FM pain, choking feeling and electrical surges in head

I was diagnosed with FM in 2002 after years of having chronic widespread pain and 6 years of Phy. Therapy for multiple things.  The weather is a definite factor in the severity of pain.  Last winter was the worst!  It felt as if my legs were having 'seizures' with rapid firing here and there and here again.....very painful!  
My question now is, "Does anyone believe that the 'choking/strangulation' feeling I have been having for 2.5 years has anything to do with the FM?  I'm always pulling at my shirt around my neck, but that isn't the problem.  The choking feeling can get so bad that I have coughing fits.  It also feels like the blood flow to my head is less than normal making my head feel heavy with a dizzy feeling even though I'm not dizzy.
I have had just about every problem there is when it comes to pain.  
There are nights that I have to wrap my ankles/feel so they are in a standing position when sitting.  
I also have muscle twitching that can last for 12 hours, not painful but annoying, in arms, legs, abdominal, chest, shoulders....everywhere basically.
I've also had 'surges of electricity' in my head that last 2-3 seconds which is more painful than giving birth.....just want to die when that happens and thank GOD it only last 2-3 seconds.
I developed PVC, PAC, tachy-brady, etc. 2.5 years ago....before the choking feeling began.
oh and I also have buring sensations especially in my legs.  Lately it has been in my left calf everyday off/on all day for 3 weeks now.  I sometimes get 'fire patches' on my legs.  I call them fire patches because they have the burning sensation but turn red.  You can feel the heat through clothing.
GEEZ, one more thing to mention just in case someone has the same thing or any other idea.  Last Feb 2009 I had night sweats for 4 weeks, but the extreme heat wasn't only at night, it was during the day too.
AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF.....all tests including scans are normal and the neuro didn't think anything about any of this. (the EKG's did show arrhythmias)
I'm thinking in addition to FM I may have an intracellular magnesium def.  Serum MG was low at one point but that would be an obvious knowing how mg levels work.
PLEASE help and give your opinions/ideas/comments!
Thanks...sorry so long but lots of problems to mention

[concerned621]

It sounds like something more than fibromyalgia. My father has a choking problem. Certain foods make him do this. We always thought he has food allergies, one especially to pepper.  You didn't mention any surgeries. I've had cervical surgery, so I'm fused in my cervical/neck area and I have periodic choking and rasping voice.  I would want the arteries in my neck checked out for any issues.  
There can be many reasons for this, if you take pills for your pain or even supplements they can scratch your esophagus(spelling).  I would definitely get this checked out. Also electrical feelings is something that should be looked in to.  

Also getting enough potassium, magnesium and calcium for your legs might help. Vitamin D is another great supplement and something we all seem to be deficient in.  

I hope you figure out what is wrong and keep in touch and let us know.

[tanyamn]

No surgeries and the choking feeling isn't exactly 'choking' on anything.  I guess I should have explained that a bit better.  It's more like being strangled....hands wrapped around my neck and most of the time it feels as if 2 fingers are being pushed into the indent between the collar bones.
I don't take pills/supplements and rarely take advil and thats only when I have migraines....which is fairly often but I say I rarely take advil because it isn't everyday and sometimes I can go 2 weeks without.  I would rather not take anything even for the pain, I just deal with it.  There are many days that I hurt so bad I don't want to move.
All tests were normal including an EEG...the brain one.  The neuro didn't have an explaination, he said everything was normal.
I drink 1/4-1/2 gallon of milk (fat free skim) a day and eat pretty healthy.
I'm hoping someone has had electrical surges that has info.
I hope you (concerned621) keep up with exercise/therapy for your neck to prevent additional problems. Thanks for responding!  I've thought about having the arteries checked too, but I'm beginning to think my doctor thinks I'm a hypo. due to all these problems  :(   I've had the same dr for 15 years and he's great but he might be tiring of me

[acker]

get thyroid test? - and find a good endocrinologist too. could explain the sweats and the choking feeling in neck/ throat... the brain zaps sound pretty bad. i had them but not so severe, think it was stress stress stress. (also had the burning warm feeling in the leg as well, outside left leg - that preceded my collapse into fatigue! - i've never heard anyone else describe it) ...good luck

[tanyamn]

Yes, I had my thyroid tested several times over the years and being that I'm a Med Tech I have access to testing myself.....thats when I noticed the serum mg was low and then my doctor tested it a few months later and it was normal.  (But as I said serum mg will be normal even if intracellular mg isn't.)  I don't have access to that test and by the time I learned about that I lost medical coverage.  I will definetely be speaking to my dr about that test as soon as I get medical again.  As for the sweats...... I was sent to an oncologist and endocrinologist = everything normal including more scans.  :(   but then again, thank god!
I do try mind over matter, but unfortunately the pain is really REAL.  :(
What about your brain zaps?  How long?  And only from stress?  I heard of others online with the severe surges but no one knows what its from.   Thanks for responding!  
Oh to add more info about myself:  I'm 34.  5'7" and 128.  ....so in great shape.  I've been dealing with pain since I was 5 years old, started with my back at the age of 5.. OUCH

[concerned621]

Wow, I did a quick search and two things came up, Gerd and sleep apnea. Also drinking the milk made me think.  Could you have an allergy?  Milk can cause us to have a lot of mucus. You could be creating a ton of mucus in your throat.  Also I commend you for no pain meds but also watch the foods you eat. Milk can cause you to have increased pain as do other foods.  White flour, simple sugars, white potatoes, white rice.  There is a book "Life Without Bread" it's a great source discussing the link between foods and pain.  Please keep us posted and let us know what you find out.

I also found this:
Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion (PVFM)

Other names

vocal cord dysfunction (VCD)
stridor
laryngospasm
paradoxical vocal cord motion (PVCM)
laryngeal dyskinesia
PVFM is commonly seen in young athletes who develop symptoms during athletic exertion. These athletes may be incorrectly diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma.

The disorder is also common in adults. Symptoms often cause awakening in the middle of the night, but they may occur at any time. These symptoms may be triggered by eating or drinking, especially something sour.

Symptoms

Some of the common symptoms of PVFM are:

sudden inability to inhale
a sensation of shortness of breath, choking, strangling
gasping sound when inhaling
Cause

When symptoms occur during the night, the cause is nearly always related to GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder). In this case, acid from the stomach refluxes back up the esophagus and spills over onto the larynx (see About the Voice), irritating the vocal folds (also called vocal cords; see the explanation of this terminology) and causing them to twinge or spasm. This feels like a choking sensation. When the individual attempts to inhale forcefully, the vocal folds are actually sucked together, preventing inhalation. This causes more forceful inhalation and creates a vicious cycle that can be very frightening to the individual. The vicious cycle is such that the vocal folds may relax slightly during exhalation, but come together during inhalation. Thus, the disorder is called Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion because of this backwards movement of the vocal folds. The gasping sound on inhalation is known as inhalatory stridor.

[tanyamn]

Regarding the choking/stangulation feeling.....I do not have a breathing problem what-so-ever. I do not gasp for air, no respiratory/mucus or allergies.  The only symptom is just that.....feels like hands around my neck (everyday) and/or fingers being pushed (not daily) into the indent between the collar bone. I don't know, maybe it's stress but I honestly don't feel as if I'm stressed.  I'm pretty happy go lucky even when I hurt.....have to remain positive because being down doesn't get you anywhere.  I don't dwell on the really bad days or pain,  I just want answers :(   or maybe I should just leave it be.  ?
Thanks for the info.  I will look into that book again. I know about it from a friend having a gluten allery and children/ADD, but have no clue it contains info about pain/FM.  Thanks again!

[acker]

hmm, in sll sorts of pain since 5 - that's a long time to be in discomfort. i guess this is normal for you, but -- it's not normal! i think i'ts cool you're a med tech. that'd be a mini-blessing...
the brane-zaps for me were a couple years ago - when i was on 'paxil' antidepressant. lasted half a second - out of nowhere - like a bender on the cheap. lucky i wasnt driving at these times - !! every couple days for a couple months. painful, like a zap running through the middle of my head. stop you in your tracks. but bearable. kind of more zing than power surge. sounds different from your severe 3-second surges. because you're not on any medication. i  t h i n k  mine was related to the medication as well as stress %(

they AREN'T in your mind - they're real!

another weird thing that showed up, as the brain zaps lessened, is a cottony percussive whoosh sound in the ears, when i shifted my eyes, going to sleep. even though i'm off the paxil for two years now, i still get the whoosh whoosh whoosh thing.

good luck with the neck pressure thing - so mysterious... there's a nerve that runs through the vocal cord area. when my thyroid was doing its thing - whatever it was that caused pressure in the throat area/ pin-like pain/ feeling swelled but nothing visible - there was a time i lost my voice :(  just too tired to talk, out of puff, uncomfy to talk. have you got any of that?

my thyroid condition has improved with: medication; cutting back on milk/ soy (imflammatory to the immune system); i speak up now, where before and in my whole life i would let things be and not participate in convo much; sometimes i just gotta sing - so now instead of clamming up and saving it till later... i just sing! all that to say, most medical conditions are traced back to an expressive/ emotional/ energy 'damage', this is really worth taking the TIME to look at; stop and take stock of our emotional accounts; going back to - e.g. when you were five.

[[ just want answers :(   or maybe I should just leave it be.  ? ]] - keep getting THE ANSWERS..! they're on their way...

[jonney4141]

the brain shocks or jolts or electricity feelings (weird) i can remember getting them right before my monthly, i did not know what it was (it scared me). later in life i was diagnosed with depression and put on meds. if i stopped taking the meds for a few days boy would i get those head zaps or jolts or whatever you want to call them. i finally asked my doctor about this and she said because my brain was not getting enough serotonin and she was right. i was ashamed of being labeled as someone with mental problems, but now realize that people get diseases in their bodies, and some get diseases or problelms in their brains, the sin is knowing something is wrong and not doing anything about it. I don't care what people think anymore, thank God for antidepressants it helped me to live a somewhat happy, peaceful, normal (whatever normal is lol) life. I am not saying this is what's wrong with you, but like i said i had them all the time when i was younger and once being on meds it does not happen unless i stop taking the meds. hope this helped...

[dustybrown]

Hello,
I am sorry if I missed this in your post, but have you ever had an MRI of your cervical spine??? A bone spur could cause a choking sensation and trouble swallowing and many of your other symptoms as well if you've ruled out thyroid issues and other things. I have just discovered this in my own neck. Are you sure you don't have any spurring happening in the joints in your neck?
-Dusty

[momof471113]

Hi,
I hope you are feeling better as this is an older post i have stumbled upon. I know just what you are talking about with the choking feeling i have them also and i also have myasthenia gravis it is a auto immume disease check it out see if you have any other symptoms and have your doc give you a EMG it is rare but electrical shock in head had them numb arms and legs had them fibro have it migrains have those to i'm telling you have him check you out for this he may be missing it this is a rare one and most docs don't check for it Good luck

[squirtatious]

Have u had a cervical, brain, amd lumbar mri? Its commom for FM sufferes to also have Chiari Malformation. I wish u the best hun!!!! *hugs*

[tanyamn]

thanks for the insight everyone!  Now that Spring is here with warmer weather I'm doing much better.  Still having the 'strangulation' feeling but not nearly as bad as I was.  

[Lil_j]

I have all of these symptoms, I tested positive for lyme's disease.

[mickmtb]

Hello from the UK
The brain flashes ! sound like the ones I get and I am having them virtually none stop at the mo.
In June 09 I broke my back had plates put in they were removed because the screws worked loose.
That operation was two weeks ago so 14 months duration of drugs
I hate drugs and the effects but at times you simply feel there is  no choice, I was taking codeine phosphate 30mg two four times a day, how ever I had to go onto tramadol hydrochloride 50mg again two for times a day to try combat the pain. Amitriptyline 50mg one at night. diclofenac 75mg twice with food. lansoprazole 15mg one a day. paracetamol 500gm two four times a day and of course laxido to try and keep me regular or get bunged up !!
Now heres the thing I now have the brain flashes which are getting more constant re if I turn my eyes or head which have only started the past couple of weeks. Also gradual heart sudden irregular beats especially
when I lay down to sleep my heart just takes off crazy rhythm and at times painful. I'm in the process of having a 24hr ecg. The nurse while checking me on the night of the operation became concerned re fast irregular heat beat and pulse.  She did an ecg straight away which showed high heart rate. I was told to see my doctor  ( not easy to see my good doctor, two weeks appointment time ... )
I had to go see a doctor last week because of a very bad night,  my heart again was fast and irregular so now I'm in the queue for the ecg 24hr machine
THIS ALL IS DOWN TO DRUGS
Before my accident I was not like most people my age ( 49 ) because I worked hard my fitness was very good
We only see short term when it comes to pain so grab the drugs but I'm telling you there is a long term price to pay. I have been used to feeling pain even with high doses of tramadol so came away from the doctors and thought thats it and have taken nothing full stop
Ok so I cant sleep, feel pain which at times is like getting rammed in the back with a red hot poker but I cant expect my body to keep taking these drugs with out some thing going wrong
I know my body is suffering withdrawal symptoms but in balance I chose to stop taking meds because of the damage thus far which my body has suffered
As I have read through various online question and answer sites it seems to me people are readily taking drugs as if there is no other way.
Yes it's not easy to stop taking meds, how ever compared to the life shortening effects ( in my opinion ) which can be caused I urge people to seek other methods
take care smile each day is a fresh start
mick

[mleigh99]

I know this is an older post, but wanted to share my experience with you. I'm 35 years old & have been experiencing severe debilitating pains since I was 7. Last year I went to sooo many doctors and they all came up with different "reasons" for the pain I was experiencing. I have electric type pains that run throughout my body, feeling almost like an electric current running between my bones & my nerves. I went to the eye dr just for a normal eye exam, he dialated my eyes & told me I had severe swelling of both optic nerves...several lumbar punctures, MRI's & other tests later they diagnosed me with papiledema & pseudotumor cerebri.
The papiledema is the swelling of the optic nerve which can cause changes in vision, loss of peripherial vision & spots or grey areas.
The pseudotumor cerebri is the "default" diagnosis when tests cannot determine what is causing an increased amount of CSF (cerebro spinal fluid) fluid in your brain. I had significant brain swelling and the dr's were afraid I would loose my vision, so I had a vp brain shunt put in to drain the excess...
Alot of things can naturally increase CSF but meds are a BIG problem...watch out for tetracyclines, doxycycline, etc.
Have your eye dr dialate your eyes & check your optic nerves...hope you don't have the same problem, but if you do, there is help!
Good luck!
Mleigh

[fred466]

I have a sensation of choking much of the time, too. I find it hard to breathe, and difficult to swallow or chew. My larynx/throat area will "crack" if I move it with my hand, as if there were a bone under it, or a lump. I've had this disease for many many years, and few people ever talk about this symptom.

[hellodian]

Hi Tanya~ The tightness in the throat could be anxiety. Also, were you or are you on any sort of anti depressant? That will cause the brain zaps. I can't go off of my zoloft or even miss it for a few hours because of the stupid zaps. Sometimes I get them for no reason at all.
I think with this fms/central sensitization we are more wired for anxiety and nervous system issues. I'm glad to hear you are feeling better.