Second Opinion re: GAD

[Tambone]

I realize that I haven't been seen by the doctors on this forum but I'm looking for a second opinion. I am a 41 year old single mother of a very strong willed 4 year old and I work full-time. I worry pretty much constantly about my daughter, finances, my health and my job. I am about 40-45 lbs overweight and have been very healthy until about a year ago. I have been experiencing a long list of physical symptoms pretty much every day since May 2007. Many of them come and go multiple times throughout the day. They do not seem to be necessarily related to anxiety or worrying. I can be at work, at a movie, at a park with my daughter, shopping, anywhere and they occur at random. Some days are better than others but rarely do I have a day that I am completely symptom free. My symptoms are as follows: Blurred vision, vertigo (no spinning, room moving back/forth or side/side while I walk), weird/wobbly sensation inside head/imbalance, random sharp pains throughout body, GERD, frequent belching, waves of nausea, soreness/pain around eyes, electrical shock sensation through arms/legs, tightness in throat/chest, pins/needles/numbness in different parts of body, arm joints sore to touch, tightness in joints, muscle twitches, pain/numbness in face, lip/chin trembling, sharp pain/pressure in head, neck pain and tightness. I have been very worried about MS as my grandfather had it. I had 2 MRIs in 8/07 - both came back normal. Had a physical exam with neurologist twice and ENT once. Neurologist doesn't feel my symptoms are neurological and that I don't have MS since there weren't any lesions on the imaging. She believes my symptoms are somatic and due to anxiety/stress. I've seen a therapist that feels I have GAD. Do you agree with this diagnosis? Can GAD really be the cause of all of these symptoms? I've been reading a lot about MS online and my symptoms sure seem to match the criteria. There's no doubt that I have stress in my life but don't we all. I just don't understand how I went from feeling fine a year ago to feeling so awful now. Can GAD really reek this much havoc on your body?

[RubyWitch]

Just wanted to add these last words of wisdom (?) STAY OFF THE INTERNET SYMPTOM SITES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RubyWitch]

You have been cleared of MS what? Three times? LET IT GO! YOU DO NOT HAVE IT! What you have told us are ALL classic symptoms of stress which has now morphed into anxiety. Every single symptom you've described, we have all had, are having or will have! (As anxiety ridden folks, we really like variety!)
You are a single mother of what you described as a very "strong willed 4 year old." A strong willed 4 year old would tax Mother Theresa's patience! Plus you work full time, you worry about finances, you worry "constantly" about your daughter, your health, your weight and your job! Why aren't you also worried about the Polar Bears and the spotted owl and global warming and why the neighbors have crab grass? There must be more room on that plate of yours! Pile some more on, girlfriend!
Good Lord woman, and you wonder why you are "suddenly" feeling all these symptoms of anxiety! You've reached burn-out, the end of your rope, the cross road with no arrows! You are probably totally exhuausted. You proabably have no time to yourself. Everybody and everything comes before you! It is difficult enough to run a family with two parents and two incomes, and you are having to do it alone. I can't imagine the stress.
My advice, which is totally non-medical.................get youself in to see your doctor for a very, very thorough exam. (And don't say you can't afford it! You will find the money somewhere!) Make sure they do a fasting glucose test for diabetes......I'm not saying you have it, but being overweight is one of the first steps towards it. Have them check your thyroid function. Hell, tell your doc what you've told us and he/she should check you for a boat load of things! Once you get all those tests back and find out that you are just simply out of gas and have some anxiety issues, then you can begin to deal with that. (Most of us here don't really understand where our anxiety came from......YOUR'S on the other hand, is OBVIOUS!) You have been wound as tight as a top and now you're coming unraveled.
You're gonna be fine. You just need to stop and take care of YOU right now so you can continue to take care of everyone else! Which you can do without driving yourself mad! But you can't do it alone anymore. See your doctor, he/she may recommend some therapy. Again, don't worry about the financial part of it. There are many ways to get therapy at a lower cost...........sliding scales and such, but the fact that you are a single mom puts you in the "Bingo" category!
Please don't put this off any longer. There is no reason for you to continue to feel the way you do!
Now, pick up that phone and call your doc for an appointment! And we want to hear back from you about how things are going, OK?
We are always here and I promise you that you are not the only single parent going through hell.
Peace
Greenlydia