Re: fear of disease and dying

Posted By Help on April 18, 1999 at 02:36:45

Topic Area: Mental Health (other)
: hi I need help
: I have a promblem with anxiety my doctors says
: Iam always scared i have some awful disease right now i fear
: ALS or MS
: Here are my symptoms
: I feel like i can't talk right like Iam slurring my speech
: I my tongue feels funny  and dry at times
: I dont have problems swallowing but at times i feel like something is stuck in my throat
: the slurring of the speech scares me the most
: do i have als or am i going crazy
: Iam a mother of three small children One who is very sick
: He has a brain tumor
: I can't get sick now i need to take care of him
: Thanks

:   I need help!!!!!!!!!!




Dear  Mary,
                  You seem to be quite worried about having Amyotrophic  lateral sclerosis (ALS)  or  Multiple sclerosis (MS). Before jumping  to conclusions, it would be helpful to consult your physician for a comprehensive evaluation.
                   ALS may develop  in young adults, but more commonly develops between 60-70 years. Symptoms are usually  weakness, atrophy   (thinning of muscles) and muscle twitching . Presenting symptoms may be slurred speech or difficulty in swallowing.        
                   MS usually occurs between ages 15 and 50 years. The most frequently encountered symptoms in MS are weakness, sensory disturbances, eye problems, bladder problems and sexual dysfunction. The course of the disease is characterized by exacerbetions and remissions.  It is also possible that your symptoms are stress related or due to depression or anxiety. There are other neurological and psychiatric disorders that could explain the symptoms.  
                      For a confidential evaluation at Henry Ford Hospital Behavioral Services clinic, you can call [phone]. This information is provided for general educational purposes only and should  not be replaced by evaluation with a physician.
Key words: MS, ALS





Thank you for your reply
I have seen my family doctor and have spoken to my son's neuro
my doctor says its anxiety. He put me on paxil. I didnt like the side effects so i stopped taking them.  What do you mean by  presenting symptoms of slurred  speech?  Is speech the first symptom of bulbur onset ALS




Its me agian I have new sypmtoms
Iam starting to notice twitching in my body  they come and go
but now I real scared its als
the twitching comes and goes never in the same place
Please answer as soon as posable I going crazy with worry
Please explain als twitching

[lisa__0__0]

Posted By lisa on May 01, 1999 at 01:45:27
I began suffering from anxiety syptoms (symptoms) several months ago. Then I got really sick with strep & the flu. At that point my anxiety symptoms changed & I didn't know what the heck was wrong with me. I felt like I was "twitching" or "ticking" all over my body. I also described it as "it's like my nervous system is turned up too high". I thought for sure it couldn't be anxiety because I had all these physical symptoms. It's amaxing however, how our bodies can create "proof" for us when we are "obsessed" with our health. Other verification for me that I was suffereing from anxiety, not dying, was just knowing that feeling like you are going to die or go crazy is common w/anxiety. Also, I tried the anti-anxiety meds & the symptoms went away so taht was more proof. I don't suggest relying on anti-anxieties because they are addictive, but it was useful to prove it to myself. Also, seeing a dr that really listened to everything, every sypmtom I'd been having for months, & thoughtfully still said "anxiety", helped. Zoloft has really helped me. I hope that your problem really is anxiety rather than a horrible degenerative disease and I hope that you are able to get it under control. If it is anxiety I would also recommend reading a book on it and a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Group for Anxiety. Good luck.










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