Hi @johnbishop, thanks for the response. I'm a very conflicted person. I am a scientist that works in drug development so on the one hand I understand the biology and all of the nuances of high consequence disease (which is a blessing and a curse). On the other hand, I am a pessimist, suffer from somatic symptom disorder, and in general I am a "miserable bugger." Overcoming my cynical attitude to some of the items below was the first step.

I have not received a medical diagnosis of BFS as it is too early in my journey with these symptoms. The NCV/EMG test results certainly were reassuring. I work with a therapist on how to control my pessimistic outlook on health (and she has been instrumental in helping me overcome my cynicism.) However, for the last 3 months I have really committed to mindfulness, managing anxiety, and using CBT to bring rational thought to my emotional reactions to somatic sensations. they are not 100% effective, but these practices help a lot.

One of my key learnings is related to the aging process: our bodies change constantly and will experience "different" sensations as we age. While some sensations are worrisome (and, as I stated previously, should be professional evaluated and monitored) not all "different" sensations are ominous signs. Understanding that we need to do things to make ourselves feel better is important. These can be physical, emotional, and/or educational in nature. Finding what works for you is key and is likely going to be somewhat unique.

Most importantly, dealing with these things from an enlightened position has been most helpful for me. Specifically, reading factual information, speaking to experts, and getting advice from reliable sources is essential. Avoiding the sensationalism in the world is important. It certainly is easier to worry and fret (and I still do my fair share of that) but recognizing that those thoughts are happening, acknowledging I am having those thoughts, talking through the rational facts, and regaining a sense of control is very rewarding in my case. I still feel the twitches, fatigue, etc., but my anxiety is less when I employ these approaches.