Severe Health Anxiety or MS?

[nh_user_1368048]

Hey guys im very new to this but im reaching a point where im feeling quite desperate. Im a 22yo male and for my entire life i have suffered bouts of anxiety and mild depression, but for the past two years i have been in absolute fear and panic. My anxiety and panic attacks stem mostly from the symptoms i get from my anxiety which leads me to be in this never ending cycle and fear about having MS (multiple sclerosis.) I get extreme heavieness and weakness on the right side of my body as well as random hot sensations on my right leg and foot. Which as of right now are my two main worries. I have been off and on medications for the past year and a half (10mg of escitalopram). I also get several other symptoms like jittering eyes as if everything i see is moving very quickly back and fourth, feeling off balance when walking, trouble swallowing, and so many more. I have been seeing a doctor for this past year or so but he keeps writing it off as just anxiety. Which after an appointment i feel better for, we’ll say a couple hours and then its straight back to panic. He also Refuses to refer me to a neurologist or get me some sort of test like an MRI as I know that’s really one of the only true ways to tell or diagnose MS. I do deep down know that i have an anxiety disorder but i cant help but think with all these horrible sensations and thoughts that they are missing it and its ruining my life. Its so hard to go to work as i have to call in multiple times a week, i cant eat or hold down food, its causing issues with relationships in my life and i just cannot function.

I guess this was more of a rant for me but i was just wondering if anyone else has had or is going through the same or close to the same situation as me or any advice would be awesome. Thank you

[nh_user_742877]

It doesn’t sound like you have MS.

MS affects the nerves, so people with MS usually experience numbness, pins and needles and pain that comes and goes. When their eyes are affected, they will have dull eye pain, especially when they move their eye, and poor vision. Maybe even some color blindness. Did the doctor have you look to the side? People with MS often have twitching eyes that can be seen when they look to the side.

Difficulty swallowing is a VERY common anxiety symptom.

It’s also possible the medication you’re taking is causing some odd side-effects, like the jittering.

Health anxiety sucks. You need to get the anxiety under control one way or another.

[nh_user_1367703]

I thought I had ms also. I had blurred vision, numbness, tingling, fog, muscle weakness, and coldness in hands and feet and hot sensations, etc. seen neurologist done tests like balance, reflexes, strength tests. she said I didn’t have ms. did a mri of the brain to make me feel better, came back clear. after that I thought I had multiple myeloma, had blood test, all clear. now, I think lupus. I’m currently waiting on blood test results. health anxiety seems never ending. it always going to be something. I have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. but, I always think it is something else causing my sensations.