ALS anxiety triggered

[AriaRen 19]

So one of the creators of the Ice Bucket challenge has unfortunately died of ALS at 37, it's a trend on twitter at the moment. I very stupidly clicked on it, and seen his first symptom was a twitch that never stopped. Que me, worrying about my twitching toes now. 

 

I don't know whether contacting a doctor will do me more harm than good at this point, do I ask them to look into it? How do I know it's a waste of time? I'm scared right now, I felt like I was doing well and now I'm like this. I feel selfish too, this man died and his poor family will be distraught, and here I am being an idiot over it all, he deserves more respect. 

 

Sorry, just had to vent...

[MARC 431]

I believe the twitching is constant and severe, if that is a symptom someone has who has ALS. The four people I knew who had ALS, twitching was not a symptom they had. 

[Holls 1505]

I would be careful repeating that info. I have talked to many many people with also and they all say it is extremely rare to start with just a twitch. Reading articles is just as bad as googling. I saw that he passed. I said a prayer for peace and moved on. If als is a trigger for you, it is for me...(was for me) then never expose yourself to things like that. 

Twitches are extremely extremely common. Als is NOT! 

[DTC2129 0]

Hi, I’ve also been petrified that I have ALS. I actually just posted for the first time about it and then I stumbled upon your post. Linking my post if you don’t mind in case someone here might read it and be able to help. 

 

I hate being stuck in my own thoughts. It’s completely taken control of my life. But I’m almost certain something is wrong 😞

Wishing the best for you. 

[AriaRen 19]

Apologies guys, I didn't mean to trigger anyone else, I should've thought of that, I was just so caught up in the moment. 

 

Holls - it was accidental, I actually have als/mnd etc blocked on twitter, but it doesn't block them in the trending part, so I do try to keep it away, I've stopped googling etc. 

 

DTC - I seen your post, and I worried about my hands a lot too, but for the length of time you've had your symptoms, you'd know if it was ALS. I totally get how difficult this is, it's scary, but if you're anything like me then I know you'll just want to get back to your old self, and I know we can do it. Health anxiety is super difficult, it's such an irrational kind of anxiety, but it's just our brains doing that whole worst case scenario thing with perfectly natural body stuff, we just need to keep that in mind. I'm always here for a chat if you need one 🙂

[jonathan123 2368]

Hi. Holls. You are so right. Words can have such an effect and if repeated often enough can become obsessive. We are like a dog with a bone, worrying it when all the meat is off it, but we won't let it go. Why? Because our unconscious mind has taken it up and is constantly sending 'what if' messages. But why ALS? Because we are bombarded with information about this particular disease. There are literally thousands of diseases mankind is heir to, but some stick in the mind. Let me ask a question. If we have never heard of ALS would we be worrying about it?  Suppose I tell someone that they have Mississippi swamp fever. (Don't look it up, it doesn't exist). Some may Google the symptoms and off we go. Psychosomatic disorders fill the doctor's surgery. (Psycho, the mind. Somatic, the body). It's so easy to convince ourselves we have some awful disease, not so easy to unconvince ourselves.  I suggest the first port of call is our GP, if only for reassurance. Believe them when they give you the all clear.      Best Wishes.     John.

[jonathan123 2368]

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Google have a lot to answer for in imagined illnesses. So may opinions, so much misinformation. 

I never use any of them. When some come on there with false and dangerous information ask yourselves, have they done five years at medical school? Have they done three years internship and many years in practise?   Would you let anyone who was not a qualified mechanic tinker with you car? I read and hear so much about imaginary diseases it still amazes me. But is it surprising? In the UK doctor's surgeries are a hotbed for information that affects health anxiety sufferers. 'Have you got this symptom or that'? plastered all over the walls with leaflets. It is sad to say that so many doctors have no idea about health anxiety. 'It's all in the mind!!'. Of course it is, where else would it be? But that's no comfort for sufferers. 

[MARC 431]

As I have said in other posts, ALS is extremely rare with only 5,000 cases diagnosed yearly in the USA. Compare that with heart disease and cancer and there is NO comparison.