Some involuntary movements making me worried about CJD

fishmahboi

Registered User
Jul 16, 2017
17
0
Hello everybody. I am a 23 year old male from Ireland. I have just finished college and am currently trying to get work. One thing that has bothered me recently was the fact that I have had some involuntary movements. These movements haven't been very significant, just small twitches in calf muscle of legs occasionally as well as one time where my thumb moved.

These have made me feel concerned about the possibility that I may have CJD. I have severe death anxiety for some reason and it would be good if there was advice people here could offer with regards how to calm down and how to determine whether or not I actually do have CJD.

All responses appreciated.
 

Beate

Registered User
May 21, 2014
12,179
0
London
I am not sure how much we can help you here with this, as it's quite specialised. We are carers of people with dementia and personally I don't know much about CJD, but if muscle twitches are your only symptom, it's unlikely to be that. It's also a very rare disease that comes with a whole host of symptoms, none of which you mention.

The first advice for anyone worrying about a particular disease is always to make an appointment with their GP, as they are more qualified to determine what's going on. It could be something as simple as stress or a vitamin deficiency (magnesium, vitamin D, calcium).

So stop driving yourself mad with unlikely diseases and get yourself checked over.
 

fishmahboi

Registered User
Jul 16, 2017
17
0
I am not sure how much we can help you here with this, as it's quite specialised. We are carers of people with dementia and personally I don't know much about CJD, but if muscle twitches are your only symptom, it's unlikely to be that. It's also a very rare disease that comes with a whole host of symptoms, none of which you mention.

The first advice for anyone worrying about a particular disease is always to make an appointment with their GP, as they are more qualified to determine what's going on. It could be something as simple as stress or a vitamin deficiency (magnesium, vitamin D, calcium).

So stop driving yourself mad with unlikely diseases and get yourself checked over.

Yeah, that probably should have been my first course of action rather than asking the internet. Seems a bit better than just waiting and dealing with anxiety (which creates its own set of symptoms anyway)

Edit: the only other real symptom that occurred was a brief feeling of pins and needles in my right hand, but that subsided and I haven't felt any tingling since.
 
Last edited:

Aisling

Registered User
Dec 5, 2015
1,804
0
Ireland
Hello everybody. I am a 23 year old male from Ireland. I have just finished college and am currently trying to get work. One thing that has bothered me recently was the fact that I have had some involuntary movements. These movements haven't been very significant, just small twitches in calf muscle of legs occasionally as well as one time where my thumb moved.

These have made me feel concerned about the possibility that I may have CJD. I have severe death anxiety for some reason and it would be good if there was advice people here could offer with regards how to calm down and how to determine whether or not I actually do have CJD.

All responses appreciated.


Please make an appointment with a doctor.

Aisling( Ireland)
 

Aisling

Registered User
Dec 5, 2015
1,804
0
Ireland
Hello everybody. I am a 23 year old male from Ireland. I have just finished college and am currently trying to get work. One thing that has bothered me recently was the fact that I have had some involuntary movements. These movements haven't been very significant, just small twitches in calf muscle of legs occasionally as well as one time where my thumb moved.

These have made me feel concerned about the possibility that I may have CJD. I have severe death anxiety for some reason and it would be good if there was advice people here could offer with regards how to calm down and how to determine whether or not I actually do have CJD.

All responses appreciated.


Me again! How on earth have you decided to worry about CJD? You have just finished college. You are tired. Go to doctor asap. He / she will be able to figure out what is wrong.

Aisling
 

fishmahboi

Registered User
Jul 16, 2017
17
0
Me again! How on earth have you decided to worry about CJD? You have just finished college. You are tired. Go to doctor asap. He / she will be able to figure out what is wrong.

Aisling


Sorry, I should clarify that I finished in may. The reason for the scare was that it seemed uncontrollable andy first thought was CJD. I know it is a little ridiculous, but reading about the symptoms and seeing twitching as being one of them was frightening.
 

Aisling

Registered User
Dec 5, 2015
1,804
0
Ireland
Sorry, I should clarify that I finished in may. The reason for the scare was that it seemed uncontrollable andy first thought was CJD. I know it is a little ridiculous, but reading about the symptoms and seeing twitching as being one of them was frightening.

Of course it is frightening. You are not being ridiculous. Make app tomorrow please and post when you have done so. Yes, I tend to worry about people. So let us know you are ok.

Aisling
 

fishmahboi

Registered User
Jul 16, 2017
17
0
Of course it is frightening. You are not being ridiculous. Make app tomorrow please and post when you have done so. Yes, I tend to worry about people. So let us know you are ok.

Aisling

Thanks will do so during the week. Would a twitch suggest CJD or would it need to be accompanied by more symptoms?
 

Beate

Registered User
May 21, 2014
12,179
0
London
I thought you had read up on it?

"Early on symptoms include memory problems, behavioral changes, poor coordination, and visual disturbances. Later dementia, involuntary movements, blindness, weakness, and coma occur."

Had any of the early symptoms? Plus, CJD is a fast developing disease - I doubt you would just have one symptom for any length of time.
 

fishmahboi

Registered User
Jul 16, 2017
17
0
I thought you had read up on it?

"Early on symptoms include memory problems, behavioral changes, poor coordination, and visual disturbances. Later dementia, involuntary movements, blindness, weakness, and coma occur."

Had any of the early symptoms? Plus, CJD is a fast developing disease - I doubt you would just have one symptom for any length of time.[/QUOTe

No real problems apart from somewhat shaky hands and calf muscles (likely due to anxiety). Did have a small headache that lasted few seconds, but apart from that I've been fine
 

Philbo

Registered User
Feb 28, 2017
853
0
Kent
Hi

Sounds like an obvious one but do you drink a lot of water?

Dehydration can cause all sorts of strange things, including mussel spasms, twitches, tingling sensations, headaches and nausea etc.

I have Addison's Disease and before it was finally diagnosed, I had all of the above ++.
I though that I had MS or something similar but the fact that my adrenal glands were being attacked by my immune system, meant that for around 18 months, I had been slowly dehydrating, as my body was affected by the lack of hormones required to maintain the necessary electrolytes, hormones etc.

I am now very conscious about keeping myself and my wife (who has dementia) well hydrated.

As others have said, your GP should be able to run the necessary blood test to hopefully see what's wrong and put your mind at rest.

Good luck.
 

fishmahboi

Registered User
Jul 16, 2017
17
0
Hi

Sounds like an obvious one but do you drink a lot of water?

Dehydration can cause all sorts of strange things, including mussel spasms, twitches, tingling sensations, headaches and nausea etc.

I have Addison's Disease and before it was finally diagnosed, I had all of the above ++.
I though that I had MS or something similar but the fact that my adrenal glands were being attacked by my immune system, meant that for around 18 months, I had been slowly dehydrating, as my body was affected by the lack of hormones required to maintain the necessary electrolytes, hormones etc.

I am now very conscious about keeping myself and my wife (who has dementia) well hydrated.

As others have said, your GP should be able to run the necessary blood test to hopefully see what's wrong and put your mind at rest.

Good luck.

Actually, no I don't drink a lot of water. I tend to drink soft drinks occasionally since I'm trying to lose weight and doing it very badly (used to buy stuff like greek yoghurt and watered down cheap cola, but I don't have money myself anymore).

I'm definitely planning on seeing the doctor at the end of this week. The reason for this is that I want to wait and see if anymore symptoms develop over time. So far nothing new has happened since Sunday. In fact, the twitching in my hands and legs occur with less frequency and only really happen when I get nervous.
 

fishmahboi

Registered User
Jul 16, 2017
17
0
CJD panic update

Went to the doctor and he said that everything was ok and to update him if anything new happens in the next two weeks.

Symptoms subsided recently, had some really bad tremors and shaking during the day yesterday, but during the night they subsided.
 

Aisling

Registered User
Dec 5, 2015
1,804
0
Ireland
Went to the doctor and he said that everything was ok and to update him if anything new happens in the next two weeks.

Symptoms subsided recently, had some really bad tremors and shaking during the day yesterday, but during the night they subsided.


Am so glad you went to the doctor.

Aisling
 

fishmahboi

Registered User
Jul 16, 2017
17
0
Thank you Aisling and everybody else who replied. The only thing that is a little concerning is a strange feeling in my legs which is either anxiety or something else. Essentially, my legs may feel a bit weird when walking, like they are very tense or something, especially in the calf muscle area. There is also some tremors when resting.
 

Grannie G

Volunteer Moderator
Apr 3, 2006
81,445
0
Kent
Hello fishmahboi

It`s amazing what anxiety and stress will do to you and the more you worry the more symptoms develop.

Do you think you could be helped by listening to a relaxation CD. There are many on the market. You could even relax by listening to some favourite music. Just 20 minutes in a comfy chair or lying on the bed or the floor could work wonders.

You have nothing to lose by trying.
 

fishmahboi

Registered User
Jul 16, 2017
17
0
Sudden blackout?

Thanks, I think you're right. One new thing that happened today was my vision briefly going black and coming back. It happened for like a millisecond, but it was noticeable to me. Not sure if it's related to CJD since a lot of my symptoms now have basically subsided. Hand twitching has lessened greatly, I can walk properly without real balance issues and my hand-eye co-ordination has greatly improved.
 

tangled89

Registered User
Sep 24, 2017
23
0
You need to see your gp. Who will run basic testing then if he can't identify the problem. The twitching associated with cjd is myoclonus which is a very pronounced jerk rather than a muscle twitch. Non the less ask for neuro referral as other neuro conditions can cause the symptoms you describe