Involuntary twitching; muscle spasms; high startle response: help please!

I'm posting here b/c I'm not sure what this is. And it's probably the first thing my doc will say when I tell him.

I do have panic disorder, which has gotten much better in the last 10 years. I've had it for 19 years.
But the last 2 weeks, I feel like I have more involuntary movements/twitching...I know some of this is normal..like when your leg jerks out of nowhere; its not a huge motion but it moves. Like a few times a day (legs, arms hands).

I recently went to the doc for vertigo symptoms and he gave me a medication (meclizine) for 5 days. It may have helped a bit (the room doesn't spin) but I still feel a general dizziness (not completely "stable" when walking; head feels well, dizzyish). I don't know if that has anything to do w/the twitching.

Also, the littlest thing will startle me. As well as my ears are extremely sensitive (the ear sensitivity I've had for a while, though not to this degree; my ENT had said, before, that it's due to TMJ, so I've been wearing a store-bought night guard; I do clench my teeth at night. Another ENT said she thought it was due to my being always congested; my head does feel constantly full and my ears feel clogged).
I do feel my muscles tense but all this is involuntary. Like, when you're anxious, you tense up. But this happens when I'm not necessarily anxious. It's also somewhat difficult to do things; such as when I'm on the computer, for example, trying to click on things w/the mouse, it may take a few tries before I click where I want.

But as a result of the heightened startle response and the major ear sensitivity, I AM getting anxious. It's hard to sleep, or, fall asleep b/c of the heightened startle response and the major ear sensitivity. I took an extra xanax, which may have helped; its hard to tell since I'm on such a low dose and it may have lost its effect long ago.

I've been on xanax and prozac for more than 10 years.

I looked up my symptoms and got things called Jumping Frenchman of Maine (yes, this is a disorder) though it's not probable b/c its rare. Also, it states that the heightened startle response to sudden stimuli, when with me, its ANY stimuli, or more than just sudden things. Maybe a better way to say it is small things will startle me.

I also found hyperthyroid disorder and hyperacusis when I was looking up my symptoms but I only have about half the symptoms of hyperthyroid and with hyperacusis, it states just that every sound is basically the same volume...loud, which isn't really the case.

If you've read this far, thank you very much!
Anyone had these, or some of these symptoms and found out what it is?

Hi Phixgrrrl,

YES....I have a lot of the symptoms that you do. I have gone through tons of tests with the doc and have found nothing out of whack, and I also suffer from anxiety, so we are working on the assumption that this is anxiety/stress related since all tests have been fine. I have found that taking something for adrenal support (naturopathically - I have a lot of drug allergies) has helped to a good degree with the twitching and dizziness. I find that things are worse when I don't get enough sleep, and yes it's hard to get that sleep when I feel so hyper-sensitive and tightly strung. I was so surprised to see your post, as I have been trying to figure this out myself for a while now. I am sorry you are going through it, too, because I know very well how upsetting it can be.

I am hoping to be able to go for a massage sometime soon (when I can afford it). I feel like maybe that would help to relax my muscles....at least, that is where my instincts are pointing me. Like you, I have spent some time looking up my symptoms, but (as babblin5 said) the number of possible causes is so great, and I don't want to alarm myself by thinking the worst either. I almost never feel better after checking symptoms for anything online....!!!

Let me know how it goes. I do agree that you should check with the doc just to be sure you've ruled out some things. That is always a good thing to do, and it will help you to put some of your concerns aside. Good luck and keep us posted!

Hello phixgrrrl

I am sorry to hear of the  involuntary movements/twitching etc. and I believe that you would do well by making an appointment with a neurologist to receive a good medical screening exam to rule out any physical problems that may be causing your sx.  Do not try to dx yourself as we always assume the most devestating diseases.

Also may I gentle suggest that you lose the Google feature for awhile as there is always some dreaded disease out there that we are sure must be the one.

I had severe vertigo a long time ago and could not stand up...........I talked to my Doctor by phone while lying on the living room floor.  I was sure I was having a stroke..........dizzy and room spinning.  Well she came up with a dx I never thought of much to my chagrin, a middle ear infection.  So please remember there are plenty of other reasons for your sx that can be easily dealt with.

Please know that I understand how scary it is to have sx but do try to stay in the moment and not moved into the panic mode.

Mecalzine!  A great med, you can buy it over the counter by the same name or it is also known as Antivert.  I use it for vertigo.  I have recently weaned of of SSNI drugs and I have some vertigo in the morning...........I take this med and it works well.  I have used it as necessary for many years.

Please remember I am not a professional.

Take care and know we are here for you.

Kitt

Hi...have you been checked for Meniere's Disease?  It a very benign condition but very distressing and causes the whirling/spinning sensations that can last for an hour or days.  It is caused by a build up of fluid in the ear and is believed to be triggered by salt, MSG, nitrates and other things that make the body retain water.  I have had this disorder for thirty years.  My balance is permantley effected.  Sometimes it is triggered by visual stimuli...I looked through a kaliescope once and got it immediately.

I was put on anti-vert but was told I had to take it every day to prevent the attacks.  I was in a coma so I stopped it.  Now, when I feel it coming on I take a valium which is supposed to sedate those little hairs in the middle ear that effect balance.

As for your other symptoms..have those too.  TMJ...big time and ENT told me that can cause vertigo from clenching the teeth and forming somekind of vacuum in the ear canal.

I don't have health insurance either so I understand your concern about going to the doc.  Maybe they have a clinic where you live that will charge you on a sliding scale...most counties do.

Hope you feel better...

Donna

Thank you.
Now it seems, though, that what is bothering me most is this hypersensitivity to sound. Even this tapping of the keyboard is freaking me out a bit. When I hear noise I just feel stimulation, I guess I'd call it, everywhere...my spine, stomach, legs, etc.
Now i know you all said not to google this stuff but... I cannot help it. Doctors aren't telling me so... plus I don't think the worst.

I read online it can be caused by a lot of things, including magnesium deficiency (which I dont know if I have; I'll check my multivit), too much NutraSweet (don't think that's it), overloaded sensory system ("changes in the person's biochemistry, including increases in toxins produced by an overgrowth of yeast and fungus, and possibly exposures to other toxins (e.g., heavy metals, toxic chemicals")--that last one can be helped by "brushing therapy, joint compression and deep pressure", which I don't know what those are, and "link between hypersensitive hearing and the amygdala, located in the limbic system of the brain".
It also said stress can cause a biochemical change, but when the stress is removed, it should go back to normal. The only reason I'm stressed is DUE to the hypersensitivity!

I feel like I should just go into a sensory dep. tank.
Also the tenseness feeling of my muscles and involuntary movements are bothering me. The fact that it takes a little more effort to walk or use the mouse bothers me.

Could this all be anxiety? i did also read that coming OFF of benzodiazapines, like what I'm on (xanax) can cause all my symptoms; only problem w/that is I'm not coming off them. Plus I've been on a very low dose for a long time (a year maybe) of .125; just recently I've upped it to .25 b/c of all this. One day I even took .375, which is still very low.

Good Morning,

Thanks for the tip on the ginger Gretchen.  I did not know that about ginger. 

Sometimes Antivert does not work as well for some people as they may be underdosed. Vertigo (prophylaxis and treatment)—Oral, 25 to 100 mg a day as needed, in divided doses is the range however I know my OTC bottle comes in 12.5mg but I only use it when needed.  If using higher doses you should have your physician prescribing for you.  

Phixgrrrl, I sure would like you to start to feeling  better.

Gentle Hugs,

Kitt