| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| debbette |
Posted - 09/02/2008 : 11:08:34
I think in order for me to move forward, I need to "cleared" by a Dr. I called a TMS Dr (train under Sarno) in my area and set up an appt. in two weeks. Because my symptoms don't have pain involved (just tingling in both feet and now my arm) or seem to be typical TMS/equivalents, I'm constantly questioning if it really is TMS. After talking to the receptionist, I feel like I'm back at square one... terrified it's MS or something horrible, terrified of the tests they may want to do(MRI), focusing on the symptons and fear. The reception told me SHE has MS and all about her symptoms.. yeesh!
CR*P, it's going to be a loooong two weeks  |
| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Littlebird |
Posted - 09/03/2008 : 01:50:03
Debbette,
I had the type of symptoms you've discussed, and mine started in one foot and then spread so that soon both feet, both legs, torso and hands were involved, with other areas sometimes acting up as well. I was told it sounded like MS and I had testing done which all came out normal. When I read Sarno's book (Divided Mind) I knew that the symptoms weren't MS or some other horrible disorder and the symptoms went away. Sometimes one area or another will try to act up again and I just tell myself I'm not going to allow my brain to create those symptoms again.
It's good to get testing to rule out MS, but if your results are clear, let yourself accept that TMS can cause these symptoms and that they can be eliminated by using the TMS treatment.
Best wishes, and let us know how the appointment goes. |
| armchairlinguist |
Posted - 09/02/2008 : 19:26:13
One thing that helped me stop catastrophizing (I wasn't particularly prone to doing it about health, but about almost everything else :) is to realize, truly, how rarely anything that I worry about comes to pass.
We 'know' that our worries are not rational of course and that most of them don't happen. But relentless comparison of "Oh, I worried about X and X didn't happen" -- rather than just "I know I shouldn't worry about X" -- can really help.
I had had a good run on anxiety for a while where it was almost absent, and it started cropping up again around a trip I took in July. I took a travel journal with me and noted down a lot of my worries, and then I observed that literally none of them happened. Every single thing that I spent time worrying about did not happen (and it wasn't because I worried about it; many of them were things out of my control that I could do nothing to affect). A couple of things did happen that I didn't worry about, but none of them turned out to be more than minor annoyances/learning experiences.
I also spent some time looking at where the worries were coming from, which helped too. It can help to think about why you're worrying about something -- what's the personal fear behind the practical fear (e.g. disapproval). And thinking (oddly) about the worst thing that could happen calmed me down too, to realize that even in the bad situations, I would figure something out (quite quickly even, since all I was doing was sitting in the airport pondering these things and letting worries and solutions come to me).
--
What were you expecting? |
| debbette |
Posted - 09/02/2008 : 18:18:14
quote:
Originally posted by armchairlinguist
It's interesting to note in your other post you said you were convinced. Now you say that you aren't. It didn't seem like you were convinced, honestly. People who are convinced are able to work with their doubting thoughts and commit to treating things as TMS anyway.
Yes, yes, you're right. I think at that moment, when I posted previously, I felt convinced. But after reading again and again, "if you've been medically cleared" or "if Drs can't find anything wrong with you" and such, I keep questioning my self diagnosis (TMS). When I went to the neuro only my right foot was tingling and after the MRI and exam, he thought it was a pinched nerve and told me to come back for a follow up. Since then the other foot started tingling and sometimes my arm. So, I feel I haven't really been checked by a Dr for all of these symptoms.
Honestly, I REALLY want to be convinced it's TMS! I don't know.... I'm just feeling lost and scared right now. The darn receptionist really freaked me out! Planted the seeds of symptoms! Doesn't she know she's dealing with a hypochondriac?! 
Anyway, I'm am going to take the great advice from all of these posts and <<work with MY doubting thoughts and commit to treating things as TMS anyway>>, try to take a "worry holiday" and try not to "catastrophize" (my shrink used that word all the time!).
This stuff is so helpful... Thanks so much guys. |
| armchairlinguist |
Posted - 09/02/2008 : 13:57:26
It's interesting to note in your other post you said you were convinced. Now you say that you aren't. It didn't seem like you were convinced, honestly. People who are convinced are able to work with their doubting thoughts and commit to treating things as TMS anyway.
It's totally fine that you need to hear it from a TMS doc, but try to remain clear on how you are REALLY feeling. Don't tell yourself you are convinced if you aren't. Don't tell yourself you're happy if you aren't. Don't tell yourself you are calm if you are afraid. Be where you are, or you can't go anywhere else.
--
What were you expecting? |
| winnieboo |
Posted - 09/02/2008 : 13:10:34
Hi,
While you're waiting, why not give yourself a "worry holiday." Elorac had a post about this. She tells herself not to worry for a couple of days, weeks, whatever, and if the pain is still there after that time period, she'll check it out with a medical doctor. And you've already got the appt. set up!
By the way, my "pain" was a strange sensation in my elbow. It felt sensitive to the touch. That's it, very uncomfortable and odd, but not pain, and I had it for over a year. It vanished once during that time period for about two months, came back again, and vanished again this past July. The doctors couldn't figure it out, so they called it "nerve pain."
In the beginning, I wasn't too upset about it. I figured I pulled something at the gym. But, when it didn't go away, I had an MRI and it showed two herniated discs in my neck. The doctors were convinced that was causing my elbow trouble. When they diagnosed me, my neck didn't even hurt! However, within a couple of weeks (I can assume because my subconscious went to work on it), my neck and shoulders were killing me. Not long after that I developed shooting pains in my arms and hands, tingling in my feet, lower back pain, fatigue, the works. I had a zillion more tests, including an EMG. MS was suspected. But I didn't have anything, just the disc diagnosis. So without conclusive evidence from any test, they told me I had fibromyalgia!
My point is this: TMS produces all kinds of symptoms. It doesn't have to be a crashing back pain. It can be tingling. It can be reflux. It can be a headache. In fact, Sarno's books talk about tingling.
However, if you haven't been completely cleared already, then that's important. But in the meantime, what have you got to lose by continuing the TMS work? I've been pain free for most of the summer and feel great today (although I relapsed last week before taking my son up to college). Hang in there, and remember, you are not the receptionist (who told you about HER MS)! |
| JohnD |
Posted - 09/02/2008 : 13:07:02
Dr. Andrew Weil writes about a woman who overcame MS in his book spontaneous healing. I think there is a large emotional and dietary/nutritional component to MS. |
| Peg |
Posted - 09/02/2008 : 12:45:00
Hi Debbie,
I agree with Lori. Hopefully seeing the TMS Dr. will be helpful to you.
Why does it have to be something horrible? We TMS'ers tend to catastrophize. That's a big part of the problem. You say you're focusing on the symptoms and fear. We have a choice about what we focus on. Choose something else to focus on. There's nothing to be gained by focusing on the symptoms anyway. It doesn't change them.
As far as MS, I think it is over diagnosed and I also don't think it has to be necesssarily progressive. I found an excellent site by a woman (with engineering degrees) who recovered from MS (evamarsh.net) and has done much research on the mind body connection and MS. I also read a good book by Gabor Mate called "When the Body Says No". He makes a good case for MS having a large emotional component.
Good luck
Peg
In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei |
| mizlorinj |
Posted - 09/02/2008 : 12:30:39
Do whatever you feel you need to do. I was thrilled to be told it was TMS, but for some others on this forum who have been given the TMS diagnosis, it was not their cure-all.
Even on the slight chance it is MS, I don't feel MS is hopeless. I have several mind/body books and they talk about MS. I also recall a doc at Dr. Sarno's forum talking about MS. I can't remember exactly what he said, but I remember saying hmmm. . .
Sorry to hear this person at the doc's office scared you so much!
-Lori |
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