UK Resident's Long Virus Battle

[Mystman00]

Hi i'm Gaz i'm 23 and from the UK.Basically in July i got a virus and it lasted for nearly a month! I started to worry as it was taking so long to go away, and i developed alot of anxiety, and i admit i was suffering from high anxiety for a while, fter a couple of months it started to calm down, I now feel i am anxiety free but i'm left with twitches everywhere!!!I of course fell into the google trap and it came up with the usual ALS /MND / MS / Lyme etc so ofcourse i was extremely worried and my twitches seemed to get alot lot worse, they're everywhere, when i type my fingers and thumb will sometimes twitch, my forearm will twitch which makes my fingers twitch, i twitch on my neck and back when i cough, twitches literally from head to toe, some times just bumps, sometimes it feels like a shudder, sometimes but mostly it is just the 1 bump like someone is poking me then it'll move somewhere else in quick succession.The thing is my doctor has said it is just anxiety and that it can't be BFS because he couldn't make them happen when he tapped my various body parts?? is this true? He has now sent me to a neurologist for peace of mind but honestly thinks there is nothing wrong as i've been twitching for about 3 months, had a few basic reflex tests and loads of blood tests and other physicals and i haven't got any other symptoms other than internal vibrations every now and again.Only problem now is i've developed this uncomfortable swallowing sensation like there is really thick mucus in my throat, like a ball or lump which i believe is called globus?? it comes and goes too so i think thats a good sign too.I'm dreading the neuro appointment in 2 weeks but i'm hoping being only 23 i won't have that horrible disease Basically what does everyone here think?Edit** I also forgot to add that i get very mild cramp like pain in mainly my right bicep but it does occur in both and in my thighs too

 

[MarioMasher]

Whether it is anxiety or BFS is pretty much irrelevant. They are basically the exact same thing. Anything that comes and goes (like your throat sensation) and moves around (like the quick succession twitches) is pretty much guaranteed to be benign. It might suck when your symptoms get bad, but rest assured that that's all it is. Nothing you have is going to hurt you. It's amazing the kinds of things that viruses can mess with in your nervous system.

 

[simonw00]

Hi GazYour doctor tried to bring on the twitching (fasciculation) by tapping the muscles - this can sometimes provoke fasciculation but not always. The fact that tapping the muscles didn't produce the fascicualtion doesn't rule out BFS in my opinion. Your symptoms so completely consistent with BFS that I am sure you don't need to worry over the next 2 weeks, while waiting for your neurology appointment ;1. You are very young2. You have no weakness3. Your symptoms were triggered by a virus4. Your fasciculation is all over5. The fasciculation is strong and easy to feelAll these things in my book point to a benign problem and I am optimistic that your neurology visit will bring peace of mind.Your doctor did mention that anxiety caused your trouble - I would say that the anxiety is certainky cintributing and making the symptoms a lot worse than they otherwise might be.Kind regardsSimon

 

[bfhopeful2]

Sounds a lot like me. I have had it for eight months and it has not progressed. I had all the neuro tests. Going back on Dec 22 for a kind of final final exam. I have been diagnosed with bfs and they could not solicit twitches when tapping either. Kind of funny, but in the neuro's office they hardly ever show their face.

 

[Smiley20]

hi gaz,my neuro also tried to provoce fascics by tapping my calves and thighs- with no success.... still her diagnose was benign fasciculations.i live in Emilyomousey and there are some articles on the internet here saying it is not a good sign when you can cause twitching by tapping. it makes people freak out, they start to tap ( or even hammer on) their muscles all the time and if you do this often enough your muscles will actually twitch...anyway, it is not true that twitches provoced by tapping point to something sinister, i asked my neuro about it. it is just like simon said, sometimes you can provoce them but that doesn´t lead to any diagnose at all.many many peolpe here had that globus sensation you describe- it is part of bfs and it will go away!!!

 

[FantasticFurball]

Tapping?Never heard of it before. Is this just another thing, we should worry about? Well, I guess its just one of thousand other things... I really dont care anymore... If this is not benign, we are soooo doomed anyway, so new symptoms or tests really doesnt matter... Its like being a hero in a movie in impossible situations when new things just add up and makes the odds even more sinister... I simply refuse to tap my muscles. Like I refuse to go to anymore testing. Im done with this crap. If its evil, itll eat me - if not - well, them Im just being lucky (for once).

 

[Mystman00]

Thankyou all for your kind replies, this stuff sure is freaky, and having read this great forum i can see alot of similarities, between myself and other people on here regarding the twitches, the strength tests, the anxiety etc, i feel alot more positive about my neuro appointment now Thanks to you people and this great site )

 

[Mystman00]

Er, 1 week tomorrow till neuro I have a question tho, i seem to have developed a "new twitch" it's on the outside of my foot and it's a kind of bubbling feeling and it seems to be twitching loads, like for a good 10-15 minutes then it'll stop for a while- maybe an hour or 2 with a few twitches inbetween, but then my little toe seems to feel fuzzy like very mild pins and needles... gulp.... normal? anyone had similar, sorry for my nooby posts, this stuff keeps getting to me.

 

[Krackersones]

What you describe is so typical of what I have and then some. Neuro appointments almost always bring some additional anxiety, but it will soon be over. I hope your doctor has a great bedside manner, takes your concerns seriously, and addresses those concerns in a knowledgeable and reassuring manner. If you get anything less than that, this board is always here to help you as well. If you are in serious discomfort make sure you are clear about this and ask for symptom relief. If you are not in serious discomfort then be honest about this too as you don't want to be given medication unnecessarily.

 

[Mystman00]

thankyou, no i'm not in serious discomfort, yet when i excercise, later that day i'll twitch like mad... i walked about 10-12miles this morning - tonight my butt is twitching like crazy and so are my legs hehe... very odd

 

[TM27]

I had globus EVERY DAY in 2008 from about April - December. It sucked big time. Dreading the day it comes back.