Earache, tinnitus, tension headache and more, am I having TMS

hi JoySeeker:

welcome to the forum. What you have been going thru sounds very similar to my story, although I am in the States and can get health care maybe quicker (albeit at a considerable cost - I am coming up on having spent $10k on various specialists and treatments). So if nothing else maybe it helps to know other people in the world are in the same boat.

My story was (in brief): like your worry about your lump, I had a worry about an annoying but painless low back disfunction (a loud clicking and feeling of something "loose"). I unfortunately also started obsessing about it, seeing doctors who had vague ideas but no resolution, nor the Xrays or MRI showing anything, months of PT, chiropractor, etc. I visited Dr. Google 20 times a day I suppose. About a month after starting to obsess about it, it started to hurt, then pain radiating into the left butt/leg, then tinnitus, which I never had before. I know in me the tinnitus is definitely nervous-system related, and my guess it might be for you too.

I am not a success story (YET!), but am trying to work thru it by a) fully accepting that my discomfort is pyschosomatic and nervous system hyper-vigilance/TMS, and repeating that, b) leading my previous normal life as fully as possible, including exercise, or at least moving in that direction, and c) trying to focus on others, not myself, d) "active meditation": taking many short breaks in the day, like a minute, where you take some long slow breaths and really focus on some sensory input - look at what is around you, observing details, listen to all the sounds you can hear, taste, etc. David Hanscom describes how he made himself better in his book "Back in Control", with this and journaling among other things. He has a web site too if you don't want to buy the book. I found his description of his own situation to be really similar to mine.

So for me obsessing and overthinking it was a major factor, so anything that moves you away from that and back to your previous normal life would seem to be good steps.

hope it helps

 

Many thanks for sharing your experience. I'm literally writing down your suggestions on my notebook.
I think my biggest mistake is being so freaked out by the onset of all the physical symptoms and so eager to get the structural reasons to them. That not only increased my anxiety significantly also made me obsessed with any physical sensation, and as a result introduced more symptoms. Now I come to understand that they are just sensations and are not dangerous. It is not easy to get out of the "fight or flight" situation but you've provided a very practical list of exercises that I can work on. Big thanks and wish you a fast recovery.

 

You are welcome. You will get better. What you are going through is temporary. And remember you are not alone! Wishing you the best.

 

Hi.

Hi Joyseeker,

Did you get better from your symptoms. I have exactly the same problem. Would love to hear a positive outcome.

LostinLA