My Twitching History: Causes and SSRI?

[vera]

To answer your question, I do think the SSRI helped in that way. Let me give you a little history of how my twitching began.

There were MANY things going on in my life just prior to my twitching. My Mom was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer in June '01, mother-in-law diagnosed with Leukemia July '01, then came 9/11, anthrax, lots of worry (I obsessed over my health a lot during this time), I had a flu shot in November. I probably had a weakened immune system due to worry and stress, and then I developed a really weird flu type illness in December that lasted on and off for about 2-3 months with diareaah, cold symptoms and burning muscle pains. I took antibiotics for it, and I also started on Thyroid medication at the same time. I then got a really painfull stiff neck during this period and went to a chiropractor the same week my twitching began (March '02). So, I was absolutly NOT SURE which one thing could have caused it, or if it was a combination of everything.

I have had severe stress and anxiety in my life before, but the twitching had never reared it's ugly head. So I was CERTAIN it had to be a reaction to something else.

Others have posted before that we may never know the cause. And I am still not sure of what caused it for me. (Nor do I care anymore) But I believe anxiety was MY "trigger" and once I stopped obsessing over the twitching, (by taking meds) it went away. For me it was a chemical imbalance, and I will NEVER go off of the medicine because I never want to feel that way again!

Many refute the "anxiety" theory and say that if it were true, everyone in a highly stressful situation (like war, for example), would be twitching away. Not true. Not everyone who smokes gets cancer and not all people who eat a lot get fat. Everyone is different. I am only saying it worked for ME.

Kim

 

[dravidfanatic]

That's what I mean...you did have more than anxiety going on. There was a viral illness present. I am familiar with a BFSer that also came down with it after the flu vaccine. DRs don't know what causes BFS, or how to cure it, so they often settle on "it must be in your head," but I don't buy that in all cases.

Interesting to me is this...why did the Dr pick an SSRI instead of the milder drug, Klonopin?? The reason I ask is that another BFSer "cured" used an SSRI. I don't know of anyone cured using Klonopin or neurontin.

Thanks,
tacketr

 

[vera]

Who am I to question why? All I know is it worked for me and I am happy as hell to take it!

The virus could have weakened your immune system, and you were already aware that you were feeling ill (from the flu and vaccine) and you could have been becoming hypersensative to your Body's inner workings. Then once you noticed the twitching, you could have sub-consiously thought (or worried) that your twitching may have been something more sinister. Which could have lead to some anxiety about the twitching/side effects of the vaccine and then started this visious cycle.

Anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and the like, all vary in severity for people. Some people don't even realize they have it. But each of these disorders are treated with the same drugs. I wasn't crazy. I have a normal life with a great husband and kids, a great job and house. For years before the "crap hit the fan" in '01 and before the twitching started, I had anxiety on and off for no apparant reasons. It's a chemical imbalance. I look at it just like if it were someone having diabetes. They need insulin, I need Zoloft.

Kim