Any young TMSers?

[TheKingAdRock]

mine didn't became a major problem when i was 22, to the point it consumed my entire life. but after learning about tms i can look back and see i had TMS symptoms all throughout my teen years, maybe even earlier.

like i had low back pain and discomfort from the time i was 15 or so and would periodically 'strain' my lower back and be laid up in bed for a few days, but it didn't interfere greatly with my everyday life.

i also always had seasonal allergies and took otc medication for it my whole life basically. after learning about tms i decided to do an experiment and stop taking the medication and have been off for at least 9months by now and suffer little or no allergy symptoms i had before. itchy/watery eyes was my main symptom.

and now that i think about it i use to have headaches all the time in my teen years, like almost daily. no migraines or anything severe.

 

[Steve Ozanich]

Mine began at 7 with rheumatic fever and it didn't stop until I found the good doctor at 40. Cradle to grave means anyone can get it.

kb617 that is "disembarkment syndrome" which is TMS. You heal by reducing fear, which is the same for all TMS.

SO

 

[MWsunin12]

Hi Snickers, I am 26 and new to this too- here is my story!
Hi all, my name is Kristy and I am very new to TMS and feel compelled to share my story. I am 26 currently working as close to full time as possible while going to nursing school full time to pursuit a career change. Last April I got off of the most terrifying plane ride and felt like I was walking on a boat for 3 weeks solid. It was right at the end of the semester and I eventually went to the Dr. to rule out stroke, clot, etc. After school ended and my Dr. visit it just magically went away and I never thought twice about it. On Halloween weekend, in the middle of an extremely hard semester I woke up one morning just completely dizzy again. I immediately panicked thinking something sinister must be wrong for this to come back. That was a Friday. On Saturday and Sunday I suffered two debilitating panic attacks because I started googling my symptoms, PLUS I was studying nursing and learning about all of these chronic diseases with no cure. I knew that leading up to this I was clenching my jaw at night from stress but thought nothing of it. There is no way stress can cause dizziness. So since the panic attacks, my head and Neck muscles have been in chronic spasm. I kept down this dark path, went to an ENT who left me with no advice and the parting words of "I won't tell you not to worry." This set off another downward spiral. So I invested in a brain and IAC MRI which came back completely normal. I overcame my fear of multiple sclerosis, chiari malformation, and brain tumor which had been plaguing me for the past month. All the while I am still clenching my jaw in my sleep. I had about one week of feeling like I was about to kick the dizziness, it was very mild when walking compared to feeling like I was walking on a boat the whole time. I decided to give the ENT one more time and went to a dizziness specialist. He said, "no way is this your ears, do you clench your jaw?" to which I replied "yes." He said I have upset my inner ear by clenching and referred me to a TMJ specialist. The specialist is very convinced that I have very good chance at getting better by wearing a splint to help with relaxing my jaw and prevent the constant clenching. I listened to Dr. Sarno yesterday and realized that I was internalized absolutely everything I was going through emotionally (probably since I was in my teen years) and this manifested in chronic jaw clenching and inflammation which is causing this relentless imbalance. Since my TMJ appointment I have now become so scared that it will never go away, I unfortunately got on google to understand more of the diagnosis and that lead me to a bunch of horror stories. Now I have added eye strain and floaters in my eyes to this dizziness. I never had this until TMJ was put into my mind. I know this sounds like such a sob story but I am writing because I KNOW Dr. Sarno is the answer. I just need help in not being afraid of the dizziness and eye strain. My suboccipital muscles are still spasmed so I develop a tension headache when I go for a run (I love running and triathlons) so I only walk now. Do any of you have any guidance as to how I can develop my confidence that I am only experiencing these symptoms because of everything I repressed. I have the MRI proving that there is nothing wrong with me but I cannot get the picture of my jaw being inflamed out of my head (it's hard when you are surrounded by western medicine as a nurse). I really appreciate you all and just know that your stories are so encouraging to me and you leave me filled with hope!
Thanks for reading this lengthy story,
Kristy

Kristy,

Steve Ozanich is right. It's Maldebarkment Syndrome that is causing you to feel you're on a boat. I went through many of the same tests you did when I first had it following a stressful plane ride, as well. I won't tell you my whole history and having it reoccur 4 times, but I now believe 100% that it is TMS. Please don't research it online. There are people who are VERY attached to having it for years who are miserable and hopeless…and reading their stories and the anxiety it provoked in me actually prolonged when I had it for months. However, here's the thing almost every story has in common, it starts during a stressful trip or time. Young sailors used to get it after months on ships during the wars, etc. All stress.

If I can help you at all, it will be to tell you this: The best you can do for yourself is to keep up your routine and let the stress of wondering what is wrong with you, go. Nothing is wrong with you. As soon as I knew my anxiety was keeping it going, I took steps to help it disappear, like meditation and taking a stress relief herbal product. I wish I had known that it was TMS.

The reason doctors don't know about it is because there really isn't a physical reason for it except TMS. Your brain is slightly deprived of oxygen in the area of balance, but it's the anxiety that keeps it going. Like getting off a carnival ride. If you're having fun, you might be dizzy for a minute or two, but…because you aren't stressed…your brain lets it go.

I hope this makes sense. You're a young woman on a great path. Don't be afraid. I've been there. Stop thinking about it and please don't read online about it.

all my best,
Marcia