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pan
United Kingdom
173 Posts |
 Posted - 08/20/2008 : 21:46:22
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Following on from very stressful week like July (07) I have experienced a year long period of anxiety. The stressful period began with a health scare which was quickly resolved but seemed to leave me with a lasting worry about my health.
The physical anxiety symptoms I experienced lasted for pretty much a year solid and where all neurologically based i.e internal vibrating/buzzing sensations, muscular twitching, muscle aches and pains etc etc. Due to the nature of the 'symptoms' and also the fact that I had developed anxiety with a health fixation I soon became convinced that I was suffering from MS or some other neurological nasty.
Now, I saw a neuro in Jan 08 who advised me that I was OK but as all these symptoms continued I still worried and felt that something was still amiss. I still had all this symptoms and was due to see the neuro again about 2 months or so again. I was still worried about MS and my symptoms seemed to confrim this.
A few days before my 2nd neuro appointment I had some new bloods done and my GP advised me that an auto immune factor had flagged as positive. He advised me that this 'could' indicate an auto immune liver condition but that none of my symptoms fitted this and also that my liver function was pretty much dead on...he advised me that a percentage of people would test positive regardless of having the condition or not and advised me that he would refer me to a heptologist as a routine but that he felt that all was fine.
Now, I immedialty became concerned at this new development. I had my 2nd neuro appointment about 2 days later but I noticed that pretty much all the neuro symptoms had stopped overnight. I saw the neuro and was advised once more that all was well.
Now, by this time I had rather foolishly looked up the symptoms of auto immune liver conditions and literally, the next morning, I woke up to a tight chest, laboured breathing, nausea, acid reflux and an upsey stomach. Whilst I had been experiencing the neuro sensations I had not had any of these symptoms apart from some mild acid reflux.
I am due to see the heptologist sometime in September. For about 6 weeks I have been suffering from constant nausea, tight chest, laboured breathing etc etc...I'm even feeling that the chest pain is located on the right side which is where you would expect it to be with a auto immune liver issue. What is sort of funny is that I am having no objective symptoms i.e discloured stools, jaundice, dark urine etc etc, it is only what I suppose could be labelled the subjective symptoms.
I'm just finding it strange and somewhat suspicous that all this new stuff began literally as soon as the GP mentioned it and I knew what it could entail and also that at the same time that all the neuro stuff could stop dead like that.
The thing is, I know that symptoms such as ongoing anxiety, chest pain and gastric and breathing issues are very common with anxiety so I suppose this could be just anxiety symptom shifing but the more I read about TMS the more I'm wondering if this is like a symptom imperative thing going on?
I have a large number of issues going on that I know I have probably buried and I know I fit a TMS profile with things like perfection tendancies etc etc. My GP seems quite sure that my focus has shifted and that I may have somatised the new symptoms which I totally understand and can buy into. Would just be interested to know if you think that this experience etc sounds like a TMS issue?
Thank you for taking the time to read. |
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armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2008 : 02:01:01
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It's not important whether the symptoms are "TMS" or "anxiety" as these are essentially the same thing and call for similar treatment mechanisms. Recognize that the symptoms are psychological in origin (once you are tested ok as you will be soon), and don't let the symptoms distract or prevent you from living a normal life and addressing emotional issues.
There is a book that people frequently recommend as helpful for anxiety manifestations, which is Claire Weekes, if you want to look at that.
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What were you expecting? |
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pan
United Kingdom
173 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2008 : 02:09:09
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Well, I have accepted that in all likelyhood the symptoms are psychological in origin rather than organic. There is always an element of doubt due to the test result which does of course pose a problem for moving forward at this stage.
I suppose my query was more along the lines of if TMS and anxiety are one and the same thing and I think you made your viewpoint clear on that issue.
Yes, I have read the books you suggest at quite an early stage but I found them to concentrate more on the panic attack side of anxiety rather than issues like health anxiety etc.
Thanks for the reply. |
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Hillbilly
USA
385 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2008 : 07:19:24
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Pan,
Check out the book, "It's Not All in Your Head," by Gordon J.G. Asmundson and Steven Taylor. This book is specifically about health anxiety and contains a program that requires strict adherence based upon a cognitive behavioral approach. In this book, the statement is made that insight therapy is to be avoided as it is not very effective in treating anxiety-related illnesses. You will see ample evidence of this fact right here on this forum. If this puts you in a sort of paradigm limbo, that is unfortunate, seeing as how you have been admonished by Dr. Sarno to mine the unconscious for unacceptable emotions and befriend the inner child. In reality, TMS and anxiety disorders, nervous illness, functional illness, psychosomatic disorders, are all one and the same. The symptoms are horrible but entirely harmless.
I saw a thread about the power of suggestion here this morning, which is exactly what you are doing to yourself every day. You feel something strange or uncomfortable in your body and automatically think it is something you have read about or something ominous that the doctors have missed, you shoot stress hormones throughout your body, and remain sensitized and feeling yucky because your body believes you are in a constant state of emergency. If you have read Claire Weekes' work, you should recognize this explanation. She first published Hope and Help for Your Nerves in 1969. Stressed nerves are still just stressed nerves. Stop frightening yourself and you can heal quickly.
I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.
Ralph Waldo Emerson |
Edited by - Hillbilly on 08/21/2008 07:42:29 |
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mizlorinj
USA
490 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2008 : 07:40:16
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quote:
Originally posted by pan
I have a large number of issues going on that I know I have probably buried
How about working on getting out some of the things you say you know you have buried?
I'm currently reading Feelings Buried Alive Never Die . . .
-Lori |
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winnieboo
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2008 : 11:49:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Pan
There is always an element of doubt due to the test result which does of course pose a problem for moving forward at this stage.
This is the biggest problem.
Remember a medical doctor's function is to diagnosis and treat. If you take symptoms to them, they will diagnosis and treat. Not to mention order expensive and sometimes invasive tests along the way.
"Undoing" all those messages from medical authorities is difficult, You almost have to deprogram yourself.
One year after various doctors told me I had herniated cervical discs and/or fibromyalgia, I am pain free, b/c my correct diagnosis was TMS.
I am a somatizer AND I have anxiety and some OCD.
I see an insight-oriented shrink. I had done cognitive behavioral therapy in the past, and I know that's recommended for the fixating tendencies...But the insight-based work was very powerful and got me out of the physical pain AND has helped with the anxiety.
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pan
United Kingdom
173 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2008 : 14:55:00
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quote:
Originally posted by winnieboo
quote:
Originally posted by Pan
There is always an element of doubt due to the test result which does of course pose a problem for moving forward at this stage.
This is the biggest problem.
Remember a medical doctor's function is to diagnosis and treat. If you take symptoms to them, they will diagnosis and treat. Not to mention order expensive and sometimes invasive tests along the way.
"Undoing" all those messages from medical authorities is difficult, You almost have to deprogram yourself.
One year after various doctors told me I had herniated cervical discs and/or fibromyalgia, I am pain free, b/c my correct diagnosis was TMS.
I am a somatizer AND I have anxiety and some OCD.
I see an insight-oriented shrink. I had done cognitive behavioral therapy in the past, and I know that's recommended for the fixating tendencies...But the insight-based work was very powerful and got me out of the physical pain AND has helped with the anxiety.
That is a very good and valid point there.
The GP actually ordered me a the blood panels and sort of ticked the auto immune stuff as an after thought. Sod's law one of those came back positive. My GP said much the same when he advised me of the positive test, the more symptoms you give the more tests you have and it is only a matter of time before something abnormal is found. It is like loads of people are walkning around with the same marker as me but because they where not having investigative tests then this would never be known to them...most would fit into the group that the 'normal' test criteria does not apply.
Thanks for the reply. |
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TMS or Straightforward Anxiety?
