Navigating Health Anxiety After Cancer Scare

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DesiredLife321

Well-known member
Hello everyoneI am glad to have stumbled across this site as it may apply to me.I have health anxiety triggered by a cancer SCARE last year. I've convinced myself that I have a different illnesses and currently an overwhelming fear of ALS!!!This recent fear has cause a near breakdown for me.I am now trying to get my mind to consider that it's not ALS and may be BFS. I know that no one here can diagnose me but you may be able to comment on my symptoms, which I would really appreciate!I started by having a wet feeling on my left leg in a particular spot. It was a bit like it being numb but it wasn't numb to touch. I then got little flutters if a burning sensation again on this leg. It has now started to occur on my left arm.I initially thought MS.I have since noticed twitches and these are widespread and can last for seconds so I don't always know if I can see them as well as feel them.Last week I was sat still and noticed my foot arch was twitching crazily. This then created an overwhelming fear. It still twitches crazy and even under my foot!?! As it is now, I went to the GP and they feel my anxiety requires treatment before looking at anything else. I have been started on antidepressants. They said that all my symptoms could be anxiety!I still notice twitches ALOT and this can be when still for a short period of time. Mainly left foot but also anywhere.I have no actual weakness as done my little tests. Although my calf can get tight after walking. I also believe I have a bigger dent in one foot than the other.I can get feelings where my fingers and toes feel spongy (strange.) Can anyone see any similarities with me and you?Thank you allPs I'm female, British, 29, married, two children.
 
Forgot to addI also get a vibrating tingle feeling in left shoulder blade. Intermittent and may it may not be related.Mostly left side affected with all this x
 
Every person with BFS thinks they have ALS at first. They don't. No one has ever had ALS. Don't worry, that is just a stage you will pass through until you mentally accept the fact that you don't have any actual weakness. Because that is really all that matters in the long run. Twitches in and of themselves mean nothing. And don't get wrapped up in the whole "... well in MY case it's different because I have more than twitches" because every single other person here has had more than twitches, and every single other person here has also they thought they would be the exception.Here is a spoiler. You aren't the exception, and you aren't going to be the exception. No one here is that special. I know you are going to throw a ton of rebuttals out about this (because BFS newbies always do) but trust me, you hang around this site long enough you realize that no one ever has anything seriously wrong with them. You see the exact same stories hundreds and hundreds of times, you hear the exact same denials over and over, the only thing that ever changes is the name and the date. In your case, I have seen your exact post hundreds of times before, and I can save you a lot of stress and worry by spoiling the ending for you. You have nerve weirdness and nerve sensation and twitches, and it has nothing to do with ALS. ALS isn't more nerve activity, it is less nerve activity. ALS is actually the -opposite- of BFS. You are going to be just fine in the long run, because nerve weirdness is benign and it means absolutely nothing and any doctor or BFS old timer will be able to tell you that. It just might take a while for you to accept that. Just like it did for any of us.For a quick rundown of all the answers to your BFS questions, just see my FAQ listed below. That pretty much sums up every single case of BFS I have ever seen on this board in more than ten years.P.S. Stop doing all the little strength tests. All they are doing is overtaxing your muscles. ie you make your muscles tired, so they get even more crazy, and then you just repeat the cycle and get stuck in an endless loop. The minute you stop all the little strength tests is the day you start dealing with BFS productively.
 
Thank you for taking the time to reply. It's just freaky and scary to see them. Especially my arch of foot as when it starts it constant ripple. It comes quite quickly when held my foot in on place. I feel the toggles then see the ripples. Still BFS? Think I've got OCD as constantly each my feet to see it do it :(
 
Sad face, read my posts - I'm older than you but married with 2 young kids. I have had huge health anxiety in the last 18 months brought on by the death of my mum from cancer and having to sort out my father / fallout from that plus he's now living with us. It's been a nightmare so much so I've been off work for a year. (Going back in January). I could list all the things I think I've had and all the investigations. Did have a cancer scare too (ovary) but now all fine and op a month ago. It was a benign tumour. Then the twitches started. 9 months and still going. Focus switched to als and since then been in a bit of a hole. But I've been to see my neuro twice and he's given me the all clear.What I'm trying to say is that anxiety can definitely cause these symptoms. I've had buzzing. Numbness, tingling, fire and I e feelings. I've self tested until I'm exhausted and got myself into a right tizzy. (Read the rnd of the still not convinced thread if you want a bit of a laugh). Stay on this forum, don't google and keep your chin up . Xxx
 
sad face my symtoms are the same as yours! mine started with the wet water sensations on my skin,but i had if different parts of my body but mostly mt legs,i also thought ms but had an mri which was normal,and like you the twitching started,i got the twitching everywhere and in the arch of my foot also.all all this started 7 months ago,been to see neurologist who said it was bfs.please dont be worrying about this,if you have no weakness you are fine...i barely twitch the last few weeks,still get the odd water droplet sensation.remember also,what we have are sensory disturbances,known to be linked to bfs...a** dose NOT affect sensory nerves,take care xx
 
Thanks english, I will read your posts: thanks in advance. Health anxiety has ruined the first year of my youngests life due to preoccupation with my health. I don't know if I want to go to a neurologist as it will be another test to worry about etc. But that part of me always thinks "well maybe this time I'm right" Argh
 
I am new myself. I think having the EMG/Nerve conduction tests were good for me to have because it gave me the reassurance my brain needed that it wasn't ALS. Has my anxiety left yet? No. I am working on that & it is going to be a long road for me personally because I haven't accepted this twitching & still worry about it. But, I at least have lost the terrible fear of ALS. My focus now is reducing anxiety & focusing on my health, which is something I stopped doing a couple years ago when we had a major life change. I think I have gotten caught up in a vicious cycle. My advice is to see the doctor if it will help you, have the tests if it will help you, etc. do what you need to do to move on. I will try to do the same. :D)
 
All I can tell you is that I have very similar symptoms (in terms of twitches, especially the arches of feet) and have been through the whole process (GP, neuro, EMG, neuro 2) and have been officially diagnosed with BFS. After 9 months I have no other symptoms and have pretty much put it out of my mind. Anything nasty really is the very, very, very rare exception to the rule.Actually, there is even better news than that...There is a research paper that show that people with a history of anxiety, and especially those with preoccupation with somatic symptoms, (would it be impolite if I asked if this rang any bells?!) have an EVEN lower chance of having anything nasty.GlowGreen
 
I think having the test may (if negative) put my mind at rest BUT I may then doubt it, ask for second opinion, ask for other tests etc. I'm not sure if this will fuel my anxiety If that makes sense. I'd have to get past the doctor first, and she's not in a rush yet. Do any if you 'think' you have atrophy? Does your twitches have particular patterns if when they appear? I do have anxiety, do have health anxiety, I have a stressful job/life so possibly us this.Do your partners understand your fears? My husband doesn't as he has no mental health worries. I think I drive him and though
 
i didnt get an emg,neuro thought i didnt need one.im having strange feelings in my left arm lately with pain so my gp has referred me back to neuro but its just for reassurance.ive stopped the self testing too like many have said here its pointless.my husband thinks ive lost the plot he dosent understand but then again hes not an anxious person where im a hypercondriac! like you i have found it hard to enjoy my children,my youngest is 8 months old now and ive been so caught up in all this since his been born.ive promised myself to put all this behind me...trying to be positive and stop worrying...i know its easier said than done x
 
We are very similar in that then grapepie! Makes me sad :( I think my doctor is putting of neuro until I can get through a GP appointment without crying :-/ I just think "if only I never googled I wouldn't be like this." I prob would have thought nothing of twitches at all. Now I spend my days so conscious about them. Bubbles have you had diagnosis of anything apart from bfs from neurologist? Which dude is effected? I'm thinking (and maybe sane with you,) that the side we hold the babies on May have touched a nerve!?
 
the neuro hinted that i have anxiety and suggested i am stressed out with having 2 small kidsi had a c section and at first i was convinced it was something to do with the spinal block i had,however gp said that would not cause twitches in upper body ie..eyes.i understand howscared you are sadface..been on this site has realy helped me seeing everyone else with similar stories...
 
Yeah I bet it has. It's making me feel less alone, although I haven't been diagnoise with bfs or anything else other than anxiety! It's crazy how your body works and your mind works. I seem to be able to start the feet twitches just by crossing my legs or keeping my foot still. Others are random pops. 2nd day in antidepressants so hoping it will start to chill me out a little
 
i still get random pops here and there but no on going ones like before!i had left thumb twitch for 2 weeks non stop...i was in a state of panic and worry,most of my twitches were on my left side too which realy scared meits true our minds can do these things to us! i hope you feel better soon love,i know you will,chin up x
 
I would love to take my own advice here but please calm down... I had a bout of this fear 4 years ago with chin twitches for months and all over the body too but it all passed... Roughly 4 years later and now two kids one of which is 5 weeks old and my tongue is twitching and once I started to worry about that I got them everywhere !! I can see most and feel most but I get buzzes like my phone is vibrating but it's not, I get twitches I can see and can't feel too ... It's the lot !! Arches of feet, calves, thighs, stomach, face, tongue, eye, arms basically everywhere all the time to varying degrees ! Given that I've been here before with my chin I should be calm but as a hypochondriac and generally anxious person I fear the worst and stress about it !! I take much comfort in hearing from other people with this condition most of who suffer from health anxiety and stress which means we are all very similar !I have been to the doc who said its BFS but recommended I visit a neurologist to be safe, I seen the neurologist the next day and he gave me a full examination and said BFS and he doesn't think it warrants sending me for an emg either ... These people have trained and practiced their professions for years and I have to believe in their judgment ! I'm 34 M with health anxiety and I have had that most of my life, I found that diazapam has helped calm me but I'm only going to take it for 2 weeks.. 5mg.. It was a big step taking this medication as I don't even take a tablet for a headache never mind this but I advise to do what help you mentally as quite often that's where the problem and solution lies.. I believe this and I am also on that journey to get better mentally and hopefully that will be the end of my worries.. Good luck..
 
I have been twice to same neuro (expert in MND) works with a bunch of top UK bids on an MND committee etc and had said no to EMG - only if I want it to make me feel better not because I clinically need it. That's good enough for me. At some point you have to say enough is enough.Ps my GP has not once referred me in 9 months to a neuro - I paid and went privately (2x) and I have told the neuro not to let my GP know this. How crazy is that. I was on escitalopram which I'm sure made twitching worse even though its not supposed to make you twitch but I'm off that now. I'm seeing a psychiatrist at the Maudsley (I'm lucky to live near there as it really has been great). But it's a long old process this anxiety thing.
 
How much is the membership for the anxiety centre?I know the difference between perceived and actual weakness, but my concern is that my perceived weaker arm and leg may be slowly turning into actual weakness as it's not getting better.
 
Thanks for the tip. It's good to use a lot of different resources. Sad face i don't know where you live but if you are anxious (and you sound like you are) try and get a GP referral to a psychiatrist.It may take a while but worth it. In the meantime ask about CBT which is what my GP referred me to 1st. It is effective at controlling anxiety and is often all you need to get better. It's all free. There are some test techniques i learned about postponing worry etc but the problem with me i was so over anxious by then it was not as effective as it should have been. For me my anxiety has been forever and was kick started after the birth of my 1st child 8 years ago. There are some really complex issues and only these can be unpicked by a professional who has been trained.My twitching started over night and soon was bodywide with hotspots in calves and eyes. My eyes had a mind if their own but when I mentioned eyes my neuro was not in the least bit interested - he said they don't count clinically in an evaluation of MND! So stop worrying about those ones. As for the others, try not to think about them (easier said than done) but in the last few days I've been so busy i have stopped thinking about them and they are way better. The way my neuro explained it was that my nerves are so hyper excited because of all the anxiety chemicals they keep misfiring.Xx
 

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