Unusual Anxiety Symptoms: Neurological?

New diagnosis and before diagnosis
1

Hi there,

I’m writing to ask the community about experiences with early MS symptoms.

For full transparency, I am 21 (female) and have been diagnosed with anxiety which is what I have been attributing this to. However, there are some symptoms that I am struggling to understand. This is why I am wondering if anyone here recognises the following symptoms.

This is quite specific, but I will randomly get a strong sensation of cold liquid like water internally leaking from the top of my head and dripping down the back of my neck. I spoke to a psychiatrist about this, and he felt it was less likely to be anxiety related, and had only heard it described by people with MS. This is followed by fatigue and a bad headache. (As well as an an aching and stiffening in my neck, calves, and back).

The second symptom is insomnia caused by a sensation in my ribs and back when trying to sleep. It is very hard to describe but it’s like a tingly constricting and tightening sensation in the ribs when lying down. I do also get tingling in my hands and feet, and at times a tremor in one hand, but again have assumed this is anxiety.

My forgetfulness and brain fog do seem to be worsening too, extending to clumsiness, lack of co-ordination, and at times struggling with articulation of commonsensical sentences and words both in writing and in speech. There are a few other things like a ringing or loss of hearing in my hear, moments of slightly blurred vision, and some changes in bowel and bladder movements.

I of course expect that if I do call the doctor with these symptoms, that I will be made to feel it’s all in my head (and honestly, some of these sensations already make me feel like I’m losing the plot as it is!)

I’m just wondering if any of this resonates with anyone here?

I am level-headed when it comes to health. I don’t experience health anxiety. I’m just trying to figure out whether my symptoms warrant pushing for a more neurologically oriented investigation with my doctor.

Thank you for reading this and enjoy the rest of your day! Any insight is appreciated :slight_smile:

2

Hi,

I have similar symptoms to yourself, strange sensations I’m my legs, pain in my legs, back and arms, occasional hearing loss, insomnia and fatigue.

Just before I knew I had MS I started to get high anxiety and paranoia. After my diagnosis I was told it could be caused by MS, depending on the location of the scars in my brain.

After taking my prescribed pain killers and muscle relaxers, I sleep a lot better, but with the fatigue I am now having to return to my bed every other afternoon.

I wish I had been diagnosed while DMTs would have been effective, but diagnosed with SPMS after years of different symptoms not being identified as MS.

The earliest it is diagnosed or proven to be another condition, the sooner treatment can start.

I would keep a diary of your symptoms and feelings to present to your doctor as evidence, and it may point them in the right direction.

Hope all goes well and that this information may help you in some way.

EH.

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