Who Diagnosed You with MS? General, or Specialist?

[sllowe]

For those who received a diagnosis of MS - who dx'd you?
A general neuro? Or, an MS specialist?

I'll start......

sllowe: DX'd in 07 by a general neuro, 2nd opinion confirmed by a general neuro.

[grannyhotwheels]

I was diagnosed by a MS Specialist / Neurologist... His nurse told me that almost all of his patients are people with MS or those suspected of MS... He was very thorough in starting completely over with all the test and then comparing them to my previous ones...

I've been to Neurologists that where specialist and those that wasn't... I have found that the specialist spent more time with me and more time comparing test results... Of course this is my experience and my opinion... I'm sure there are good ones on both sides...

I'll be praying,
Carol

[HVAC]

My PCP was the one who discovered it with my yearly physical. I did not complain about symptoms since I had them all my life. I flunked every basic Neuro exam she did. Then for two years six Neurologists said I would be diagnosed with MS. I thought they were nuts. What do you mean I will be diagnosed with MS?

Alex

[essdipity]

For me it was an MS specialist, at Hopkins.

Earlier I had had a bunch of neuros who didn't look at the actual MRI images themselves, but just relied on the radiology reports. Not good, especially if you are older.

MRIs are far from the whole story in MS, but many neuros act as if they are. Given that, it's best to have a neuro who at least is competent in evaluating MRIs.

ess

[kel1lost]

My regulay neuro .  My GP got me in with her as soon as I told him eerything that was going on.  I had no idea it was MS.  He schedued my MRI's for me and was really on top of everything.

Then as soon as I went to my Neuro, she had seen my MRI's and I went through all the blood tests, exams at the heart Dr, I was Dx just 1 month later.  That was May 5, 2011.  

I feel like I have accepted it sometimes, them sometimes I just sit at home and think about all the "what if's " and cry and worry about my lil boys.  Cry cry cry.  But, I will keep my head up and know that I'm doing everything I am supposed to do, and learning as much about this disease as I can.  Huggs to all!

Kelli

[doublevision1]

Officially, my MS specialist during my first appt with him, who confirmed RRMS.

Unofficially, weeks earlier by an on-call neuro, a Myasthenia Gravis expert who I saw only once, who reviewed my MRIs, did a thorough clinical exam as well as EMG and LP; ordered IVSM immediately, and referred me to the MS clinic.

Though a year earlier, my GP at the time immediately nailed it as MS when my initial, only symptom was L'hermitte's.  

[jujuminx]

Suspected by two gp's and two neuro's for last 19 yrs. Finally dx by new neuro within a week after seeing him in Aug 2010.  He finally ordered a darn spinal MRI.  

Julie

[tingletingle]

My specialist MS neuro said it's 'highly likely' that I have MS but won't be certain until second attack. Weeks before this my local GP who performed first tests and then two doctors in hospital said in a very serious tone just above a whisper that they thought I had MS, having ruled out syphyllis, HIV, Eptein Barr, Meningitis and a million other diseases. I think I had about 30 vials of blood drawn. I got to know the friendly 'vampire' very well. Up until 2 months ago didn't know anything about MS and certainly didn't know what it meant in hospital. Thank goodness for you wise, experienced people here. I'm learning every day.

Blessings
Alex

[tammy197238]

by general neuro may 2011

[Starryeyes2]

I was dx by my MS Specialist 10 min into my appt. He looked at my MRI's, symptoms, family history and dx me with RRMS. He did an LP just to add confirmation and I started Copaxone 3 weeks later. I had classic symptoms.

Kristi

[Deb61]

General neurologist

[Millsinc]

I was diagnosed in 2010, 1st dx'd Neurologist, 2nd dx'd Neuro Specialist

[beema36]

My primary care Dr suspected it and ordered mri. When he got those results he immediately sent me to neurologist to confirm it.

[doublevision1]

Forgot to mention, dx'ed in 2007.

[sllowe]

Excellent! I'm hoping to keep this discussion going as members see it.

Quick questio for HVAC, Jujuminx, Tingle-tingle, and Beema..... Was your dx by general neuro, or MS specialist?

As it stands (w/out the 4 above yet), the tally so far is,
~5 of us dx'd by General Neuro
~4 of us dx'd by MS specialist neuro

Question to the rest of MS dx'd - will you add your dxer? general, or specialist please :)
Surely there are more than 13 dx'd members here...thanks!

[Sumanadevii]

I was dx by an MS specialist.  After her dx a year later of PRMS, I visited another MS specialist and it was confirmed as PRMS.

[LisaJF]

No one yet. Hahahaha!


Me? Hahahaha. No.

I have no clue as to what is going on with me but, I can definitely say, there's not too many mimics to fall back on now.

However, I am going to go to Mt Sinai after my MRI is done.  Perhaps they will offer me something other than relying upon a Urologist and Neuro-opth for direction of a diagnosis.

[Lulu54]

Definitely dx'd by an MSologist. The thing I like about seeing a doctor who specializes in MS is the entire office staff - nurses, receptionists, researchers - are all familiar with MS and comfortable discussing anything and everything with me.

I have seen a general neurologist, but that was for a sleep study.
best, Lulu

[sllowe]

Lisa girl!!!!!! Yay! I'm glad you are going to Sinai! I would of went there for my 2nd if not Hopkins. - Now you dog gone muff'd up my count, lol, I'll count you in later :) xoxo

[LisaJF]

Hahaha! I did muff up your count? Looky at that!

Im such a bad girl!

[beema36]

I was diagnosed by a general neurologist. And also got a 2nd opinion from another neurologist.

[jensequitur]

General neurologist - I'm surprised he diagnosed me.  If I hadn't been a textbook case, I would have been in limbo for years with this guy.  Bleah - I'm glad to be rid of him.  That was in 2007.

[jen673]

I went to a muscular skeletal doctor for symptoms and a possible herniated disc.  He ordered MRI of spine and later that day told me report of demyelinating disease.  I was referred to a MSologist in Columbus within the month who told me at my first appt. I had MS.  A couple weeks later a brain MRI sealed the deal.  This was all in April of 2011 - quite the shock of my life!  

Thanks to all of you who have helped me along the way!  

[michelleric]

DX 4/2009 by an MS neurologist

[Karen99]

Dx 2001 by a General neurologist.  Confirmed by a MS neurologist.