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Racer

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Hello. 21 year old with extreme hypochondria. Starting in March of 2017 I was having muscle twitching in my right leg, but primarily the calf muscle. Also, I woke up a few times with the right calf muscle cramped. On top of that, it would cramp up after running, a lot. The twitching quickly spread to the rest of my body but I never thought much of it. In December of 2017, I noticed that when I would pour something with weight, my wrist/hand would shake. Around that same time, I noticed that my knees and ankles would shake when I put weight on them. There is also a sense of heaviness in the left shoulder/arm, but it has not gotten much worse. In March of 2018, I noticed that when I would drink water it seemed to go down one side of my throat. The shakiness that was in my legs was now noticeable throughout my entire body. Still able to run, jump, stand on toes, walk in heels, etc. In May of 2018 on a beach trip, I was sitting chest deep in a pool and noticed that it took a decent bit of effort to take a full breath. On my way back from the beach I had a moment where I became very hot, dizzy, and felt as though I nearly fainted. When I got back in town, I saw a neurologist (who specializes in ALS) who did a physical strength exam that he deemed normal. He didn’t seem to have concern for the twitching, shakiness, one sided throat sensations, or breathing feelings. I continued to go off he deep end with anxiety and I have had very little sleep over the past week. I convinced my gp to schedule an emg for next but I have extreme anxiety.

Other symptoms:
-dizziness that started in June 2017
-occasional pain when moving eye
-arms and legs EASILY fall asleep
 
You had a normal exam and the neuromuscular specialist said it did not sound like ALS and did not order the EMG. We will only agree with that doctor. None of this makes me even consider ALS

I doubt the EMG will reassure as your admitted health anxiety will tell you fabricated reasons why you should not believe a normal result and heaven forbid you get any of the little glitches seen in many healthy people!

Please ask your pcp for help with the health anxiety as that will be your road to wellness. CBT is usually the treatment of choice
 
Thank you for your reply. However I am still concerned with the twitching, body shakiness when exerting a force, and swallowing problem. The anxiety of this has caused me to miss a week of work and I have gone back to my pcp several times.

But can anyone comment on the symptoms?
 
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Racer, as you wrote...

"Hello. 21 year old with extreme hypochondria."

First, at 21 years old your odds of having ALS are near Lottery odds.

You just had a reply from Nikki who is a extremely knowledgeable
member of this forum.

Please listen to those who may contribute to your Thread.
 
My only suggestion is listen to Nikki.

See your primary care doctor and tell her/him your concerns.
 
Likewise, please work with your PCP to find a counselor to work with you on reducing the anxiety, considering at least short-term medication as well since you are missing work. Anything else is a waste of your life and our time.

Best,
Laurie
 
Thank you for the replies. Still dealing with lots of anxiety. Went back to gp today in panick. Most current worries right now:

-swallowing feels “one sided” and feels like I have saliva accumulating at the back of my mouth. I do keep swallowing often in worry.

-“tremble” feeling in all of my muscles included neck, back, thigh, mouth, knees, ankles, butt. By this I mean the muscles shake when I use them.

-left shoulder feels kinda heavy and sometimes the trap area twitches. This varies day to day.

-twitching all over body

-shortness of breath feeling throughout the day. Seems to be on the same side as the heavy shoulder and throat feeling.

-I keep checking myself for atrophy. It looks like my tongue sits a hair lower on the side with the weird swallowing problem.


This is all driving me insane as I’ve been told by an als specialist that he didn’t have the slightest inclination that I had any kinda of neuro related issue. I also forgot to mention that I had pilondidal cyst surgeries about 5 years ago during that time I set kinda lopsided to prevent sitting on the wound. About three years ago I developed a sciatica pain and numbness when standing for periods of time. It spread to both legs but eventually went away about 6 months ago.
 
Racer-

No one here can really help you with the reason for your symptoms- 4 people have provided the exact same advice. To continue asking after this means you are unable to hear what people are telling you. It is VERY important you understand that you are inviting seriously ill folk and their caregivers into feeding your health anxiety. This is energy they have limited access to, and your anxiety will consume it all as you continue to come here to ask these people for reassurance. You must go to a doctor to get the care and medical attention you need.

Unless you are coming back here to report what happened at a doctor's visit, please do not post again. If you post anything other than a report from your doctor's visit, this thread will be closed. Please listen to what others have posted to you above and see a doctor.
 
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Had an emg this morning on arms. Was freaking out the entire time. It make quite a noise when we put the needle in, which freaked me out. He finished up and said everything was normal. Was still concerned about the loud noise.
 
Congrats on the normal EMG. Now go get help with your hypochondria as that is your only health problem from the sounds of it.
 
EMGs are noisy. Period. Normal EMG which you should never have had given the neuromuscular doctor’s opinion. You badgered your pcp into ordering it. As I predicted your health anxiety is fabricating reasons not to believe it was normal.

See your pcp and ask for help for health anxiety. It is ruining your life.

Closing this thread. Do not start another
 
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