Hi everyone......Have been on here for awhile. Don't know what to do anymore. Feeling like I have MS been this way since I was in my 20's now in my 60's. I had 3 MRI's and all neg. But I also heard that they don't always pick up everything. I take meds which really don't help. Doctors all say it's Anxiety. How can anxiety do this to you. symptoms last all day for weeks or months. May go away for awhile but always returns. Please help me understand what is going on. I live in fear everyday that doctors have misdiagnosed me. Am I in denial here.
hi Gail. Sorry you have to keep going through this fear and anxiety. The doctors have not misdiagnosed you because your testing was negative. It’s extremely rare when a test doesn’t pick something up.
I had your exact symptoms and still get them from time to time. All anxiety related! And yes severe anxiety can create all the symptoms that you have.
Anxiety and stress tend to show their symptoms through the nervous system and many of the symptoms are similar to symptoms in different conditions. So they can look like MS symptoms. but they are not.
if you have had symptoms since your 20s, like I have also, and if you actually had MS, it would show up on the MRI.
your symptoms are really not the problem. The problem is your long-term under managed anxiety and stress that is creating those symptoms. The symptoms is your body‘s way of telling you that there’s way too much anxiety and stress. It’s like the straw that broke the camels back. Your body and your mind can only take so much stress before it breaks down, which is what happened to you as well as me.
The reason your symptoms keep going on is because you are living with anxiety about having a terrible condition and fear is taking you over. So when that happens, you are telling your brain that something is terribly wrong and your brain responds with all of your symptoms!
Unless you are able to get some counseling or get some other support for this, this will never stop and you don’t deserve to have a life feeling miserable and fearful.
i hope that you get some support for this because it really helped me a lot! Take care of yourself
Oh Jan you always come to my rescue!!! Wish you lived closer to me to get me out of this funk. I literally cannot function…all I want to do is sleep. This fatigue is so bad and all the other symptoms. I am leaving for a cruise the beginning of March. I can’t go feeling like this. My Doc upped my meds so hoping that they work. I feel like asking for another MRI it’s been 10 yrs. since my last one that’s why I am doubting everything. Feeling like something is there. Guess denial is my problem. Jan I know I am probably driving you crazy and I apologize. 
you’re not driving me crazy. I just hope you can go on the cruise and really enjoy it. Remember, if you’re having the same symptoms from 10 years ago and your MRI was OK then, it would be OK now.
Life is way too short to be miserable. Go on that cruise and really enjoy it!
i know how much you have struggled with this, but think of how much time in that 10 years was wasted with worry. The worry doesn’t do one bit of good in fact it wastes years of your life.
dont allow fear to take you over.
I am so afraid to go on this cruise because I feel so lousy. I wish there was a magic pill I could take to make these symptoms go away!!! Nobody (not you) understands how awful I feel. They tell me I am doing this to myself. You would think the symptoms would just give up and go away. I can t wait to tell you the day I am symptom free…hope it comes soon. Appreciate all you have done for me Jan!
Multiple sclerosis usually affects people between the ages of 20 and 50 years, and the average age of onset is approximately 34 years.
If you have been having the same symptoms (no worse) for 40 years and have had 3 negative MRIs, it is almost inconceivable that you have MS now.
Hope that helps.
I do feel like my symptoms are worse or should I say more intense. I am so afraid to stay on meds…dont think they really help me. Just don’t know what to do anymore. If meds don’t work then that is telling me it’s not anxiety and it’s more of a physical problem. Thank you for responding. 
hi Gail, even medication sometimes does not eliminate all of the symptoms. I’ve been on medication for anxiety and although it eased my anxiety, I would still get some symptoms. medication is not 100% effective most of the time. The rest of it has to do with getting support for the anxiety. even though I was on medication, there were life situations that was causing the anxiety so that’s why it’s important to get help for this.
it’s a balance between medication and therapy.
i really hope that you feel better for your trip!
Jan it’s so bad…i have convinced myself there is something going on. I did look up burning sensations and it can be caused by anxiety but my mind is not seeing it that way. That seems to be my worst symptom right now. Well at least I have you to help me through this.
Feeling stressed for so many years will definitely make you feel lousy. I had to relearn “gratitude” and “thankfulness” in order to start enjoying my days and not allow anxiety to completely rule my life. It had already taken so many years from me. I hope you can fight with your greatest strength in not allowing it to rule your days. Even simple thoughts helped me: “I’m going to enjoy my day.” “I’m going to enjoy talking with my coworkers.” “I’m going to enjoy spending time with my niece and nephew.” Once I learned how to re-talk to myself and not oppress myself with negative thoughts that were just projections of fear and “what ifs”, I was able to regain my life back, one day at a time. I really wish the best for you and hope you can enjoy your trip! God bless.