McDonald Criteria.. GRRRR!

Aloha!

I wanted to truly understand that they don't want to treat someone improperly before the diagnosis is confirmed.

But today I am just totally withdrawn and frustrated.

6 years ago July 2nd I woke up in hell feeling like I was being electrocuted in my hands and feet. I had an MRI they did find lesions but not active. I was strung along for years until 12/2008 when they did the nerve conduction study and found that its probable MS. They started treatment in 2009. Still they weren't convinced it was MS. They did do a MRI on my spine 4 years ago with no lesions.

Meanwhile I was losing feeling in my hands and feet, had all kinds of other symptoms.

End of June I had another MRI of my head & spine and finally able to confirm its MS. The Dr. said yesterday that they have me on the right treatment.

My frustration is why why why do they have to string us along while the damage is occuring? How many Dr's really feel were full of BS? Wonder what they think of us after we leave appointments?

Haven't they seen enough MS possible cases to see a pattern, they have to find another way to be able to diagnosis it before more people like myself and others are disabled.

Sorry for the gripe. I've written here, but my attention and brain doesn't help me keep on top of things. Sigh!

Aloha!
Karrie

[RedFlame]

Hi Karrie!

You are 'singing my song'!!  I don't understand it either.  Like I brought up in a different thread;  there really was a time when we didn't have MRI machines.  How did they diagnose then?  They diagnosed through a in-depth neuro exam with positive results like hyperreflexia and then on the patient report.  They knew what was happening in the brain becuase of autopsies but didn't have the MRI to rely on.

Like we have been told, there are lesions that either don't show up or are interpreted as ischemic or migraines or whatever the flavor of the day is.  It really frustrates me too.

In your case it is really sad that your diagnosis was withheld like it was.  It's reprehensible that you had to wait so long without treatment.  As far as what they think of us----we don't even cross their minds.  If they thought things through I think that we would be treated in some way.  

I know I haven't answered your question, but you are not alone in this

take care,  Red

Doctors don't have the self-confidence to diagnose without the MRI.  They are conditioned to disbelieve us.  

I am losing function every month.  Whatever I have has not remitted and continues to worsen over this past year.  There have been a few 'plateaus' but no amelioration.  I don't care what it's called---I just want treatment.  

[RedFlame]

sorry about my paragraph construction.  don't know how that happened :-)