Day 1 Scared

Hello,
I'm having some weakness in both wrists, and in one of my pinky fingers. I have some real bad anxiety because I scared myself into thinking i have ALS. I can't get in to see a neurologist for months, so I have to sweat it out.

I don't have pain, I just have weakness. It isn't real weakness, as I'm not dropping things, but holding an iPhone feels heavy, or holding paper even feels a little heavy. So it's perceived weakness. Still, I can't shake my ALS theory.

I've lost 7 pounds in about 3 days because I'm too nauseous to eat, I'm so worried. I started to tell myself that the weakness was in my head, or that it was an RSI injury -- and then the weakness seems to subside a little and I'll feel fatigue in other parts of my arm, like my elbow or the other side of my forearm.

I haven't gotten to the point where I'm totally convinced that TMS is the issue, but I'm here -- and I'm totally open to it.

 

Hi and welcome, cougar. It's very obvious you are scaring the $£@%@ out of yourself. First off, have you had your symptoms checked out by a doctor? If not, this could be your first port of call to rule out anything serious. ALS and other serious conditions have been a preoccupation for many a forum member but in the majority of cases once the person recognised that it was their anxiety (fear) that was driving their symptoms, they were able to take a more objective view.

How did you find out about the forum and TMS? Have you read any books by Dr John Sarno? I would say reading one of his books is a good jumping off point to gain knowledge about TMS and for some his books are the be all and end all. I would also recommend Alan Gordon's TMS recovery program: http://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/TMS_Recovery_Program. I especially like Alan's suggestion to keep an Evidence Sheet to help convince ourselves that our symptoms are benign.

I don't believe anyone can be 100% sure they have TMS at first, even if they say they are. It does take time, a different amount of time for everyone and it's important not to set limits like "if I don't get any relief by next week I will know there is something seriously wrong!!!" You will get there when you get there.

This is a very supportive forum where you will find yourself in good company.

 

Hi, Cougar. yb44 has given you some excellent advice.

I hope you will take a look at this short video made by Herbie, another TMS forum member.
He wraps TMS up nicely:

http://tmswiki.org/forum/threads/what-to-know-to-heal-from-pain-pt-1.5482/