely.Enjoy remaining life man n dont waste a second in thinking over this.....takecare n happy new year.baily.
 
You sound fine to me. I get the shaking hands/fingers almost exactly as you have described. It freaked me out but now I'm good with it. Listen to your neuros. They have seen a lot of cases like yours (and mine).
 
Guys,Could any of you tell me if you've experienced light pins and needles feelings on one side of your body. My twitches are barely noticeable anymore but they have been replaced by intermittent feeling of a kinda pins-and-needles feeling on the top of my right arm and upper right leg. I've been experiencing this in the past few days. Its PRIMARILY on the right side of my body where my twitches first started. I figured I'd ask because it gives me peace-of-mind to here others. Again, Only since I saw the last neuro have I been able to put MOST of my fears away about ALS or BAD things.
 
Pins and needles is very common with BFS. I get them to a degree every single day. As with most symptoms, you can get hot spots that change location and frequency (as you've already experienced with twitching). Also, realize that you are in a hypersensitive state which will intensify every twitch, pain, buzz, pin, needle, creeepy crawly, etc. So to answer your question, YES, I have experienced these and continue to experience these even after 5 years. I hardly notice them anymore.
 
Yes, I continue to get these even after most of my symptoms have subsided. Since movement often helps them to go away they must be linked to poor circulation. Sometimes I get them if I have pressure or tension in the area; like if I am wearing tighter than normal shoes I may get a painful nerve thing in my toe but if I take off the shoe it will go away, or if I've been sitting a while I get them in my hip, or if typing get them in my shoulder.....It is nothing to worry about especially if you can adjust and get them to go away. But yes they are annoying for sure. I've know people without bfs who have gotten them like electric feeling pains down the leg from sitting too much at their computers (muscle tightness causing sciatic-type pain).
 
Guys... Sorry for more questions... Had a bad day.Went to see my Family Practitioner today and asked him for a prescription for Zanex. I noticed my pinky vibrated twitching for about several seconds until I moved it out of a certain strained position... similar to the computer position. Also today while working the lower left pad muscle of my LEFT hand started to vibrate like that as well... I just had to move it and it stopped. Also in the bicep of that arm. Then down in both thighs and buns... OK... is this where that build up all of a sudden happens? I wasn't taking anything to manage anxiety so when i had the first twitch it just went up until I had the additional twitches and was going nuts....Primarily, other then wanting something to manage the stress wanted to follow up with my family dr on the neurologist whom he recommended. He said he's almost certain this is also the BFS, which he wasn't totally acquainted with but he thought, after I talked about it with him that he might have another patient with this.Just going nuts and you guys are so tremendous... again, all of you "JohnnyRocket" especially... I'm presuming as I've only recently developed this that this is the build up of the twitches all over the place. Hopefully zanex can keep it in tow without me going over the edge. Sorry for the blatant anxiety but you guys have already helped me quite a bit.... If you don't mind answering these few more questions as I experience newer things i'd appreciate it.
 
Hi, you sound like everyone else on this board! :) Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing - ha ha!I came to the Board today because it's been almost four (4!) years since this started for me and I haven't been back in a while, but wanted to check in and see how everyone is doing (hoping maybe there would no longer be a need for this board, but I know everyone who is here is so glad to have it!) I've noticed a few extra "flickers" lately and it made me think of this board.Really, I think you are fine. What I came to realize in my journey is that we all have a terminal condition called LIFE! Once we accept that and can move forward, things get easier. BFS will not kill you, but quite honestly, stress and worry will, and getting a handle on that, frankly regardless of what is or isn't "really" going on, needs to be your priority. I was quite surprised at the very real physical symptoms my own anxiety and fear wreaked on my body, and at the height of my own fear sought therapy because I realized I couldn't handle the fear, irrespective of whatever else might/not be going on. The excess adrenaline and other substances your body produces in response to that constant feeling of "fight or flight" have very real consequences and effects on the body - hence all these (seemingly) "other new symptoms" that are actually the body's response to stress.I'm not saying that everyone's twitching, jerking, vibrating, and pins-and-needles are caused by anxiety, but anxiety alone will definitely cause these symptoms. Been there!You have it on several good authorities that you are fine, and you are surrounded by all of us who are or have experienced the same thing. Please take comfort in those things and strive to make every day we are given a good one. :D)
 
my neuro couldn't spot the twitching but noticed i had tremor and more than likely anxiety led his term was 'it's in the acceptable limits and nothing to worry about'....occassionally fingers and toes do their own thing....kind of less worried about those symptoms than all the other symptoms...yours definitly sounds like BFS
 
The other night I had mentioned that for the first time I had noticed a twitch in my left hamstring that came and went. Then on friday night I noticed that my right thigh muscle was twitching regularly like a second clock hand for almost two hours.... HOWEVER, when i got out of the stressful situation it went away and has not returned. I've been loading up a bit on the Xanex... taking .5 twice a day. I've also had sporadic tight or sharp pains in my hands which I worry are cramps or such but when I"m REALLY relaxed I notice almost nothing. I have noticed that the parathesis or "light pins and needles" on the surface of my skin of arms and legs has kinda moved all over the place.Guys, I'm so thankful for you answering my questions but more here...BTW, I NEVER Notice ANY twitches while I"m sleeping at all. All the pains and such only start to show up after I've woke and been up for a little while. Wouldn't this totally point to a primary anxiety driven BFS? I would think if it were ALS or something serious that the twitches would just come whenever... sleep or not. The ticking deep twitches in my right leg scared the HELL out of me because i tried moving and such and I couldn't make them go away. It wasn't until I got out of that meeting and relaxed that they did disappear. Again... anxiety and stress driven.I HATE THIS STUFF... IT scares me so much! Any additional comments to the flood of help you've already provided are very welcome.
 
You have pretty much answered your own questions. Anxiety is your biggest demon and will fuel the BFS like nitro fuels a drag car! Reduce the anxiety, reduce the symptoms.I think you also need to move away from the continual self examination and thoughts of you having a nasty, that is not the case. As a Dr said to me once nasties generally dont come and go they are there all the time! And you have confirmed that will your comment about sleeping.I get all of what you get, but being able to control the anxiety ( which I cant always do I will admit) has reduced symptoms big time. Lexapro(an AD) has helped me with that , changing the way I look at things and not worrying as much.things will get better, it just takes some time.I know it isn't easy, After 13months I am still getting good and bad days, the thing is there is more good days. Mental approach will and does afffect physical issues- that is what you need to change.take careRodger
 
Thanks all for your comments and I know your trying to help. I feel comforted when I ask questions and hear feedback because it certainly takes me away from the BIG fears. My facs and have been picking up steam, as has the tingling. It will be on one whole side of my body one day (leg,arm combo) then on the other side of my body. No weakness but little pangs of intermittent pain or sharp jabs of pain in arch of foot or in arm or shoulder. They are really bouncing around now from one leg to another, one arm to another as well as the pain.Nothing at all at night, nothing that wakes me up... they actually subside as I get closer to sleep. AHHHH, I presume that's the whole thing again with the anxiety and stress.Is this really normal with BFS, its so weird but the thing I hate is, as you said aussie, is that when i concentrate on it the day gets FAR worse with more twitches and such. I sometimes wish I could get a solid diagnosis but i'm living with trying to accept that this is BFS perhaps with some Fibro. Anyhow... If anyone has any thoughts they would be greatly appreciated. I've been having twitches all up and down each leg and in each forearm and hand or finger but they are all over the place... never corresponding. This BFS is very odd but it certainly doesn't follow ANY continuity to anything i've read about ALS... THANK GOD! YES... caffine does NOT HELP.... YES... xanex does help.Guys... its very emotional for me because I'm just that type of guy but yeah I really worry about this crap but I truly appreciate all your comments!
 
Hi Tenebre, guess who. Its twitchertoo from the other forum but now I am twitcherx on this one because I messed up my request for twitchertoo.I found this by chance looking for info on twitching too. Looks like we are in the same boat as far as letting it go. I suspect you extra symptoms are the result of the anxiety that was triggered from the original problem. I had all sorts of odd symptoms after I went over the deep end. I am much better and most of those are all gone but still focused on the first issue I can not seem to get to go away.That is the issue where my index finger twitches side to side with usage. Not sure if I have BFS or just anxiety and some issue with my finger which the nuerologist called a movement disorder which is very vague and the next step if I want it would be a MRI of the spinal area and brain which I am not sure I really want to do. We agreed to wait six more weeks before deciding what to do since it has not gotten worse in the past five months. I also suspect anxiety will cause your weak points to show the issues first. That is the extra tingling, twitching.If you want to compare notes, let me know. We could figure something via a PM message since we seem to be in the same boat and need to get past it.
 
Guys... Could you give me a little more info about what you've experienced. I hate asking these questions but I can't get over this dang fear of ALS. Again, my twitches started in my right hand then moved all over the place noticeably within a month. Calf's, Both arms and hands, Both Legs and pelvis... It gets aggravated by stress and when I have a bit of a relaxing time it all but seems to go away. I don't think I've had any weakness at all but when I get things like the sporadic pains in weird areas like ankles and elbows or shoulders... where some of it is achy pain that lasts on right shoulder and right thigh... then jumps over to left shoulder and left thigh I feel like i'm going nuts.This certainly doesn't sound like ALS at all and sounds like everything you guys have said about BFS...Today I noticed a several hour pain in my left calf and then traveling up to my left hamstring. I didn't injure myself or anything else but It felt kinda like a cramp but not in the whole muscle. Is this the kinda thing that some of you have experienced... it subsided much more over a few hours but I was just wondering if this is common with BFS. I also hate the obsession with ALS. Heck, I was almost to the point of having myself over the ALS scare and then I get a pain like this.Can anyone comment... I really apologize to you guys but I'm just looking for a little assurance... the more I learn about this condition the less I come back to the boards obsessing.Thanks!!!! :(
 
Yes, I have those phantom pains, all the time. I understand your concern, fear and obsession, it will get to the point where you will just realize how irrational it has become and you will put it behind you, or most of it behind you, you sound pretty close. Best wishes, RB
 
guys...The stress got to me so I finally opted to demand my family prac finally get me to have an EMG. His guy which he keeps recommending was very dismissive but he gave it to me only in my right arm... he wouldn't do my left arm or anything else. My question is the EMG something they will test over your body? My twitches all started in my index finger and thumb. He did the NCV then the EMG but it felt like he was just rushing through it. He gave me an all clear but I really felt like it was all really rushed... all of 15 minutes and he took a call on his cell during that.My twitches have all but subsided but now i'm starting to have stiffness in pain in my index finger. Now this is scaring the hell out of me and I dont' remember hurting it. Any thoughts on the EMG and I've heard that its best to find the most reliable doc to do the EMG. I live in an area known in Los Angeles for having the reject specialists. Any thoughts would be appreciated and thank you all for sharing and trying to give me a boost. I'd like to believe this crap is just BFS and anxiety...
 

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