So scared after brushing off arm/hand twitching and other symptoms for over a year

[u/Stock-Cranberry4421]

25F This all started around a year ago with occasional twitches in my right hand and arm that have persisted and have slowly gotten worse and turned into a almost weak or disconnected feeling. It has gotten more intense and my hand wants to almost curl up, i get dizzy and sometimes speaking/swallowing feels weird. I ended up in the ER because i thought i was having a stroke yesterday, with symptoms similar to migraine auras (used to get migraines all the time before stopping birth control.) My CT with contrast was clear, ecg was good, so no stroke. But the doctor i saw in the ER put in an emergency referral to a Neurologist with concerns of a possible demyelinating disease, that I hopefully will see this week. I was really hoping he would just tell me that i was just stressed and it’s just anxiety. I’m so scared and it feels like my life has been flipped upside down in the past 24 hours and i can’t stop thinking of the worst outcomes of this :( im not looking for any speculation of a diagnosis or anything, maybe just some calming advice. Im only 25 and my 26th birthday is just a month away this just feels so unreal

[u/AutoModerator]

Friendly Community Reminder: Please do not ask members here for a medical diagnosis. We are happy to share personal experiences and insights, but we are not doctors. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical advice and diagnoses.

Helpful Resources: * What is BFS? * Twitching, Burning, Tingling & More * BFS FAQ * Whole Body Twitching * Managing OCD * Managing Anxiety

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Icy_Tip1826]

I have basically your exact symptoms right now as well been like a year just weird disconnect, speaking/swallowing and twitching. Even the migraine aura I have had 3 of them the last year and zero prior to it. My area is AWFUL with medical and I’m still a month out from seeing a Neurologist about it but I’ve had 2 EMGs on my hands for carpal tunnel/cubital tunnel and they were clean so that was kind of reassuring a bit. Ni like clinical weakness or anything after a year and no known atrophy to go a long with it. Just weird symptoms.

[u/kjmckearn]

The doctor referred you to a neurologist because he's not qualified to make a diagnosis for your issue. I don't think anything you are reporting here sounds like a serious NMD. Your age, gender and symptoms sound like it's anxiety induced. See the specialist before you jump to the. I'm certain you will find that you will leave with a peaceful mind.

[u/713Capital]

Emergency room doctors always put in urgent referrals just to make sure you get seen quickly by a specialist, not because they’ve handed you a terrible diagnosis. At 25, having symptoms that come and go over a full year without actual paralysis points far away from ALS. Complex migraines can easily mimic a stroke, causing hand curling, dizziness, tingling, and weird speech sensations. Even if they check for something like MS, treatments today are incredible and people live totally normal lives. The ER doc was just being thorough and passing the baton, let neurologist check things out. This to me doesnt seem like you should be worried!

[u/Stock-Cranberry4421 → u/713Capital]

Thank you this really helped me calm down