MS or extreme anxiety/hypochondria?

[Parrotsmuggler]

About two weeks ago, I was working on some schoolwork on the computer when I realized that I felt a little lightheaded. I got up from my chair and felt slightly dizzy. I immediately became worried and cancelled my workout for that morning (I thought that maybe I had had a TIA - my father had one a few months ago, so I guess that's why it came to mind). I looked up dizziness on the internet and read about the various medical conditions that can cause it. I soon realized that it was very unlikely that I had had a TIA or a stroke. However, MS did come up in my search and I spent awhile reading up on the symptoms of MS. Later in the day, I got a tingling feeling in my left foot and since then everything has gone downhill. Over the last two weeks, I've developed just about every MS symptom there is, some have stayed with me, others have gone away, only to be replaced by others. I've experienced:

-intermittent tingling in feet, legs, hands, and face
-a feeling of weakness in my legs and arms
-muscle twitches all over my body
-seeing floaters
-a feeling of being off balance
-perceived hand/forearm weakness
-finger twitching, eye twitching
-sometimes I feel like my vision is blurry but when I rub my eyes, it goes away
-fatigue
-lower back pain
-leg stiffness/leg pains
-chest pain
-sometimes I feel as if the tips of my toes have gone numb, but when I touch them, the sensation is normal
-lack of coordination (I feel like my movements aren't as precise as they were before)
-a feeling of tightness in my face, intermittent pain in my face
-itchiness all over
-overreaction to the cold
-sometimes I can feel my heart beating very strongly, sometimes it feels like it's skipped a beat.

I just don't know what to make of all this. I've seen three GPs and they've all said stress. I went to the ER and the doctor said my neurological exam was perfect (unfortunately, they didn't give me an MRI). And yet I really don't feel that all this is being caused by stress...I mean, the most stressful thing in my life right now is the thought that I have MS.

Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.

[CowardlyLion]

For what it's worth, I'm going through something similar.  I've got little twitches in my fingers and sometimes in my feet.

And Hypochondria?  Oh yes.  I've got it.  This summer alone I've been worried about a brain tumor, a stroke, lung cancer, stomach cancer, ALS, and a few other things.  It never stops.  My body is taking such a beating from all the worry.  That is what may explain the twitching in my fingers or so I hope.

Thoughts?  Thanks.

[GOS]

Hi all,
I just stumbled on this site and its amazing how better I feel already. My story is a long story but ill try and keep it short & sweet! I am a 26yr old female who started getting panic attacks 5yrs ago. From that I developed GAD and have been suffering ever since. I went on anti-anxiety med (Lexapro) for 2yrs approx and it was a great help. Seemed to help a lot and was coping.
I got married in March this yr and am currently trying for a baby  so came off meds. I started getting panic attacks again and now im convinced I have MS.  
I started getting strange sensations in my arms and legs. I wake up every morn with pins&needles in my hands and legs. I feel like my leg is about to lose power any minute. Some days its a prob with my leg and others its in my arm. I am totally freaking out. I have my husband driven up the wall. I went to doc 3wks ago who done bloods and assured me it is anxiety.
Of course I dont believe him. But reading this website has made me realise im not the only one suffering like this and thats comforting. Just want to wish everyone luck. Iam waiting to see a CBT therapist which I hope will help without me going back on meds.
Hopefully we will get better and realise our strange sensations are anxiety and not MS. I am positive today but tomorrow might be a different story and I might be logging on begging for answers.
Bye for now. Looking forward to hearing from anyone who can offer me advice. Thanx again,
GOS
(PS Sorry its so long winded)

[crazzystress]

GOS, I'm glad to hear that your feeling better.  I had the same exact issues with numbing in my hands and feet, and it was always worse in the mornings.  But I've noticed that when I settle down the sensation goes away.  Even though I've had half dozen tests which show no issues, I still get the numbing and tingling when I stress.

By the way if anyone wishes to discuss there issues, I'd be glad to trade emails.  

hockeynut_5505***@****

[anxietyprone]

I am also terrified of having MS, although the doctor doesn't think it is.  I have:

---Numbness in feet--comes and goes

--Joint pain (been checked for joint disorders...all is fine)

---Problem with right eye (not blurry, just a funny feeling...if i rub it, it goes away)

---Perceived weakness in foreararms


I CANNOT stop obsessing about these symptoms.  It seems that the more I obsess, the more symptoms I come up with, the worse everything gets.  my husband says i have stopped living. My therapist says to "schedule time to worry about it."  yeah, right. PLEASE...can anyone ease my fears about this?

[St26]

Wow. I feel bettter reading all these posts.  I've had (over the past year)...eye floaters, pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, fatigue, etc etc etc. every MS sympotm under the sun.  a good friend has MS and htis is how hers started, so I am really freaking out.  I had an MRI in december, which came out totally clean.

[MONARCH]

Hi everyone, i can relate to how everyone feels here ,parrotsmuggler etc, i started to feel dizziness when i'm sitting and feels like i'm rocking in a boat ,i do suffer from anxiety and OCD and so i start looking up what can this be dizzy feelings ,than my right ear rings so i look up that ,and next i start to get palpitations which i got for many years ,was checked out by a cardio i was okay but its been 5 years since i saw him so i have a doubt in my mind that what if it's connected to the heart palpitaions ,i'm driving myself crazy can't seem to stop looking up health issues ,seeems every morning dizziness starts same time ,i go to councling my councler said its possible i'm bringing this on myself but to get checked out if i feel i need reassurrance .......i can't even sleep at night i have to listen to my personal cd player so i don't think bad thoughts or feel any symptoms, silence drives me crazy ,i feel so unsettled ,i take xanax for anxiety and atenonol for b pressure i can't plan anything or enjoy life right now because the FEAR so intense ,i know i looked up to much on the internet now i'm a nervous wreck and stressed myself out ,i want so much to be happy and not worry ,but nothing is helping me right now ,i feel for everyone here that suffers from worry ,it helps me to read the posts here i don't feel so alone i have also have the twitching in my right eye omg ,my family and boyfriend tells me i always have something wrong so they never know when it's anxiety my ocd or really something wrong ,i wish everyone here the best thank's for sharing how you feel what you all are going through all i do sit cry wonder how to help myself so i can enjoy life, i have such fear of dying i'm not living my life the way i should be, i think i was born scared , i have a phobia when it comes time to go to my dr appoint ,i go in september and i am telling him all that i am feeling going through ,i can't seem to think about anything else but health ..take care !