buzzing / constant INTERNAL TREMORS?

[in-a-flat-field]

Anyone experienced spells of …unremitting internal tremors? It will be constant, all day all night, until suddenly they’re not there for a day or so, then the internal tremors return.

Specifically, the sensation is like being a phone set on vibrate, but rather than pulsing as phones do, it’s a stable and nearly constant buzzing sensation. And the locus shifts; often, it’s most pronounced in my lower body, legs, or abdomen, very occasionally I’ve observed it in my chest. The vibration can be minor in the background or very strong and distracting.

I’ve discussed this with two endos who both shrugged it off (labs fine, no recent Rx dose adjustments) and one neurologist who tested me for tremor, but I don’t have observable (external) tremor at this time.

It’s not exactly like the trembling I’ve felt when being hyperthyroid, either; that was obvious and showed up externally, and when I’ve been hyperthyroid, I felt that shakiness alongside obvious heart and other signs/symptoms, also.

This is different: it’s very internal, more like a constant buzzing, not related to any other symptoms I can pinpoint, and is just so odd. It gets very annoying and definitely makes me feel extra exhausted.

Any thoughts and experiences welcome. Would be a relief to figure out what this is.

[Jazzw]

This comes up quite often.

Not sure why it happens but you are by no means alone.

Here’s one of the longer threads discussing the phenomenon: healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[in-a-flat-field in reply to Jazzw]

Thanks so much for sharing that link! I spent some time reading about Small Fiber Neuropathy, and this is about as close as I’ve been able to get to a possible explanation; the symptom picture is not exactly a match for what I’m experiencing, but at least it’s a real possibility and provides a direction to explore. Grateful for that!

[Calceolaria]

I have this and it has puzzled/concerned me for several years. Mine is located just under my left rib cage at the front. Sometimes it’s quite troublesome though not painful and I give it a bit of a massage but it isn’t constant, sometimes as I’m ready to fall asleep, sometimes when I wake up. I have consulted, had an ultrasound, gastroscopy but the general view was it could be IBS. I more or less forget about it nowadays.

[in-a-flat-field in reply to Calceolaria]

Thanks for taking the time to post your experience. Mine is not massage-able, because it’s so diffuse — everywhere all at once, kind of — and there’s really no localized place to focus on. It’s kind of like, are my legs vibrating internally? Yep they are. Is my torso? Yes, up to the level of my stomach but not above. Arms? No. That’s about as specific as I can be, which is pretty unhelpful when describing it to doctors.

Your symptom description reminds me of a friend’s whose IBS / gastro spasms (after many mainstream approaches didn’t work) were finally resolved by her last resort: a series of high colonics at a hydrotherapy place. Just mentioning that anecdote in case it becomes annoying for you again and you’re trying to find a solution.

[Calceolaria in reply to in-a-flat-field]

Thank you for your response. That’s interesting! I hope you manage to find a resolution for yourself. Best wishes.

[in-a-flat-field in reply to Calceolaria]

Thank you! You as well.

[TaraJR]

I had these, and I have to say they were unpleasant. Mine went away when I started taking T3.

[in-a-flat-field in reply to TaraJR]

That’s interesting; I appreciate you replying. At the time you started on T3, were you already on T4 thyroid hormone replacement, but it was incorporating T3 that made the difference? Or were you new to thyroid hormone and began with T3 from nothing? Also, if you have time to respond, I’m curious how you would describe the vibrations you were feeling. Thanks again!

[TaraJR in reply to in-a-flat-field]

in-a-flat-field I'd been on thyroxine for abut 25 years, very gradually increasing the dose to 175mcg. I'd felt pretty 'normal'. Then for some reason I started to go downhill. In the end I was more or less housebound, sometimes chair-bound, unable to stand unsupported. This went on for 18 months. Thank God I'd found this forum and learnt more. When I finally added T3 as well, my internal tremors disappeared.

I'd also been diagnosed with reactive hypoglycaemia, as my glucose levels drops a couple of hours after eating. I now have 2 hourly snacks, mostly protein (sugar spikes my level and then it drops fast again). I've got this pretty well controlled now. I'd wondered if the reactive hypoglycaemia caused the internal tremors, but I donlt get them even if my glucose level goes off. I'm pretty convinced it was adding the T3 I needed that made them stop.

[in-a-flat-field in reply to TaraJR]

Thank you for replying. Your experience sounds horrible; so sorry you had to go through all of that! I imagine the fear must have been intense throughout all of those symptoms. So glad you’ve been able to stabilize since! Hope your health continues to improve.

My internal tremors continue even though I am on T3 alone these days. But your experience reminds me I ought to see my Endo for a better metabolism work-up, since I do have post-meal weirdness, sometimes suddenly feeling unable to stay awake immediately after eating. Despite the fact I avoid sugar itself in my diet, I do eat relatively high carb as a vegetarian, which I know converts to sugar.

Ugh, sometimes it feels so overwhelming to sort out health issues in so many areas; I have other chronic health conditions, some of which render me house-bound and bed-bound, at times. It all makes me want to take a vacation from owning a body. 😵‍💫😉 I imagine you may be able to relate, especially on those most challenging days.

[Espeegee]

I had this sensation some years ago. I am almost certainly hypo but my GP won't treat. I'd put my money on it being anxiety related. It was just as you describe, like a cell phone buzzing, you can't put a hand on it but it's there buzzing away then it stops. I used to have a lot of anxiety/panic attacks too. It's harmless but concerning when it happens. Mine went away when my anxiety pretty much stopped. I bought and used, and still do, an earthing sheet in my bed. Might be coincidence but I've used one ever since. You could try other techniques like slowing your breathing, the net has a lot of good ideas to help. Try nomorepanic.com it's where I started and there's lots of advice.

[in-a-flat-field in reply to Espeegee]

Thanks for your reply. I’m fairly certain mine is not anxiety related, as I have experienced this through times of low to nearly zero anxiety through higher anxiety, and it’s always the same sensations as I described. Glad yours has gone and your anxiety as well!

Your earthing sheet sounds interesting — do you remember the brand/where you got it? When in my bedroom, I am distressingly near to an electricity power pole with a transformer and wires to my home touch right outside my bedroom, so this actually could be related! I’m sure the EMF levels here are very… not good.

Thanks for calling this into my awareness. I hadn’t thought about it, but this internal buzzing/tremor has only occurred since moving to this 1930s home I love with its electrical eccentricities and proximity to the ugly transformer!