Unilateral symptoms

[anniecase]

Hi! I know I'm turning into a hypochondriac. Two months ago I had a scare with MS and I've been suffering with chronic anxiety ever since. Every new symptom frightens me and I can't seem to calm down. I toss and turn in my sleep, I find myself sweating a lot. I have all sorts of random sensations and I know anxiety can cause perceived physical symptoms, but I'm concerned because everything is on my left side. This began two years ago with inflamed nerves in my left arm and leg from sleeping on a bad mattress. Recently there was facial tingling on my left side that led to the MS scare. And ever since then my left side is a mess. I feel a variety of sensations in my left leg, my left shoulder feels weak, my left foot feels numb and I feel inward trembling specifically on my left side.

I've had all the blood tests and physicals exams, as well as an MRI, and nothing points to a problem yet. My question is this: is it possible to have unilateral symptoms with anxiety? Am I feeling these things because I'm convinced my left side is weak? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[bengalcats]

I FORGOT TO ADD, I WAS GETTIND ELECTRICAL ZAPS ALONG MY SPINE, AND MY MUSCLES SOMETIMES FEEL BRUISED, I GET BAD HEADACHES AND I GET WEIRD WARM FAINT FIBRATIONS ACROSS MY BACK AND TINGLING IN MY BLADDER. ONCE AGAIN THESE DO NOT HAPPEN EVER DAY, I HAVE FLAIR UPS WITH DIFFERENT THINGS EACH TIME, NO 2 FLAIR UPS ARE EVER REALLY THE SAME.

[bengalcats]

FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS i AHVE BEEN TOLD THERES NOTHING WRONG WITH ME, I HAVE HAD MANY TESTS, BLOODWORK FOR EVERY DISEASE, XRAYS, MRI, CT SCAN, BONE SCAN, CAN NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I STARTED TO BELIEVE THAT i HAVE MS SINCE IT IS SO HARD TO FIND AND ALL OTHER TESTS WERE NORMAL, MY PROBLEMS WOULD COME AND GO FOR 15 YEARS AND INCLUDE, TINGLING IN MY HANDS LEGS AND ARMS, CONSTIPATION, TINGLING IS A CIRCULAR SHAPE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BACK, WOBBLY FEELING IN MY LEGS LIKE THEY MAY COLAPSE,BLURRED VISION,WEIRD SENSATIONS IN MY BRAIN, BONE AND JOINT PAIN, AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH I FOUND A SIGHT THAT LISTS SO MANY SYMPTOMS OF MS THAT MOST PEOPLE CONSIDER JUST SOMETHING NORMAL SUCH AS CONSTIPATION AND HEADACHES, I ALSO GET EPISODESD OF INTERNAL VAGINAL NUMBNESS. i HAVE BEEN TO SO MANY DR WHO COULDNT FIND ANYTHING BUT I DIDNT GET ANXIETY SYMPTOMS UNTILL I HAD THE MEDICAL SYMPTOMS FOR SO LONG THEN OFCOURSE ONE WOULD GET ANXIUOS. I RECENTLY STARTED TO FEEL WEIRD AGAIN AND MY TINGLING CAME BACK BUT WORSE THIS TIME SO I WENT TO ANOTHER NEURO WHO AFTER ALL THESE YEARS SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE MS. I AM GETTING A SPINAL TAP ON MONDAY AND I AM TERRIFIED. YES I DO AGREE THAT YOUR MIND CAN PLAY TRICKS ON YOU AND IF YOU THINK HARD ABOUT IT YOU CAN PRODUCE SYMPTOMS, ITS SCARY BECAUSE ONCE THEY LABLE YOU AS A NUT CASE THEN YOU DO NOT GET THE ATTENTION YOU NEED WHEN YOU SEE A dr>ALL THEY SEE IS THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE ANXIETY SO THEY JUST KEEP SAYING THATS ALL IT WAS, THAT HOW IT WAS IN MY CASE ANYWAYS.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Anxiety mimmicks any disease, and ms rarely follows anatomical lines. You should be talking with a therapist and get too what's really bothering you about your life.

[anniecase]

Thank you for writing back! I know you're right and I know I'm out of control. I guess I'll have to try to take a deep breath and work through it.

[LukeL]

Isn't it horrible knowing you are a hypochondraic and you still can't shake your concerns? Being one myself I can say that almost any symptom can be created just by thinking about it long enough. Also you may want to look into something called Conversion Disorder in which physical symptoms are caused by pyschological problems. This was once called hysteria.

Of course I am not a doctor and only take this as advice. Also try to avoid the internet for doing medical research. There is even a new term for people like us called cyberchondria or hypochondria brought on by the internet.

[Kamio]

I don't think you are crazy.  I go through some of the same stuff. The difference between you and me is that yours is on the left side.  I would not give up until they could find out why it is only on one side.  Don't give up and give yourself a big hug.  See if you can find a friend that really understands and can help you not think you are crazy.  I am praying that God will lift this affliction.  He is a good God and I know he will.