Hi there,
I've had all your symptoms, including the nocturnal breathing issues, twitches under the rib cage, AND perceived weakness in my diaphragm. I remember going through a long period where I couldn't bear down or hold my breath at all. I especially remember it when I had a spinal tap, because the radiologist kept telling me to bear down and try to push out my spinal fluid, and I almost passed out because I had such little strength I started to hyperventilate. That, plus swallowing issues, weakness of the neck, drooling, tremors, you-name-it, and I was right where you are, fearing the worst.
Like you, I had all negative diagnostic testing, but because I FELT so dreadfully I just couldn't bring myself to believe the good doctors who were trying to convince me I wasn't dying.
But here I am, more than a year later, and I'm doing great. I practically never even twitch now, and I attribute it to getting the anxiety under control.
I say this all the time (so forgive me if you've heard it and I'm repeating myself-it comes with old age, lol) but your body was never intended to be in "fight or flight" mode 24/7/365. When there is a legitimate threat on our lives, our heart rate and respirations increase, we sweat perfusely, our digestive system shuts down, our awareness heightens, etc, and this enables us to tackle whatever threat has come our way. But ultimately, the body needs to go back to normal, and if it doesn't, it starts to throw in the towel. First the immune system goes, then the nervous system, digestive system, etc. follows. Tell your body that it is in danger, and it will behave accordingly.
You have absolutely nothing to fear. You are healthy, whole, and well, but you've been telling your body otherwise and it is trying its best to obey its master.
Start meditating on what you know to be true...that your doctors have pronounced you healthy, that your tests have been negative, that it is too long to have symptoms without disease progression, that you are perfectly strong. Then, don't allow any lying thought to enter your consciousness. I always suggest speaking to the negative thoughts as if they are coming from a real live enemy, someone who wants more than anything to steal your peace. I literally used to have arguments with myself, but always made sure that I won, lol.
It may take a few months of this before your body reverses itself and gets back to normal, but it will. You've been at this for quite some time, so be patient with yourself, and allow yourself to heal.
I hope and pray that this helps....
Blessings,
Sue
I've had all your symptoms, including the nocturnal breathing issues, twitches under the rib cage, AND perceived weakness in my diaphragm. I remember going through a long period where I couldn't bear down or hold my breath at all. I especially remember it when I had a spinal tap, because the radiologist kept telling me to bear down and try to push out my spinal fluid, and I almost passed out because I had such little strength I started to hyperventilate. That, plus swallowing issues, weakness of the neck, drooling, tremors, you-name-it, and I was right where you are, fearing the worst.
Like you, I had all negative diagnostic testing, but because I FELT so dreadfully I just couldn't bring myself to believe the good doctors who were trying to convince me I wasn't dying.
But here I am, more than a year later, and I'm doing great. I practically never even twitch now, and I attribute it to getting the anxiety under control.
I say this all the time (so forgive me if you've heard it and I'm repeating myself-it comes with old age, lol) but your body was never intended to be in "fight or flight" mode 24/7/365. When there is a legitimate threat on our lives, our heart rate and respirations increase, we sweat perfusely, our digestive system shuts down, our awareness heightens, etc, and this enables us to tackle whatever threat has come our way. But ultimately, the body needs to go back to normal, and if it doesn't, it starts to throw in the towel. First the immune system goes, then the nervous system, digestive system, etc. follows. Tell your body that it is in danger, and it will behave accordingly.
You have absolutely nothing to fear. You are healthy, whole, and well, but you've been telling your body otherwise and it is trying its best to obey its master.
Start meditating on what you know to be true...that your doctors have pronounced you healthy, that your tests have been negative, that it is too long to have symptoms without disease progression, that you are perfectly strong. Then, don't allow any lying thought to enter your consciousness. I always suggest speaking to the negative thoughts as if they are coming from a real live enemy, someone who wants more than anything to steal your peace. I literally used to have arguments with myself, but always made sure that I won, lol.
It may take a few months of this before your body reverses itself and gets back to normal, but it will. You've been at this for quite some time, so be patient with yourself, and allow yourself to heal.
I hope and pray that this helps....
Blessings,
Sue