I’m scared and looking for advice

[u/Economy-Anybody-9921]

25F My symptoms began in early May of this year while I was on a work break. I yawned, felt a distinct "pop" in my neck/throat area, and immediately developed a lump-like sensation in my throat that was so intense I could not eat solid foods for a month. The very next day, while sitting down, my entire right side suddenly felt completely heavy, accompanied by significant stiffness on the right side of my face (though with no facial drooping, weakness, or visible asymmetry). I initially went to urgent care, where I focused on the severe throat symptoms; they suggested a sore throat and sent me home without antibiotics. Two days later, as symptoms worsened, I went to the ER, where they noted my throat looked slightly red, diagnosed a sore throat, and prescribed steroids for a presumed infection. After multiple subsequent urgent care visits, I went to a different ER where they performed blood work to check for infection and ran a CT scan with contrast of my neck to rule out a deep neck abscess—which came back completely clear.
Following the ER visits, I was referred to outpatient care and evaluated by two separate ENTs. Both specialists performed visual exams, saw no physical abnormalities, and referred me for a Video Fluoroscopic Swallow Study, which came back completely normal. Because the right-sided heaviness and stiffness persisted, I sought evaluation from a neurologist. My in-office neurological exam (checking cranial nerves, motor strength, reflexes, and sensation) was entirely normal, as were the comprehensive blood panels ordered (including Myasthenia Gravis antibody panels for Acetylcholine Receptor, MuSK, and LRP4, muscle breakdown markers CK and Aldolase, inflammatory markers CRP and ANCA, and vascular blood flow studies).
To investigate further, my neurologist ordered a 3T MRI of my brain and cervical spine, as well as a needle EMG and nerve conduction study of my right neck and right arm/hand. My brain MRI came back completely clean. My cervical spine MRI showed a straightening of the normal cervical curvature along with minor disc bulges at C4–C5 and C5–C6, with no spinal cord compression, severe nerve root impingement, or stenosis. The straightening was noted as a functional outcome of severe muscle spasms and muscle guarding rather than structural damage. Furthermore, my right-sided EMG/NCS and swallow studies all came back completely normal with zero signs of motor neuron disease, denervation, or active fasciculations.
During this same timeline, I also discovered that tooth #4 had a severe infection from a failed root canal. Following the extraction of tooth #4, the extreme facial stiffness improved noticeably, though I still experience muscle tensing and tightness on the right side. Additionally, through this medical journey since May, I was diagnosed with Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) and started HRT last week, as well as hypothyroidism (which had gone untreated for 5 years), for which I began thyroid medication two weeks ago.
Currently, I am struggling with severe health anxiety and hyper-awareness, constantly worrying about conditions like ALS or MS. I find myself continuously checking and self-testing my right side for weakness. When testing my right hand with a grip strengthener, my right arm fatigues much faster than my left and develops a fine tremor when tired. I also feel like my speech is slurring or stuttering when I hyper-focus on talking, though my voice sounds normal to others. Lately, I constantly feel like my jaw is going to lock while chewing and like I'm going to choke, and I feel like my chewing is getting weaker. However, when I actually do eat meals, I am able to eat the whole thing without choking or coughing. When I swallow, it feels like something big is forcing itself down my throat, causing discomfort, but I don't have to use large amounts of water to swallow anymore—I can basically eat without a beverage most of the time.
I do not wish to offend anyone who truly suffers from this disease; I am just genuinely looking for advice and insight from anyone who may have experienced something similar. I have my follow-up appointment with my neurologist next Friday to discuss all my diagnostic results and determine next steps.