Hypochondriac with MS worries...

[CBaz44]

Hey everyone. My MS fears started 3 years ago when I was at my job walking through the aisles and felt the "walking on a boat" sensation like I was going to tip over. Of course I googled my symptoms, and MS is the first thing that came up. From then on I always felt weird walking through the aisles at work. Ive never had any debilitating symptoms though, nor do any symptoms "progress" or get worse.

When I left this job, the symptoms disappeared. It was long gone until 2 months ago I started this new job, and it came back again while walking through halls (wet looking floors make me feel like Im walking on a boat).

I also get the light tingling in the legs/feet, the weakness feeling, and my right hand feels weird sometimes but I think thats because Im using the mouse all day at work sitting at a computer slouched over.

  This morning I went to the gym and maxed out on the calf raise machine doing 300 pounds, 12 times....so the weakness I have seems perceived, not real. All of my symptoms come and go, they dont stay around for hours. If I think about it, it stays...once I get entertained with something else, it goes away.

  Years ago at my first job, after I felt the symptoms I got a physical neuro test done, and it was all good. I also had a comprehensive eye exam, all good. Blood test all good, except my Vitamin D levels were super low. Recently I had another physical neuro exam and blood test, and all good.

  Do you all have any opinions on this? Just a little worried thats all.

[shelzmike]

Yeah, MS comes up a lot on most of the searches we so poorly choose to do! I have had MS fears for years, as have, I would imagine, probably most everyone who has an anxiety issue.

My grandfather actually has MS, so it adds a little more anxiety in my corner, BUT he is also almost 90 years old and considering, quite healthy. Has had MS for probably 2 decades or more now. Sure he has some issues like balance, and needing a cane and emotional inconsistency but other than that, he is doing fairly well.

Here are a few things you mentioned that are worth noting.

You said "Ive never had any debilitating symptoms though, nor do any symptoms "progress" or get worse. "

MS, while it can be relapsing/recurring, usually is progressive. Remember that. And even in the relapsing/recurring times, it isn't a now I have symptoms and in 2 hours I am fine type of coming and going. Anxiety does that..clearly and very reliably.

You have had the physical neuro tests and all was well, another good sign.

Finally, that feeling you are describing..I get it ALL the time. One of my biggest symptoms, especially in large open areas, large stores, in crowds, etc. It still ***** every time, but I have become accustomed and can generally ignore it, which of course makes it go away. Our anxiety only has the power we allow it to have (though, admittedly trying to disallow it can be hard!).

I also have BPPV "attacks" from time to time and have had them for the past 15 years, so sometimes my issues are related to that as well.

Here is where it most likely comes from. When anxiety raises its head, even subconsciously, there are lots of changes that happen in our bodies. One of which is vision changes, including pupil dilation. There is good reason for this as it relates to the survival mechanism that is being invoked. Balance is reliant upon several systems in our body, but the 2 most important are vision systems and inner ear system. It would then make sense that if your vision is being changed, ever so slightly, that you would feel this weird feeling. This, of course, causes more anxiety, which ramps up the other feelings.

So, do not fret, it sounds like what you are referring to is indeed run of the mill and usual anxiety symptoms. Hope that helps in some way.

[AnxiousNoMore]

It appears you are saying you latched onto the first disease condition that Google provided and can't let go. Google is a common cause of anxiety because it can provide someone somewhere who has your self-diagnosed symptoms who died or was crippled or some other terrible event took place -  so people start to worry that could happen to them.

The more they worry the worse it gets with every ouch, itch, rash etc looking like proof that something is amiss.When you look at the list of info you provided things like VitD deficiency are obviously not causes of MS, but you have maybe  hung onto it in fear that it could help provide a clue?

If you want peace you have to quit Googling for disease and stick to professionals unless you want to just double check something that doesn't get resolved with your doctor. Not easy for some but the only way to total success for those who shed anxiety.