Viral Infection and BFS Symptoms

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sailinglady

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The "survey" on this site supports what is often said to be a possible cause of BFS, namely a viral infection which triggers or directly causes some sort of neuromuscular upset (PNHE, call it what you will) resulting in twitching.There are a handful of other medically inexplicable illnesses which cause ongoing symptoms, and one theory I've heard is that illness (e.g a viral infection) plus existing stress (emotional, physical, whatever) can somehow programme the nervous system to carry on "responding" in an abnormal way (for example sending pain signals) for long after the actual illness has subsided. For example - 1. stress, plus a stomach bug (viral enteritis) might lead to irritable bowel syndrome. 2. stress, plus a minor back strain, might then lead to chronic back pain. You get the picture. The idea being that stress somehow "primes" the nervous system to respond abnormally/extremely to actual illness.It would be interesting to hear your stories about:1. If you did have any sort of "bug" just before the BFS started, what sort of symptoms did you have from it ? A cold type illness or a tummy bug for example.2. Did this co-incide with existing/unusual stress at the time BEFORE getting anxious about the twitching ?Thanks for any responders in advance !
 
I agree with you 100% all the evidence I see is anxiety is a huge factor behind this thing.Im going to take it one step futher people prone of be hypochondriacts (sp?) or worry alot about their health seem to be moe at risk. Personally I am convinced this is what happened to me - I was going through some weird symptoms (tingling in my face and arm). I got scared and went to the hospital and the doctor mentioned he was going to do a ct scan just to be sure it wasnt a brain tumor...... Well for the next month even after the ct scan came back clean I was terrified - can you guess what happened then? Yup - twitching!As my fears about my health subsided the frequency of the twitching did as well. It hasnt totally gone away - but it much better - not constant now it comes and goes. If you look at the survey here the vast majority of people had a fear of ALS despite not having any of the symptoms. Also on he board hee there are also people who are obseessed with having ALS despite being told by their doctors and some cases even neuro surgeons they have nothing wrong. In my humble opinion in 95% of cases of BFS anxiety/worry/stress is a key ingredient. Not to say this is the only factor cause alot of people with stress dont twitch - but I know deep down your on the right track here - anxiety and people with propensity to health fears have their chances of getting BFS skyrocket. The problem is unfortunatly it is those people who do worst with BFS cause they ae constanly feaing the twitches are related to something worse. Vicious cycle.Anyway hey are my thoughts CheersGrasshopper
 
GrasshopperThanks for that. I think its worth reinterating that I think the BFS is a real physiological response to something, but that the stress seems somehow implicated as well. And once its in you (the BFS) further anxiety does seem to make many peoples symptoms a whole lot worse.Anyone else ?
 
I think you are both on the right track, because I was sick a lot (stomach flu, bronchitus, etc) prior to my BFS and then was hit with enormous stress just weeks before the fascics began. Now I sit here a year later wondering what the heck is going on. The question I have is, if indeed a viral infection could have triggered this, compounded by stress, is it possible the virus could extend the BFS condition even though the anxiety and stress have disappeared? My emotional state of mind is much better than last year although my BFS is no different. I have tried hormone therapy, taken all kinds of blood tests, had a brain scan, and nothing... no hints or clues. I'm baffled because mentally I feel so much stronger than last year. Have any of your doctors suggested a viral strain in all this? I would imagine it would be hard to detect. Any thoughts?
 
It is difficult to say about anxiety, I have been a lot anxious lately but I still twitch. I don't think I ever "caught" this thing, I think it is structural, inherent to the biochemical construction of some peoples muscles and nerves, the way they energise, the point at which the charge builds up to a sufficient potential to fire, and the lack of inhibition when it does.
 
1. If you did have any sort of "bug" just before the BFS started, what sort of symptoms did you have from it ? A cold type illness or a tummy bug for example. I had a sinus infection (or what my Dr. thought was a sinus infection and gave me Keflex for it), I had sore throat, sinus drainage/post nasal drip, the usual (sinus problems run in my family)2. Did this co-incide with existing/unusual stress at the time BEFORE getting anxious about the twitching ? Yes. My nerves were SHOT because I was tingling in my hands, feet and face, I went to my gyn because I thought a rash on my chest was inflammatory b. cancer and I was going through a "crisis of faith"-thinking God was going to punish me for some choices I had made, so I was a little stressed.
 
twitching teacher:You sound like my twin. I had the same thing was feeling tingling like pins and needles and i got freaked out anxiety was hight - thn came the twitching. Geee maybe we dont need the doctors we will figure this out on our own :p
 
Well grasshopper, my Dr. initially thought the tingling and numbness was diabetes (weight/ethnicity (A.American, and family history (3 paternal uncles, dad may be pre-diabetic) so she ran all of the tests, all negative. And at the time I was in a health scare mode because in October I had a pins and needles feeling in my arm and tightness in my chest. An abnormal EKG led to a thallium stress test, which turned out normal (no clogged arteries, great blood flow during exercise, perfectly healthy 25 year old heart) and I was diagnosed with GERD/Acid Reflux but because of that I think it made me aware that while youth is on my side, it isn't forever,and I'm not immune to health concers and I began to worry about every ache, pain tingle and twitch. Plus, the issues with my faith (made worse by my "well-meaning but prone to fire and brimstone biblical scare tactics" mother) created a monster. Ebony
 
Hi everyone!I just thought I would weigh in here! My right eye twitched for months without spreading anywhere else but in mid sept last year almost over night it spread everywhere. At this time I was suffering from a very bad virus that made me weak and feverish for 3 weeks, it was terrible!! When the virus dissapeared the twitching stayed unfortunately! I also was going through a stressful time around this time last year and yes I am a big worrier!!Warm regardsSandra
 
i am in the other camp-- i did not have an illness at onset of the twitches-- perhaps additional stress in my life-- however, i can tell you that a year before all of this, i did have a really bad bug--and i had to take major pain meds ( forget which one ) -- co tylenol or major motrin-- anyway, i DID get myocolnic jolts then a few nights in a row-- and i went to my gp and reported that--oddly, he did do a babinski test..i remember being clueless as to why.....now of course i am not clueless........hmmm..... but no twitching --
 
Hi!I have read a little of your history and you sound so much like the rest of us here! I made an appointment in early Dec last year to see a neuro for my peace of mind and I had to wait until the end of March here to see him! It was quite a stressful wait. Anyhow to cut a long story short, my visit with the neuro was like lifting such a weight from me. He said that when I walked in the room he could tell that I did not have ***. He also said that after 7 months of twitching I would have had some very serious stuff going on. He is a very competent and thorough doc and I trust everyword he said. I know it seems hard at the moment but you will get past it I promise! Warm regardsSandraPlease PM me if you have any questions, I hope I can help!!
 
Wow, this is some kind of meeting of the minds today! We have three discussions online all talking about basically the same thing (see "News from an Old timer..." and "Have diagnosis.."). Thanks to all contributors - it is very nice to have conversations like this as it gets to the heart of why we're all here. Also it helps to be actively involved in figuring out why this has happened to us and maybe even how we can help ourselves rather than focusing on our symptoms (which only seems to stress us out more!) As far as the neurologists and their estates....hey - they are not alone with this! It always irritates me when I go to the dentist and he's on the phone whining about his sport fishing not going the way he had planned - as I pull out my credit card since I don't have the cash to pay his fees......poor guy! His boat, which costs more than most people's homes, is not working well.
 
Hi All,I haven't been on this site in a while, but that doesn't mean I don't twitch. It all started 14 months ago, when I first found out my dad was very sick. I did a whole lot of internet searching on his disease and voila... I started twitching! I was not sick nor was I taking any medication when this started. I was simply very stressed, very anxious. I am almost 95% sure my twitching is stress related. I feel like I am either twitching or buzzing, vibrating a good part of every day. At times I can tune it out and other times I focus on it and fall into the rut of worry. I am a very anxious, very worried about my health and my family's health. I see my neuro every 4 months, only because I need to hear I'm fine. My neuro says he experiences twitching from time to time when he is stressed, when he travels... I have had only one EMG last September. The neuro said another EMG is not necessary. Aside from twitching and anxiety issues, I feel fine. I started seeing a psychologist, hopefully talking about my fears and worries will help my fasics.I would like to know how many of you believe this is related to stress?Take care,MC
 
i had 3 UTIs in the 6 months prior to this starting. AND interesting that you all mention tingling..i had brain and spine mri performed the week that this whole thing started because i was complaining of tingling in tips of my fingers (which all went away of course once the twitching started) hmm.
 
Zeke,After a bunch of research, and shared experiences by other people, I 100% believe cipro caused all my sxs....I started twitching 3-4 days after cipro. A whole host of other sxs within a month or so. Let me know if you want me to point you to some other sites that deal with FQ adr's (adverse drug reactions). Take care,gary
 
I'm sure that this is brought on by some virus and stress.. I got a little sick and was under EXTREME anxiety for 5 month, then I started twitching..Then I had more anxiety and started twitching like crazy.. :(I've gotten my anxiety under control now.. nearly never twitch now. ;)Magnesium helps also :)
 
What dose of Mg did you find you needed and how long did it take to start helping ?Thanks.And thanks to others for replies - One day this will be understood.
 
Hi everyone,#1. I never get sick so my twitching didn't follow any illness, viral or bacterial.#2. I'm probably the opposite of a hypochondriac in that I don't go to the doctor even when I should.#3. My twitching began after six months of extreme stress due to, well, life!I didn't think a thing of it at first, and didn't google it until it increased in frequency and duration. My twitching started in my tongue, by the way. I just thought it was very odd. Of course, once I googled it, that info increased my anxiety, however, I still wasn't really disturbed until about a month later when my body exploded with twitches. And that's when my anxiety went through the roof and stayed there until six months later when I had an emg. It didn't help that the doctors were saying that twitching could indicate ALS but that muscle weakness was the true indicator but that "for now" I seemed to be OK and would just have to be monitored. Oh, if I could do the last year all over again with the attitude I have now!So here I sit, one year later, thinking about cancelling my one year checkup because though I am still twitching - we know what it isn't, but we don't know what it is and that's all there is to it. It doesn't hurt. The weird jerking keeps me awake at night but I can live with that. It doesn't affect my daily living though it is annoying sometimes. My doctor said it will probably never go away. It may seem better at times but that could come from not thinking about it so much. So far, it's never gone away but I truly don't worry about it anymore. It's just becoming part of who I am. And it's nice to know I'm not alone! Ally
 

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