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Worked myself up over MND

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Manc12

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Hi. I'm new here but feel I need to get something off my chest and maybe some reassurance. I've never been diagnosed with anxiety but in the past I've always felt I have it. I've always been worried about lots of health related issues and always Google symptoms and convince myself I have diseases. Anyhow. A week ago I read an article about Motor Neurone disease and now ever since I have convinced myself that I have it. I've been having twitches and pins and needles and also pains in my claf now and again. I also have very sore finger joints. However this is only mild and has been present for at least three years.

My question is, could my anxiety by making me imagine I have all of these symptoms as they only really started after I read about MND. I have been worrying about this for some days now and it makes me feel convinced I have something like MND. Even though I know the chances are very low.

Just wondering if even tho my anxiety is self diagnosed to a point. Could I just be worrying which in turn is making my "symptoms" worse?
 
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adamden

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Hi Manc, welcome to the forum first of all. Happy to have you here.
Seems to me like you have this firm understanding of what anxiety is and what all it can entail, which is always good to have that sort of self-education.
I'm a very statistical person. So let's do some comparison of how likely it is to get MND.
Anxiety = 18.1% <-------- MND = 0.0026%
You are WAY more likely to have anxiety.
Anxiety can cause the symptoms that you are experiencing, especially the twitching. The twitching appears to be a super common anxiety symptom that often gets blown out of proportion and is diagnosed as a major health condition, which obviously is not the case.
And to answer your question, anxiety can make you imagine symptoms, but sometimes, the symptoms are real, but can just be amplified by anxiety and may not even mean much. They may be small symptoms that you wouldn't even notice if you didn't have anxiety, but of course because you have anxiety, you notice them because of your hyperawareness of symptoms. Your hyperawareness will be making your symptoms worse.
Have you sought out any sort of therapy to treat your anxiety? Hope you can find comfort in this post :)
 
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TDS74

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Welcome! I can personally say that I thought the same thing for about 2 months. I was so sick about it I lost weight and became totally obsessed over it. Couldn't sleep, eat or function normally. This morning I had my last neurological test, an EMG and it was normal. I had all the symptoms!!!! I do also suffer from severe anxiety etc. It has been a terrifying rollercoaster of fear!!! Best thing to do is speak to a medical professional to ease your mind!! Good luck and keep me posted on this!! I had major twitches, tremor issues all-over my body, randomly. Stress would make it worse,!!
 
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Guen

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I second TDS74's post. I have twitching all over and it turns out I have a vitamin deficiency. Been eating better for 2 weeks and while the twitching isn't gone, it has reduced.

P.S. Congrats on the great news TDS74! =)
 
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Manc12

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Hi all. Thanks so much for your replies. Incidentally since posting this I came across a post on another forum which basically said that pain was not a symptom of MND and that muscle weakness was the core symptom. I don't have this and reading this posts and your responses has magically eased the symptoms. Worth probably pointing out too I recently joined the gym and the aches and pains are much more likely to be due to me using muscles I haven't previously.

I may still go to a doctor regarding my health anxiety though as I have had this undiagnosed for years and I could do without it. But bizarrely as I know it's that I've got quite good at telling myself I'm just being stupid and that usually calms me.
 
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TDS74

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Guen said:
I second TDS74's post. I have twitching all over and it turns out I have a vitamin deficiency. Been eating better for 2 weeks and while the twitching isn't gone, it has reduced.

P.S. Congrats on the great news TDS74! =)
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Thank you so much!! And very glad your twitching has reduced!!! Another thing I need to do, increase hydration and and eat healthier for them!!
 
Zeynep

Zeynep

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My whole body is twitching. I'm scared because ALS twitches.
 
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TDS74

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Zeynep said:
My whole body is twitching. I'm scared because ALS twitches.
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I'm so sorry this is happening to you!! Have you been to a neurologist, if not please go. I have same issues and have been sick for 2 months over worry, that many other symptoms occured due to the anxiety and stress over my possible horrific diagnosis. I soooo understand your worry!! I had an EMG on Monday and it was normal, yes I still have them. I return for follow up on August 1st. My twitches occur randomly and everywhere. Including my butt!!!! Face and everywhere else. They were literally waking me up out of my sleep!! Then I would panic and be up all night and barely functioned at work. It was and still has been a very scary place for me. The neurologist told me it is VERY common in people who suffer from anxiety
 
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Manc12

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So quick update. I've not been to see a doctor as I feel as if I'm over reacting. However my twitching is still prominent. In both legs. Calves. Thighs. Arms. Torso. Basically everywhere. Even my feet. However when I'm busy I don't notice the twitching so I still do think it's all in my mind and probably not motor neurone disease.
 
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TDS74

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Manc12 said:
So quick update. I've not been to see a doctor as I feel as if I'm over reacting. However my twitching is still prominent. In both legs. Calves. Thighs. Arms. Torso. Basically everywhere. Even my feet. However when I'm busy I don't notice the twitching so I still do think it's all in my mind and probably not motor neurone disease.
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That's so great to hear!! Let us know please if you get a diagnosis. I still have my Twitching all-over, that I don't really notice much if I'm busy as well.
 
Zeynep

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I have a twitch. Everywhere in my body..
Time to listen. I don't notice on the move.:oops::rolleyes:
 
Zeynep

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Yeah, but I'm not comfortable.Because she told me it was psychological.
 
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TDS74

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Manc12 said:
So quick update. I've not been to see a doctor as I feel as if I'm over reacting. However my twitching is still prominent. In both legs. Calves. Thighs. Arms. Torso. Basically everywhere. Even my feet. However when I'm busy I don't notice the twitching so I still do think it's all in my mind and probably not motor neurone disease.
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Hello! Was just checking to see if you are still having issues!!
 
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Guen

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I'm still having twitching, but weirdly in the last week it's greatly reduced (I'm on vacation which probably helps). Today I actually had less than a dozen twitches and I had one day where I only had 4 or 5 :D

I've been having the twitches for just over 2 months now and I've been on my diet change for a little over a month and like I said above, only in the last week did I notice a significant change. I was getting nervous that the diet wasn't working but I can't argue with results. I hope you are all well and twitch free/reduced.
 
Zeynep

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My twitches continue. I've been moving against my hand and toes against my will for two weeks.
For example, when I'm sitting, my thumb plays spontaneously.. :(((
It started after twitches.
I went to the neurologist. A new EMG was made.
The twitches were over for a few days. But it started again. More violently.
EMG's normal, but I'm worried. I don't trust a doctor
 
matisworried

matisworried

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Zeynep said:
My twitches continue. I've been moving against my hand and toes against my will for two weeks.
For example, when I'm sitting, my thumb plays spontaneously.. :(((
It started after twitches.
I went to the neurologist. A new EMG was made.
The twitches were over for a few days. But it started again. More violently.
EMG's normal, but I'm worried. I don't trust a doctor
Click to expand...

Please read this and put your mind at ease!

is my twitching related to ALS?
 
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TDS74

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Zeynep said:
My twitches continue. I've been moving against my hand and toes against my will for two weeks.
For example, when I'm sitting, my thumb plays spontaneously.. :(((
It started after twitches.
I went to the neurologist. A new EMG was made.
The twitches were over for a few days. But it started again. More violently.
EMG's normal, but I'm worried. I don't trust a doctor
Click to expand...
I'm so sorry, I am having same issues but worse. I am really freaked out! MRI, Bloodwork,EMG was all fine. Now having throat , swallowing issues and have to have another test done .... and now Extremely terrified that this is MND even more now. Just keeps getting worse. Good luck, I'm so sorry you are going through health issues. Very frustrating and scary, I know
 
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