Neuros 5 & 6 down

[Sailorsong]

I left for Nashville 12 hours ago and just got home. What a LONG day! My appt. wasn't until 2 this afternoon but I had a sore on my right hand (the one I use with my cane) that was bothering me so I left a little early to get it checked out while up there. I arrived at the VA 1 1/2 hours early but they had 3 ambulences arrive just as I got there so I wasn't able to be seen before my appt. with the Neuro.

Once I was put in the room for the exam I was ready to get very upset. The doctor that came in had a badge on that said he was a student. This made it Neuro #5 to see me (sort of). Of course he made me go through all of my history again, and did the usual exam they do. So after about an hour he left with my copy of my MRIs ( I managed to think of bringing them with me this time) and said he would be back in a minute with another doctor.

This new doctor (Neuro #6) sat down and talked with me a little bit about my history and then said that they had found several leison in the white matter of my brain. He also explained that they are smaller than are typical for MS but MS has may faces. But there was definitely demylenization going on in my brain. He then repeated some of the exam tests the other doctor had just done and pointed out some things to him ( I guess the student doctor missed them from they way this doctor talked). One of the item he pointed out was that the pupil of my left eye was not dialating correctly when he flashed he light on it. He also pointed out the slight tremors in my arms when doing the touch his finger test.

I got the impression that this doctor does feel I have MS, but because the lieson are small he was not ready to make the DX. He is scheduling me to have an MRI of my brain, and spine (first one that has done a spine MRI) He also talked about he was going to order the MRI with contrast but even if they don't do it with contrast it doesn't concern him since he already knows I have demyelation going on. It will be about 1 month before they will get me in for the MRIs. Once the MRIs come back depending on what they find he will then order a LP ( I got the impression of that being a last resort in order to DX me with MS). But I won't get the result for 3 months when he is scheduling my next visit. Things happen slowly at the VA so they allow a lot of time for stuff to get through the system where a doctor can check results.  But at least they ARE doing the tests for MS unlike the other Neuros I have seen.  Total time being examined this time was just over 2 hours.

So now it was time to head back down to the ER to have my right hand checked. The sore on my right palm was only the size of a single skin cell but very painful. Especially when ever any pressure was applied. It felt like something was stuck in it below the surface (like a small peice of wire). The doctor used a needle to open up the spot and a bunch of fluid ozzed out. But despite everything he could not find anything in it. Also after opening it up the pain went away completely. Since the doctor could not find anything he warned me that if I get any more of those or this one gets irritated again I should let someone know right away. I was too scared to ask why he said that as the only thing I could think off was skin cancer since my brother had skin cancer many years ago.

After that it took 4 hours to get home from nashville. Normally it is only a 2 1/2 hour drive but it had started to snow by the time I got out of the VA and traffic was a nightmare.

Dennis

[Heather3418]

Did the doctor call the eye discovery by name?  Such as 'Marcus Gunn pupil?'  This is very common in MS.  Instead of me trying to explain all about it here, if you will go to Google and google it, it will provide much more information then I can possibly express.

All the best...

Heather

[Sailorsong]

Yes it did feel great to get home and unwind. Especially to get my shoes and socks off. just the heat from having them on will get my legs to hurting really bad.

I actually got to thinking about what the doctor was saying about my pupil not responding to light correctly in my left eye. It now makes a lot of sense how lately when ever I am in bright light I have been closing my left eye because the light bothered too much. The way he was talking about the signal not getting through I guess this is a form of ON.

I also just remember about how he mentioned to the Student Neuro about how I was losing my balance when ever I closed my eyes. I guess I am using my vision to a large extent to inform myself about my balance. Like maybe the signals from my inner ear are not making it through.

He also talked a little bit about maybe some physical therapy for me to help me walk better. I am dreading that idea since it would be a 5 hour trip for each session if I have to do that up in Nashville.

Dennis

[Fluffysmom]

What a day!  And I thought I had it tough because I drove about 10 miles to a four-hour neuro-opthalmalogist's exam!

I would have had a really hard time going through what you did; driving that long and far, waiting to get your hand looked at and not being able to, dealing with student neuro, and then finally the brain lesions but they aren't big enough so we can't diagnose you even though we know you have demylinization going on.

But, like you said, at least they are doing the new brain and now a spine MRI, and possibly the LP.

That hand thing sounds very painful.  I wonder if you got a splinter, a shaving of metal,or small thorn stuck in it, that left some bacteria or something in it, and it kind of festered.  I'm glad that he relieved the pressure and the pain went away completely.  I hope it doesn't happen again!

And on top of everything, snow and nightmare traffic drawing the trip out even longer!

I'll bet it felt real good to get home!  I hope you're relaxing, unwinding, and are all comfy at home.

Take care,

Kathy