How long did dx take?

How long did it take to be dx once you started seeing the neruo?

[Sumanadevii]

Depends on which neuro.  My present neuro?  Two days.

[figuerpa]

Took me a little over 2 years, and still now my insurance won't pay for the meds until there is more proof, but neuro says it is MS.

Took my sister 7 years for a dx.

[1moore]

What proof do you have?  If you don't mind telling.  What symptoms did you all present with?

[Sumanadevii]

I left my first neuro after three and a half years of him treating a pinched nerve in my neck.  My symptoms when I arrived in his office was a horrid back pain and a foot that would no longer cooperate with my body.  Under his care I began having more serious problems...bowels, bladder, weakness, fatigue.  I left the day I told him I was losing the use of my dominate hand and he offered Vitamin D.

I waited another four months to see my now neuro.  She took my history, did an exam, scheduled MRI's of my spine and brain for the following morning..  By noon we had a call,   My brain showed just one tiny lesion.  My spine lit up like fireworks.  I began IVSM the following day.  A week later for her records only, I had an LP which of course was positive.  However, like she said positive or not, it was MS.

[HVAC]

It took me 4 MRIs all with MS type lesions, Dawson's Fingers. An abnormal BAER and VEP. Tons of blood work ruling out MS. A history going back to age two. Abnormal neurological exams most of my life and finally a abnormal LP. Basically two intense years. But 40 years of going to Neurologists.

Alex

[1moore]

Wow,  I have only been seeing my neuro since The first of the year, MRI in Dec.  I feel for all of you I am going crazy waiting for the neruo to call and tell me something after my LP, can't imagine waiting so long.  AAARRRRGG!

[COBOB]

From my first bout of Optic Neuritis with 1 brain lesion to diagnosis with 5 brain lesions was 6 months.  I did switch from a neuro-ophthalmologist to an MS fellow at the Rocky Mountain MS Center at CU hospital. I had a abnormal VEP and my lumba puncture was negative.

Bob

[haydensmum06]

It took me about 7 years, many blood tests, and being told I was faking or I had physcological "issues" before my dr. send me for an MRI. Once I had that it was 3 days later, that I was diagnosed.

[Sumanadevii]

This would be an interesting poll.  Unfortunately, I don't know how to set one up...lol

[summerluvr]

My family doc kept sending me to specialists.  5 opthalmologists, 1 urologist, 1 ear  nose and throat doc, 1 neuro, and then 1 "MS Specialist", finally diagnosed after 2+ years by an ER trip and a urgent follow up Clinical Medicine referal a week later as not MS, but a rare blone marrow cancer. Admitted to the hospital that day and agressive treatment started.  Now in remission. woot.

I saw the "MS specialist" for over a year and he never figured it out.  Took the  ER one blood test, and the clinical med team diagnosed me from the follow up blood work the ER had ordered. was sick at least 2 years prior.

[jujuminx]

Well, not sure I can give you a clear answer on that one since I have seen multiple neurologists over the span of 19 yrs. The first two basically did head MRI's before declaring, they had no idea what was wrong. Fortunately all my sx went away after two months and stayed gone for years (up to 10 in one case).

The last "attack" in the spring of last year sent me to my gp who did another head MRI and a host of blood work and in office tests. All came back negative. As symtoms (symptoms) diminished she lost interest and honestly so did I.  But as fate would have it the sx switched sides and I demanded to see a neuro to get further testing.  

It took my current neurologist 2 hrs of in office testing and reviewing my file to conclude that he suspected I had MS and wanted a spinal MRI (t and c), then a lumbar if MRI inconclusive. One week after my initial consultation with him and after my spinal MRI, he gave me RRMS dx, no need for LP. Ten days after that I was on copaxone.  What a difference a good neuro makes!

Julie

[meg321]

I was going downhill for about 6 yrs  and my cardio saw my my brain scans, sent me to a nuero who sent me home saying I was too old.  My cardio never gave up on me.....

then 6 yrs later my Dr saw the lesions and sent me to an MS specialist ...then I had my dx 4 mo later.

meg

once my Drs saw the lesions, the sent me to an MS specialist and it took 4 mo to dx.

[jensequitur]

Perhaps about six months, all told - I went to my PCP in January of 2007, got the MRI, went to the neurologist, who gave me an LP and a neuro exam, and in August I was diagnosed.

[Karen99]

Was under the care of a rheumatologist for 1-1/2 years for sensory symptoms.  Had MS mimics ruled out with tests.  MS was not a differential diagnosis for her, but it was for me.  I knew that I most likely had MS.

I developed double vision.  Saw a great seasoned general neurologist who diagnosed me the same day based upon my history of optic neuritis (not formally dx at the time), history of remits and relapse, and results of brain MRI ordered before my initial visit with him.

An MS specialists at USC LA confirmed the diagnosis.

I was lucky.  My neurologist was able to LOOK, LISTEN and THINK even though my physical exam was basically normal during a flare; balance was good, heel to toe good, gait, etc.  During that exam my body was burning, had double vision, pins and needles, numbness on entire left side of body, sensations of cold/hot swipes, profound fatigue, cognitive problems and weakness only apparent to me.  

My diagnosis was mostly based on history although my brain MRI was suggestive of MS.  My neuro believed what I had to say and had a knack for asking the right questions. It was at my insistence that an LP be done.  No O-bands were found.  Didn't change the diagnosis.  

A couple of weeks later a C-spine MRI was done that revealed a healed lesion.

This particular neurologist is a what sets the big boys apart from the little boys. Not scared of his own shadow and won't let his patients sit on the fence while they deteriorate - no matter the cause.  

That is why some of the namby pamby neuro stories really bothers me.  

[jensequitur]

Me too, Karen - letting their patients twist in the wind while they save their reputations by not 'misdiagnosing' somebody.

[katie4242]

I must have had the fastest diagnosis in the history of the world.  I had optic neuritis at the end of August, saw the neuro-optalmologist the next week.  He gave me the official "MS" diagnosis at my follow-up appointment at the beginning of November.  It probably would have been quicker if my neuro hadn't re-scheduled that follow-up three times.

Katie

[Sumanadevii]

I lost my iced tea all over my keyboard reading this

                                          "namby pamby neuro"

Thank you for the laugh and ooooooo sooooo true!!!!

[Lillibby]

15 years and counting

[Lulu54]

Welcome over the mountain, 1moore.  I'm glad to hear that you got this dx quickly - I had mine in about 6 weeks, too.

Lulu

[1moore]

LuLu,  Thanks.  I am much less stressed now that I know.