| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Leh |
Posted - 07/17/2004 : 14:54:22
Very interesting board here. I have so many TMS equivolents I won't spend time on them all. I have had back pain off and on for 20+ years. Diagnosed with three herniations, numerous bulging disks via MRI. When the doctors looked at my x-rays they say my back looks like it has been through the grinder. Many bone spurs, etc. Once I found out about Sarno and read his books I declined surgery and have been much better with severe symptoms. Still get some back stiffiness and pain now and then.I have read all the books many times, just not in last few years. I must dig them out again. As my latest TMS equivolent I have developed a sort of dizziness, off balance feeling. I also get hypersensitive to noise and ear pressure and ringing. Will go to ENT soon. Went through all the normal tests but no brain tumor or heart problems. They just said I have could have anxiety and want to put me on Valium (NO THANKS). I so feel tense a lot. I just keep going back and fourth between it being TMS and it being something physical like a severe hormone inbalance. I am post menopausal, age 52. So just wondering if anybody has experienced this strange symptom of head rushes, fatigue, hearing sensitivity, ear pressure and ringing. I try to think of things that may be causing it in my life, but these rushes hit so suddenly, even when I am just relaxing and not doing anything stressful. The dizziness also brings on feeling of nausea. Anyway any imput would be appreciated.
Leh |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Laura |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 09:40:06
Dear Dave,
THANK YOU!!! I really appreciate you taking the time to offer your opinion and thoughts. I have read what you said and I will re-read what you said, because I do believe you have a lot of wisdom on this entire matter. You have helped me more than you'll ever know!!! I definitely had you pegged wrong. You are a really good guy with a really big heart!!! I know your posts are not "advice" but that's okay. I respect your opinion and I believe you are a wealth of information and knowledge.
Thanks, Dave. Have a great weekend.
Laura
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| Dave |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 09:01:56
Laura,
First, please don't take my posts as "advice" because I am certainly not qualified to tell anybody what to do. I am just talking from my own personal experience, and my rather strict interpretation of Dr. Sarno's work.
The nightmares are very interesting. I think it really sums up the root of your TMS.
You are trying so hard to make the "perfect" bat mitzvah for your daughter, but deep down you don't believe you have what it takes to pull it off.
In the other dream, you're trying hard to conquer the dizziness using the TMS approach, but deep down you don't believe you will succeed.
These kinds of feelings are common in everyone. Who hasn't had a nightmare about sitting down to take a test at school and then realizing we are totally unprepared. We want to have total control over our lives, but we can't, and that's enraging.
We have to work hard not to let these deep-seeded fears percolate to the surface, because they translate into avoidance. I believe fear of failure at treating TMS can be a major bottleneck in getting rid of symptoms. There were days I would have so much pain, even after months of using the TMS approach, that I could not believe that I would ever have success. In these desperate times it's easy to throw our arms up in frustration and stop trying.
Instead we have to learn to live in the moment, and to accept that this is a long-term process. Do the best we can today, and then do the same tomorrow. Try not to be hard on ourselves. Accept that if we do the work, results will come.
This doesn't only apply to TMS but to everything we do. Accept that if you do your best at preparing for the bat mitzvah, then that day will be successful. Accept that it doesn't have to be perfect for it to be successful. These events never go off without a hitch; there are always inconveniences to deal with. But in the grand scheme of things, when that day comes, it will be a success because you have competently prepared for it.
Regarding the elliptical trainer, forget it. Don't do it if it causes dizziness. Some people don't like those machines, there is no reason to challenge yourself. Sure, it is possible that the dizziness is TMS and was brought on because you expected it. Maybe 6 months from now you can try again. But for now, just try a different form of exercise.
One of the difficult aspects of treating TMS is resuming physical activity. On the one hand you have to resume full physical activity as soon as you can, including those activities that caused symptoms. On the other hand, if those activities continue to cause symptoms, they can shake your faith in the TMS diagnosis. So you have to take it slowly, don't push yourself too hard. Remember, this is a long-term process. |
| Colleen |
Posted - 05/04/2005 : 10:43:06
LEH,
As for the menopause.....I had a total hysterectomy at age 43 (just one year ago) and unlike woman who naturally go into menopause over a 5 to 7 year span of time, within days, I was in full blown menopause, where I still struggle today.....what a ride it is. There are so many things that menopause can bring on, so you are right in assuming some of it to be just that. I tried the hormone patch, but gave that up in about 4 months. I tried soy milk and all that, but gave that up too. So, now I just try to eat the best I can and I avoid caffine as I am prone to anxiety.....for which I do take a very small amount of klonopin. I have had a lot of fatigue and low level depression as well.....which I think is both menopausal and a result of my feet being in constant pain. |
| Laura |
Posted - 05/04/2005 : 09:49:06
Last night I brought this old thread up right before I went to bed. While I was sleeping (or barely sleeping - I had very fitful sleep) I was having nightmares. One nightmare was that I showed up for my daughter's bat mitzvah and everyone was already there and I couldn't find a place to sit. As I walked in, I suddenly panicked that I would have to give a speech. I didn't think I could do it. I wanted to run out but couldn't. Then, I had a nightmare that I was on a vacation somewhere and I was required to get on a boat to go somewhere. I kept saying that I couldn't get on the boat "because it will make me dizzy" but apparently, I had no choice. Then I woke up. Very interesting. Now, this morning I don't have any dizziness.
Today I'm going to try what I think Dave would say to do and "laugh" if I get dizzy. Maybe I should just "enjoy the ride."
Laura
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| pault |
Posted - 05/04/2005 : 04:43:56
Leh ,try to pay special attention to the chapter on how illogical the unconscious brain is and things will make more sense.Try not to think about those x-rays and how bad those Doctors said they look.Try to think of your back as very durable.I have a friend who had multi-fusions (that did not work)who has returnsd to a fully active life with the correction of tms.Be patient and believe in the system,get well! Paul. |
| Laura |
Posted - 05/03/2005 : 23:40:47
Hi, everyone,
I was going through some very old posts and found this one from over a year ago. Interesting...I never read it before when I first found this forum. In fact, I thought I was one of the first ones who had experienced dizziness as a TMS equivalent.
Anyone familiar with my previous posts knows the hell I've suffered with dizziness. It's been three years exactly since I went to Cancun and the rocking/floating/imbalance thing started. I know that Dr. Andrew Weil believes that people sometimes experience a worsening of symptoms during "anniversaries", i.e. of the time that the problem started. I don't know if it's the fact that it's my "anniversary" from my last airplane/boat trip or if it's the insurmountable stress being heaped upon me in my personal life, but my dizziness is at an all time high, almost as bad as it was when it first started.
I am seriously examining all the rage I harbor within myself - at my in-laws (they are extremely intrusive and create constant turmoil in my marriage, especially lately), at my husband (for never having the backbone to speak up to them), at myself (for not doing so myself), at my daughter (for talking back and just being, I guess, a typical teenager), and all the day to day bulls--- that just happens.
The people who posted on this thread talked about hormones. I am 45 and am in the throes of perimenopause. I also have TMS. Sometimes it's hard to differentiate what are "normal" premenopausal symptoms and what are TMS equivalents, or maybe they overlap, I don't know. I know anxiety is a TMS equivalent, and God knows I've got plenty of that. I'm stressing big time - how am I going to pay for my daughter's bat mitvah (only 5 1/2 weeks away) - my husband hasn't gotten a check in awhile and is waiting for a deal to close, will I be able to give the speech I've prepared or will I have a freakin heart attack from the anxiety of it all (I'm seriously scared to death!!!), will everything come off without a hitch (the person who promised a half year ago to help me may not even be in town now), and on, and on, and on. I know what anxiety does to a person - I just keep reminding myself to "breathe" and try to relax, but it's easier said than done.
I just keep reading the words that Dave has written on one of his posts - about how he had back pain so bad while standing at the sink every morning and how he even "laughed" at it. I've got to do the same, and so far I haven't laughed at any of it. I have shown "disdain" for it, as someone else said, and I have cried about it, and I have tried to "control" it as was also mentioned, and I've tried to "ignore" it, but I've never really "laughed" at it the way Dave spoke of. Dave, if you are reading this, please, give me some of your "cut to the chase" advice because I need it desperately!
Over the weekend, our family went to the health club to work out. I told my husband about my experience of trying to ride the eliptical trainer and feeling dizzy after a minute or two (really dizzy and "floaty" for a few minutes afterward, accompanied by a bit of nausea). I know I "expected" to feel dizzy and my tricky brain fulfilled the fantasy. I know that! The rational part of my brain understands that. But there is some tiny voice in my mind still thinking "But, maybe there's REALLY something wrong with your inner ear, Laura." How the hell do I turn off that voice???? I want it to go away. So, this past weekend my husband says "Here, this is another eliptical trainer. Try this one, it won't make you as dizzy." I get on the thing and I start going and I don't feel too bad so I start going faster and faster, and then I had to stop. Again, when I got off I felt woozy and "spacey" for a few minutes.
Dave -- I want to know what you would do if this were you. Would you keep getting on that darn machine and "laughing" at the dizziness? Am I on the right track at all if I do this? HELP!!!! I notice that every time I start thinking anxious thoughts (say about the speech, or money, or whatever) that I get dizzy and "off balance." When that happens, I pause for a minute and take some deep breaths. It does help a little.
Any thoughts? Thanks.
Laura
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| Leh |
Posted - 07/19/2004 : 14:12:18
Thanks for the replies. I think I will just try to not focus so much on my symptoms and quit "trying to figure them out". I believe it is hormone related but can be made worse by dwelling which is a TMS thing going on. I will definitely get the books out and read them again. At least I know other women my age have similar symptoms. I have been also told that I have symptoms of fibromyalgia with the dizziness, fatigue and aches and pains, but I do not want to buy in to another diagnosis. I have had enough of those to fuel a lifetime of TMS symptoms. I try to stay away from all regular MDs if possible, I am too impressionable. Thanks again for the responses.
leh
Leh |
| Sarah Jacoba |
Posted - 07/19/2004 : 00:54:27
My TMS days started in 1994 with hypersensitivity to noise. It began with a legit problem (too many hours with headphones in the studio) but turned into a TMS problem when I got more and more fearful about hurting my ears. classic TMS scenario, I was going through a divorce at the time, and worrying about my ears was a good distraction. I have also had really bad dizziness when the fibromyalgia stage of the TMS kicked in bad. the dizziness has gone away. It is all part, in my opinion, of the same syndrome, so dont worry. Read the tinnitus.org site for more info on how you can negatively retrain your ears to be ridiculously symptomatic and sensitive, without their being anything wrong.
--Sarah
"When dream and day unite" |
| mala |
Posted - 07/18/2004 : 06:15:45
Leh,
Sorry to hear about your bad back abd other problems that you've been having. If reading Sarno's books has helped in the past then you need to start reading again and keep reading them.
Many of the symptoms you are having now have been mentioned as tms equivalents in another tms book by Marc Sopher which is available on line titled 'To be or not to be Pain Free'. Sometimes hormonal imbalances can produce havoc in our bodies and anxiety
is a big problem with many women in their 40s and 50s.
I know that many women have had relief from symptoms by changing their diets and talikng supplements. Maybe you could try too along with the Sarno reading.
Good Luck & Good Health
Mala |
| EileenTM |
Posted - 07/17/2004 : 19:07:40
Leh, I am 53 and think some of my symptoms may be related to menopause. I do not have hot flashes which is a big mystery to me. But I do have sleep problems, ringing in the ears, depression, problems with memory and concentration. I have had one period in the past year. It was in January so I guess I am not officially post menopause. It is hard for me to sort out what is menopause and what might be TMS. My various body pains I am sure are TMS. They respond to the focusing on psychological. The others do not. I do not take HRT, cannot tolerate it. Used to have dizziness much of the time til menopause started. Then it went away. But I also had low blood pressure. Now it is more normal, but still on the low side. The thing that bothers me most is this low level depression. I cannot feel any joy and I used to feel joy almost everyday. I was one of those people who was happy most of the time. I appreciated the little things in life. That is gone and it is tough living without it. I would be interested to know your symptoms and what you think is TMS. Could be our subconscious takes advantage of the hormone imbalances. |
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