New here - so many physical symptoms...confused, scared, discouraged

Hi. I am a 38 yr old female and have been dealing with a variety of symptoms for the last 2 years. It started in 2012, 3 months after a traumatic event in my family, 1 month after stopping birth control I began having terrible headaches- like I have never experienced before! Burning headaches. Then came on and off feelings of depersonalization, which I did not know anything about at the time, so then came overwhelming fear that I was dying. in the next few months I dealt with frequent muscle twitches and numbness, aches and pains, extreme exhaustion, weight loss and the ever impending sense of doom. Even went to the ER had a CT scan and was sent home saying they felt it was stress.

After fighting with my insurance company for months and going to 2 different GPs, 3 different therapists, and a neurologist I was able to have an MRI of my brain and cervical spine. All that was found was a slight herniated disc in c5/c6. Shortly after, my headaches went away...but the other symptoms stayed, plus now new symptoms of menstrual issue began. I began meditating and doing yoga daily which helped some, but more family issues cropped up and suddenly it was difficult to maintain my self care regimen. I also began having palpitations.

I am still having frequent muscle twitches, occasional pain and exhaustion, on/off burning sensations on my skin (usually in my arms and fingers), very flaky scalp... I'm just exhausted by all of it.

I have tried xanax (which I do take as needed), prozac (didn't help, but caused me to gain 30 lbs), zoloft (made things worse in terms of anxiety and depression). I have had so much blood work done including cbc, lyme tests, tsh, etc. - the only thing found were slightly elevated tsh levels (borderline hypothyroid).

I've seen a neurologist, ent, ophthalmologist, optometrist, cardiologist, gp,
I have had ecg, ekg, emg, chest x ray. mri, ct scan...

I'm just so tired and discouraged. I am so focused on my symptoms and getting better that I am worried nearly all the time. This just isn't the way I want to live my life. And it is so hard to imagine that all of these symptoms could be anxiety...I keep waiting for someone to figure out what's wrong with me.

Hello and welcome to the group. I know how you feel and lately I'm hearing so many people, especially women complaining about the same symptoms. So many women are getting diagnosed as fibromialgia, it's crazy. Makes me wonder if someting in our water of air is doing it. Sounds like you have all the tests to rule out things of concern, so I don't know?

Have you seen a rheumie?

"frequent muscle twitches and numbness, aches and pains, extreme exhaustion..."

These are symptoms of fibromyalgia. The scariness of not knowing why your body is behaving oddly can really be anxiety producing. Depression is also concurrent with fibro.

Hi
I'm new here, must say that I am so happy to find a place where I could relate and have others relate to my situation, I have recently been dxd with cervical rib which is the cause os my tos. Am doing pt at present can't say for sure if after 5 sessions it's helping or not, to add to that the depression and anxiety has gotten the better of me to the extent I have poor appetite and have lost weight. Just knowing that someone here understands has brought a bit of relief.

Hello searching 1
Thank u for the reply, I am determine to get better, I am 37 and have my family who are very concerned. But I've had my pitty party and have decided to get my life back, that's why I'm so happy to be here, to learn from others as well as share. I plan to try some yoga and was checking out the mindfulness, they seem like they will both do well for a change of mind in the way I view my situation. I've only started these symptoms about 2 months and was dxd 4 weeks after, I've read about people who have been suffering for months, years even and I gather much strength from them, if they can do it so can I. I hope that at least I could inspire someone to keep at it until they find something that works for them

Good Morning, I have not been on the site in awhile because I feared reading all the posts might be spiking my anxiety. When I read your post this morning it was like reading what I would have wrote word for word. I am 3 years this way and feel hopeless. I find it so hard to believe that all my pains and problems are stress and anxiety. I keep thinking why cant the doctors figure this out and help me. I went back to my PCP and begged him to help me last week. He wants me to go back to PT for my herniated discs in my neck and to start CBT. Im a single mom so I have a tight schedule and find all these appointments very stressful. Please let us know if you find out anything. Know you are not alone and I send you healing thoughts and prayers.

Hi Hele77 and welcome!

Just wanted to say hi, and that we are glad you have joined us!

Read other's posts, respond, check out our Resources (main page, 1st thread) and get to know your way around the forum.

When you are comfortable, please start your own thread of introduction so that everyone can welcome you aboard.:)

Scaredy Cat