Aa
MS or not MS
I don't even know where to start. I found out about 3 months ago I have several lesions in my brain, frontal and bilateral parietal lobes, the biggest being 8mm on the left side. My orthopedic doctor had the MRI of my brain ordered because of weakness on my left side and some shaking and balance problems. He sent me to a neurologist who, in my opinion, doesn't have a clue or just doesn't care. I gave him a list of my symptoms which he didn't even look at. He told me he doubted it was MS because of my age, I am 57, and told me the lesions were due to high blood pressure, which I don't have and smoking. I started smoking every day about a year ago and a pack lasts me 3 to 4 days. After my second visit with him he told me I did not need to come back to see him. Which I wasn't going to anyway.
Some of the symptoms I have had off and on for years, but never attributed them to anything except maybe stress.
I have gone through the symptoms for MS and I have most of the symptoms. Bad tremors started in over a week ago, have been almost every day lasting from a few minutes to a couple hours. Sometimes they are just in a hand and other times can affect my entire upper body. I have numbness in my right toes, burning patches on my legs that feel like a bad sunburn that lasts 3 or more days at a time, headaches, double/blurred vision that comes and goes, bladder problems, bowel problems, memory problems, trouble finding words or forming sentences, bad balance problems, dizzy and lightheaded spells, intolerance to heat, been told I need to speak up (voice has lowered), trouble swallowing at times, stabbing pain that sometimes feels like an electric shock (usually in my neck), tightness or pain around my midsection like the bottom ribs, and trouble remembering how to do things that I used to have no problem doing. I also have chronic pain thus the visits to the orthopedic doctor. Just had injections in my lower spine this week for pain, he's hoping it will help with the weakness in my left leg.
My family doctor prescribed me a walker last week due to my balance problems. He seemed to think I had the classic signs of MS. He is trying to get me into another neurologist, he was very upset with how I was treated at the last one.
I got my reports from my last MRI. I noticed several instances of demyelinating process could possibly produce this distribution of abnormality or could produce this appearance, however, it is considered to be a less likely possibility. I did notice it said several times further evaluation is recommended.
I do know my symptoms are getting worse and making every day activities very hard to to. I have had several people including medical, tell me it sounds like I have MS.
I guess my question would be do these symptoms sound like MS?
Some of the symptoms I have had off and on for years, but never attributed them to anything except maybe stress.
I have gone through the symptoms for MS and I have most of the symptoms. Bad tremors started in over a week ago, have been almost every day lasting from a few minutes to a couple hours. Sometimes they are just in a hand and other times can affect my entire upper body. I have numbness in my right toes, burning patches on my legs that feel like a bad sunburn that lasts 3 or more days at a time, headaches, double/blurred vision that comes and goes, bladder problems, bowel problems, memory problems, trouble finding words or forming sentences, bad balance problems, dizzy and lightheaded spells, intolerance to heat, been told I need to speak up (voice has lowered), trouble swallowing at times, stabbing pain that sometimes feels like an electric shock (usually in my neck), tightness or pain around my midsection like the bottom ribs, and trouble remembering how to do things that I used to have no problem doing. I also have chronic pain thus the visits to the orthopedic doctor. Just had injections in my lower spine this week for pain, he's hoping it will help with the weakness in my left leg.
My family doctor prescribed me a walker last week due to my balance problems. He seemed to think I had the classic signs of MS. He is trying to get me into another neurologist, he was very upset with how I was treated at the last one.
I got my reports from my last MRI. I noticed several instances of demyelinating process could possibly produce this distribution of abnormality or could produce this appearance, however, it is considered to be a less likely possibility. I did notice it said several times further evaluation is recommended.
I do know my symptoms are getting worse and making every day activities very hard to to. I have had several people including medical, tell me it sounds like I have MS.
I guess my question would be do these symptoms sound like MS?
That first neuro did order blood work to check me for Lyme, Lupus, B12 deficiency, thyroid levels and several other things that all came back normal.
I am the kind of person that wants to know everything that is going on, I read all the reports and look up everything. My youngest daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia when she was 7 months old and before I had the internet. I was full of questions and I wanted answers. The nurses and doctors got real used to me asking questions and knew they better be able to answer me or find someone who could. She is now 25 and doing great with her 4th baby on the way. My husband was diagnosed with brain cancer in 1998 and I was on the net from day one finding all I could out about it. He only lived 2 1/2 months after his diagnosis. But, once again I asked lots of questions and probably pissed of more than one person. I need answers and I usually don't stop till I have them. And nothing pisses me off more than for someone to act like it's all in my head or I'm making up symptoms or I just don't know what I'm talking about and making more out of it than I should. It's my body and I want to know what is going on.
Thanks for letting me vent, felt good.
I'm going in for a sleep study this evening and I really hope (and don't hope) I have some of my episodes so I can have witnesses. Don't know if what is going on with show up on the tests they run but at least if I have an episode someone will see it.
I am the kind of person that wants to know everything that is going on, I read all the reports and look up everything. My youngest daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia when she was 7 months old and before I had the internet. I was full of questions and I wanted answers. The nurses and doctors got real used to me asking questions and knew they better be able to answer me or find someone who could. She is now 25 and doing great with her 4th baby on the way. My husband was diagnosed with brain cancer in 1998 and I was on the net from day one finding all I could out about it. He only lived 2 1/2 months after his diagnosis. But, once again I asked lots of questions and probably pissed of more than one person. I need answers and I usually don't stop till I have them. And nothing pisses me off more than for someone to act like it's all in my head or I'm making up symptoms or I just don't know what I'm talking about and making more out of it than I should. It's my body and I want to know what is going on.
Thanks for letting me vent, felt good.
I'm going in for a sleep study this evening and I really hope (and don't hope) I have some of my episodes so I can have witnesses. Don't know if what is going on with show up on the tests they run but at least if I have an episode someone will see it.
After reading the posts Im begining to think nothing can be without a second opinion! My neurologist is exaqctly the opposite. After spending a total of 30 minutes with me in two sessions, he decided that I might have MS and need to get on meds. He gave me a two min neuro examine, the MRI was inconclusive and the CSF was inconclusive, but he felt he had eliminated everything and I needed to do my research, decide if I want meds, and see him in two weeks.
So, I asked if hechecked for Lymes, and he said no-well Im waiting on blood results now and am getting a second opinion. Good luck Marlye. It seems this is one slippery slope to navigate and getting a doctor to listen can be tough.
Kim
So, I asked if hechecked for Lymes, and he said no-well Im waiting on blood results now and am getting a second opinion. Good luck Marlye. It seems this is one slippery slope to navigate and getting a doctor to listen can be tough.
Kim
This site has been a Godsend for me. The great people here advised me to get copies of all reports and it is a good thing to do because Neuro One (the jerk) said that my MRI was normal...it was not. I realize that sometimes doctors may not tell you things at first because they don't want to freak you out, so I have found things on reports that I wasn't told in person. I am one of those people who just wants to know, even if it is merely a possibility in the beginning. I would rather have an idea up-front of what it is than to get completely broadsided.
Try not to beat yourself up so much over the smoking. I believe you can quit! My friend said at first she puffed a lot on the electronic cigarettes too but then it got to where she used them less and less. She plans on staying on the vapor-only ones for a while longer and then stopping them altogether. Whatever method you choose, just take it one day at a time :)
Hang in there!
Hugs,
Minnie
Try not to beat yourself up so much over the smoking. I believe you can quit! My friend said at first she puffed a lot on the electronic cigarettes too but then it got to where she used them less and less. She plans on staying on the vapor-only ones for a while longer and then stopping them altogether. Whatever method you choose, just take it one day at a time :)
Hang in there!
Hugs,
Minnie
I think you are smart to be done with the first neurologist. Ruling MS in or out is often an long, exasperating process. There is no need to deal with patronizing, a-hole doctors along the way!
It seems unlikely that smoking caused you lesions if you have only been smoking for a year, and "part time" at that. I agree with others that say your age doesn't rule out MS. I was diagnosed at 51.
It's most important to find an MS specialist that will listen to you. I would avoid non-MS specific neuros. I know it's 3+ hours away but the Univ. of Ill. has an MS center in Chicago...
Good luck on your journey and keep us posted,
Kyle
It seems unlikely that smoking caused you lesions if you have only been smoking for a year, and "part time" at that. I agree with others that say your age doesn't rule out MS. I was diagnosed at 51.
It's most important to find an MS specialist that will listen to you. I would avoid non-MS specific neuros. I know it's 3+ hours away but the Univ. of Ill. has an MS center in Chicago...
Good luck on your journey and keep us posted,
Kyle
I didn't realize that they may destroy the original scans after so long. I will just have to start getting my own discs of the images and keep them in a file to have for myself. Thank you.
I have tried the electronic cigarettes. I found I was constantly puffing on the thing. My dad did use it to quit smoking, he had to, COPD and on oxygen.
We finally switched to rolling our own with cigar tobacco. It has less toxins in it than the cigarette tobacco. I roll mine very light and just a little over half full. Trying to cut down on the tobacco. It has helped and I am smoking a lot less. If I was smoking a regular pack it would last me about 4 days. With the rolled ones I am getting quite a bit less and it is getting easier to cut down on the amount I smoke.
Having a man in the house that smokes almost 2 packs a day makes it a bit harder to quit. I do go outside to smoke and with colder weather getting here it is cutting down on how much I smoke.
Thank you for your help though, and hopefully I will be free of this new addiction soon. The more stressed out I get over all this crap going on the more I want one. My daughter told me I picked a great time to try to quit. Can't believe I actually picked up such a nasty habit so late in my life. Been at this about a year now and knew better than to even pick it up. Gave up so much else and picked this up. GEESH. Not good.
We finally switched to rolling our own with cigar tobacco. It has less toxins in it than the cigarette tobacco. I roll mine very light and just a little over half full. Trying to cut down on the tobacco. It has helped and I am smoking a lot less. If I was smoking a regular pack it would last me about 4 days. With the rolled ones I am getting quite a bit less and it is getting easier to cut down on the amount I smoke.
Having a man in the house that smokes almost 2 packs a day makes it a bit harder to quit. I do go outside to smoke and with colder weather getting here it is cutting down on how much I smoke.
Thank you for your help though, and hopefully I will be free of this new addiction soon. The more stressed out I get over all this crap going on the more I want one. My daughter told me I picked a great time to try to quit. Can't believe I actually picked up such a nasty habit so late in my life. Been at this about a year now and knew better than to even pick it up. Gave up so much else and picked this up. GEESH. Not good.
he probably can't copy it, I have always had to go to where I had it done to get them to burn a copy for me. Hang on to those copies when you get them, they are gold later. I just learned that the neuro I had in 2005 shreds all of his files after 5 years...........
Sorry, I meant to say that each cartridge is equal to one and a half packs of cigarettes. Also, 6 cartridges come in the 12.99 package.
Best of luck!
Hugs,
Minnie :)
Best of luck!
Hugs,
Minnie :)
Hi Marlye,
I don't know if this will help, but it might be worth trying. I have a dear friend who has been cigarette free for over four weeks now using the electronic cigarettes. When they first came out they were fairly expensive. Now, there is a brand sold here in Tennessee that can be found in many markets and gas stations called 21st Century Smoke.
The starter kit is 20.00 and comes with a charger, battery (which looks like the white part of the cigarette), and two cartridges. There are cartridges that have nicotine and then you graduate to the ones that are vapor only. My friend says that it feels like you are smoking but you aren't, and she is on the vapor only ones now. A package of the cartridges is 12.99 and each cartridge is equal to about one and a half cigarettes.
I hope this might help and I also hope you have better luck with your next neurologist. There are good ones out there. Someone here on the forums once told me that as with finding a mate, you have to go through the frogs to find the prince ;)
Hugs,
Minnie :)
I don't know if this will help, but it might be worth trying. I have a dear friend who has been cigarette free for over four weeks now using the electronic cigarettes. When they first came out they were fairly expensive. Now, there is a brand sold here in Tennessee that can be found in many markets and gas stations called 21st Century Smoke.
The starter kit is 20.00 and comes with a charger, battery (which looks like the white part of the cigarette), and two cartridges. There are cartridges that have nicotine and then you graduate to the ones that are vapor only. My friend says that it feels like you are smoking but you aren't, and she is on the vapor only ones now. A package of the cartridges is 12.99 and each cartridge is equal to about one and a half cigarettes.
I hope this might help and I also hope you have better luck with your next neurologist. There are good ones out there. Someone here on the forums once told me that as with finding a mate, you have to go through the frogs to find the prince ;)
Hugs,
Minnie :)
I don't think the neuro I saw even had my MRI in front of him. I sure never saw it. And when I asked him if I could have a copy he said I would have to call into the clinic and order it, then go pick it up. So pretty much tells me he didn't have it. I did get the report before I left the office but not the disc. I don't think he even read it, cause just about every paragraph or description said further evaluation is needed.
you must have had my neuro, he said the same thing (guess they went to the same school) "you'd have it really bad by now if you had MS at your age".
yeah, that's why 5 yrs later after someone looked at HIS mris, they found 6+ and the next year 3 more......
They figure I got it in my 40's and wasn't dx until I was 69, would have been 64 if someone had read his own mri's.
Keep plugging at them. JJ points out some good stuff.
yeah, that's why 5 yrs later after someone looked at HIS mris, they found 6+ and the next year 3 more......
They figure I got it in my 40's and wasn't dx until I was 69, would have been 64 if someone had read his own mri's.
Keep plugging at them. JJ points out some good stuff.
I want to thank you all for your responses. When I first went in to see this neuro I didn't mention what I thought, or anyone else thought, it may be. His very first response was "I don't think it is MS because of your age and you would have had symptoms way before now". The report I got from him about my first visit said I was there with my husband (not my husband) and I had no reports of headaches or vision problems and that I was working full time. My boyfriend had a bigger fit than I did. I had made sure to tell him about my vision problems and my every day headaches. I have also applied for disability and there is no way I can work full time. I mentioned I was hardly able to work at all.
I need to quit dwelling on what this neuro said and concentrate on trying to get the right diagnosis. But his report sure will not help my disability in one little bit.
I do know that some of these weird symptoms I have had over the years that I just chalked up to stress were there way before I started smoking. I have never allowed smoking in my house, especially when the kids were home. I didn't smoke then and I didn't want my kids exposed to it. My boyfriend that I live with just has fits at times because I don't want him smoking in the house. I go outside or into a vented room if it's cold, he can too. LOL
I really hope it's not MS but with some of these symptoms I have it could end up being something worse. I do have fibromyalgia and some of my symptoms I have just figured was part of that. But I have gotten really worried when I have ended up in the ER because of falling and just basically being out of it. The last time about 2 weeks ago I was diagnosed with vertigo. The room does not spin and neither do I, I just have no balance and fall down or run into things. I usually always veer to the left. Then last week when these terrible tremors started in I was even more scared. Even though I sit and laugh at myself.
I quit driving after the tremors and these terrible balance problems. I just don't want to take a chance of having an episode while driving. I'm not going to endanger anyone else.
Again thank you all, and it is nice to have people to talk to about all this that actually understand what I'm going through, even if it is not MS.
I need to quit dwelling on what this neuro said and concentrate on trying to get the right diagnosis. But his report sure will not help my disability in one little bit.
I do know that some of these weird symptoms I have had over the years that I just chalked up to stress were there way before I started smoking. I have never allowed smoking in my house, especially when the kids were home. I didn't smoke then and I didn't want my kids exposed to it. My boyfriend that I live with just has fits at times because I don't want him smoking in the house. I go outside or into a vented room if it's cold, he can too. LOL
I really hope it's not MS but with some of these symptoms I have it could end up being something worse. I do have fibromyalgia and some of my symptoms I have just figured was part of that. But I have gotten really worried when I have ended up in the ER because of falling and just basically being out of it. The last time about 2 weeks ago I was diagnosed with vertigo. The room does not spin and neither do I, I just have no balance and fall down or run into things. I usually always veer to the left. Then last week when these terrible tremors started in I was even more scared. Even though I sit and laugh at myself.
I quit driving after the tremors and these terrible balance problems. I just don't want to take a chance of having an episode while driving. I'm not going to endanger anyone else.
Again thank you all, and it is nice to have people to talk to about all this that actually understand what I'm going through, even if it is not MS.
Hopefully I will be able to get into see the neurologist that my family doc wants me to see. He said he is a lot nicer and very thorough. Sure hope so. Stupid me didn't start smoking everyday till a year ago. Gave up drinking and guess I had to have some vice. I smoke, at the most, 7 a day. I'm doing my best to quit now, especially since I had this response about smoking from that neuro.
My partner who lives with me has been going to all my appointments with me because I just don't drive anymore. The problem with him going and being the voice of reason is that he is a heavy smoker. Not much help there. LOL
My partner who lives with me has been going to all my appointments with me because I just don't drive anymore. The problem with him going and being the voice of reason is that he is a heavy smoker. Not much help there. LOL
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi and another welcome from me,
Hmmm what i've learnt over the years, is that smoking is not a (research backed) valid theory if the patient has clinical sx's (symptoms). From what i understand of the research, lesions caused by smoking are classified as being 'silent' and therefore do not cause neurological sx's or dysfunction of central nervous system. We have discused studies regarding MS and smoking and from memory, if you smoke your odds increase but the why of that isn't coming to mind. If you care to find our discussions, look in 'search this community' which you'll find at the top of your screen.
This is a post Quix wrote to another poster with a similar issue.
"Short answer - Fact - but not "black and white" fact. I've been reading intensively on this topic this morning. I'll try to summarize what I have found out, but today is a brain fog day. I hope I'll give you some info and a little ammo.
As we age we tend to get "age spots", if you will, in the white matter of the brain. These show up mostly in the peri-ventricular areas of the brain and, to a lesser extent, in the areas right next to the cortex (the outer layer). The causes of this are MANY. I repeat MANY, and one factor does NOT completely account for them. Also, if a person has one or more risk factors for getting these lesions, no good doctor should write off lesions if the person also has neurologic abnormalities by history and/or physical exam!
The white matter "aging" lesions are felt to increase in the mid-forties and more rapidly beyond that and contribute to the mental decline that many people begin to suffer by their 60"s. The factors that contribute to them are the factors often connected to cardiovascular risk, in fact these lesions are believed to be the result of small, microvascular damage. These risk factors are age, high blood pressure, and smoking. In the best article, smoking was considered a definite, but "weak" factor in causing these abnormalities. The problem with this study is that it is 9 years old.
Other researchers have included female gender, migraines, diabetes, higher lipid abnormalities, and obesity as factors in causing increased numbers of these lesions.
I couldn't access the most current information. It sounds to me like your doctor is rabid about smoking and will use any info at his disposal to push this point home. I recognize the behavior, because I was also this way about parents smoking around their children. However, it would be irresponsible to say, "You have lesions and quite a profound history of neurological problems, but because you smoke I won't entertain any other real diagnoses."
Your MRI report did say "slight" white matter disease. It will be a tough sell.
His PRE-diction that any white matter lesions that are seen will be because you smoke was a way to tell you that his mind was made up. You will likely get the expected lecture. I hope that is all it is, and that he addresses lesions AND symptoms AND findings. Otherwise he is too narrowminded to look beyond the role that the cigarettes may play. The problem is that he has some back up data on his side - not enough for the really firm conviction that mere smoking can cause years of neurological symptoms - but enough to feed a fanatic.
The other factor that is on your side is that you are not elderly. Most of the studies linking smoking (and other things) to white matter disease were done in people over 60. Age is the biggest determinate, followed by UNtreated high blood pressure.
The VAST, HUGE majority of people of your age who smoke do not have the neurological problems you have. You might ask him about where the information is that shows that smokers can show signs of a degenerative neurological illness caused only by their smoking. For the most part the studies that show these lesions (and link them partially to smoking) either found that the lesions were assymptomatic (had no symptoms) or they were in studies of people who had already had strokes.
Here is that study from 1996:
http://stroke.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/27/4/645
If you can retain your composure, I would say that smoking does play a small role in "increasing" the number of lesions, but has not been shown to cause full-blown neurologic disease except in the studies looking at people who have had strokes. Is there someone who could go to the visit with you to be a voice of reason?
Quix "
Cheers...............JJ
Hmmm what i've learnt over the years, is that smoking is not a (research backed) valid theory if the patient has clinical sx's (symptoms). From what i understand of the research, lesions caused by smoking are classified as being 'silent' and therefore do not cause neurological sx's or dysfunction of central nervous system. We have discused studies regarding MS and smoking and from memory, if you smoke your odds increase but the why of that isn't coming to mind. If you care to find our discussions, look in 'search this community' which you'll find at the top of your screen.
This is a post Quix wrote to another poster with a similar issue.
"Short answer - Fact - but not "black and white" fact. I've been reading intensively on this topic this morning. I'll try to summarize what I have found out, but today is a brain fog day. I hope I'll give you some info and a little ammo.
As we age we tend to get "age spots", if you will, in the white matter of the brain. These show up mostly in the peri-ventricular areas of the brain and, to a lesser extent, in the areas right next to the cortex (the outer layer). The causes of this are MANY. I repeat MANY, and one factor does NOT completely account for them. Also, if a person has one or more risk factors for getting these lesions, no good doctor should write off lesions if the person also has neurologic abnormalities by history and/or physical exam!
The white matter "aging" lesions are felt to increase in the mid-forties and more rapidly beyond that and contribute to the mental decline that many people begin to suffer by their 60"s. The factors that contribute to them are the factors often connected to cardiovascular risk, in fact these lesions are believed to be the result of small, microvascular damage. These risk factors are age, high blood pressure, and smoking. In the best article, smoking was considered a definite, but "weak" factor in causing these abnormalities. The problem with this study is that it is 9 years old.
Other researchers have included female gender, migraines, diabetes, higher lipid abnormalities, and obesity as factors in causing increased numbers of these lesions.
I couldn't access the most current information. It sounds to me like your doctor is rabid about smoking and will use any info at his disposal to push this point home. I recognize the behavior, because I was also this way about parents smoking around their children. However, it would be irresponsible to say, "You have lesions and quite a profound history of neurological problems, but because you smoke I won't entertain any other real diagnoses."
Your MRI report did say "slight" white matter disease. It will be a tough sell.
His PRE-diction that any white matter lesions that are seen will be because you smoke was a way to tell you that his mind was made up. You will likely get the expected lecture. I hope that is all it is, and that he addresses lesions AND symptoms AND findings. Otherwise he is too narrowminded to look beyond the role that the cigarettes may play. The problem is that he has some back up data on his side - not enough for the really firm conviction that mere smoking can cause years of neurological symptoms - but enough to feed a fanatic.
The other factor that is on your side is that you are not elderly. Most of the studies linking smoking (and other things) to white matter disease were done in people over 60. Age is the biggest determinate, followed by UNtreated high blood pressure.
The VAST, HUGE majority of people of your age who smoke do not have the neurological problems you have. You might ask him about where the information is that shows that smokers can show signs of a degenerative neurological illness caused only by their smoking. For the most part the studies that show these lesions (and link them partially to smoking) either found that the lesions were assymptomatic (had no symptoms) or they were in studies of people who had already had strokes.
Here is that study from 1996:
http://stroke.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/27/4/645
If you can retain your composure, I would say that smoking does play a small role in "increasing" the number of lesions, but has not been shown to cause full-blown neurologic disease except in the studies looking at people who have had strokes. Is there someone who could go to the visit with you to be a voice of reason?
Quix "
Cheers...............JJ
Welcome to the forum - this is a great place to ask your questions and vent about idiotic neuros. I was 54 when I was diagnosed, andthere are several folks here who were diagnosed at an even old age, including in their 60's. MS wasn't told there is an acceptable age to make it's appearance public.
Get that next opinion and don't offer any ideas as to what you think it might be - neuros like to guide the exam and the possibilities. Many foks get rebuffed just by mentioning the phrase MS.
High blood pressure can cause lesions. Smoking can cause lesions. There are a lot of things that can cause brain lesions and that adds to the difficulty of making a quick diagnosis unless you have classic symptoms. A thorough clinical exam and the patient's history is an important part of the process.
welcome again, L
Get that next opinion and don't offer any ideas as to what you think it might be - neuros like to guide the exam and the possibilities. Many foks get rebuffed just by mentioning the phrase MS.
High blood pressure can cause lesions. Smoking can cause lesions. There are a lot of things that can cause brain lesions and that adds to the difficulty of making a quick diagnosis unless you have classic symptoms. A thorough clinical exam and the patient's history is an important part of the process.
welcome again, L
Neuros can really be horrible - I think the problem is that they specialize in disease, rather than people. They should look at the person with the symptoms, not write off the symptoms because it doesn't fit their little pigeonhole.
I can't even believe the way he treated you when you showed up with a walker...... That had to have been terrible. I'm really sorry you had to go through that. I really hope you can find a better neuro.
I so understand about your neurologist blowing you off. My pcp had referred me to Neuro One, and he seemed to think I was convinced that I have MS and really the only reason I saw him was because I was referred.
I am seeing a different Neuro now and he is so nice and understanding and willing to try to find out what is going on with me.
Not that I condone smoking, yet I think it is a convenient excuse medical personnel give when they don't know what's wrong,
You know your body and self, so please don't settle. Seek another opinion. No, I don't have a diagnosis, yet I know Neuro Two is in my corner.
Best of luck,
Hugs,
Minnie :)
I am seeing a different Neuro now and he is so nice and understanding and willing to try to find out what is going on with me.
Not that I condone smoking, yet I think it is a convenient excuse medical personnel give when they don't know what's wrong,
You know your body and self, so please don't settle. Seek another opinion. No, I don't have a diagnosis, yet I know Neuro Two is in my corner.
Best of luck,
Hugs,
Minnie :)
The neurologist just seemed like I was trying to tell him that I knew it was MS. That was not the case at all. I just wanted to know what was causing my symptoms whether it is MS or something else. I'm definitely not "wanting" it to be MS. Once he found out I smoked, even as little as I do, that's all he was pushing. You smoke that's what caused it all. Plus telling me I needed to get my high blood pressure under control by quitting smoking. I repeatedly told him I don't have high blood pressure, never have.
It was just so degrading, he acted like I was making everything up.
It was just so degrading, he acted like I was making everything up.
Thank you. My family doctor is trying to get me into see another neurologist. They are in the process of gathering some of my MRI results and other information to send to this other neurologist. And yes I want answers now. LOL. I just could not believe that even after writing out all my symptoms the one I went to would not even read them or look over them. He practically laughed at me when I showed up with a walker and told him my family doctor prescribed it to me because of all the problems I was having. Very discouraging when all you want is to find a reason for what all is going on.
Hi Marlye, and welcome! I wish there was anyone here who could give you the answers you need... What you are going through is certainly frightening. If it is MS, you will eventually have the answers you need. Don't give up! I definitely think you need a new neurologist, doctors have a hard time reversing their initial opinions...
Unfortunately, just about every symptom of MS occurs in other disorders too. This is why it can be so hard to get a diagnosis. Even the lesions that are caused by high blood pressure can cause neurological symptoms and disability.
Hang in there. Your age doesn't really have anything to do with whether or not you have MS. If you do have it, you may have had it for some time, and been unaware of it. My neurologist and I figure I've had MS since the mid to late 1990's, but I had a mild case- and was able to dismiss it as something else for many years. The best thing I can recommend is that you try to be as calm as you can. There really isn't any rush... If you do have MS, it is a very slow disease. There's plenty of time. It would also be good to have an open mind, that your problems may be caused by something that just looks like MS.
Hang in there.
Tammy
Unfortunately, just about every symptom of MS occurs in other disorders too. This is why it can be so hard to get a diagnosis. Even the lesions that are caused by high blood pressure can cause neurological symptoms and disability.
Hang in there. Your age doesn't really have anything to do with whether or not you have MS. If you do have it, you may have had it for some time, and been unaware of it. My neurologist and I figure I've had MS since the mid to late 1990's, but I had a mild case- and was able to dismiss it as something else for many years. The best thing I can recommend is that you try to be as calm as you can. There really isn't any rush... If you do have MS, it is a very slow disease. There's plenty of time. It would also be good to have an open mind, that your problems may be caused by something that just looks like MS.
Hang in there.
Tammy
Hello and welcome to the community.
First of all, I am really sorry that you are experiencing any symptoms at all. It is no fun to have your whole world rocked by them......
The symptoms you are describing could be possibly be MS. They are also possible with many other things. I know that you want answers and you want them now. But none of us here are doctors. You are doing the right thing by working with your doc....
If you feel like your neurologist is not doing their job, I would most definitely persue a second opinion. You can straight up ask your regular doctor for another referal and they should give you one. If it is MS, it is not something you want to wait on.
I hope that you find the answers that you are looking for and I hope that they include something way less severe than MS.
Best,
Tom
First of all, I am really sorry that you are experiencing any symptoms at all. It is no fun to have your whole world rocked by them......
The symptoms you are describing could be possibly be MS. They are also possible with many other things. I know that you want answers and you want them now. But none of us here are doctors. You are doing the right thing by working with your doc....
If you feel like your neurologist is not doing their job, I would most definitely persue a second opinion. You can straight up ask your regular doctor for another referal and they should give you one. If it is MS, it is not something you want to wait on.
I hope that you find the answers that you are looking for and I hope that they include something way less severe than MS.
Best,
Tom
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Multiple Sclerosis Community
Top Neurology Answerers
Australia
ON
Queensland, Australia
Queen Creek, AZ
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease
