Oldly and newly DX with MS~~~Continued

[jmp77]

Evoked looked ok. Spinal was ok. MRI....not okay. Neuro says MS, start meds. But i being reluctant.....ask questions. Do not seem to ever get any helpful answers. very frustrated.

Now, 4 months shy of 2 years since the month long vertigo....I am resolving myself to possible MS....that 1st Neuro was correct, 2nd was wrong, 3rd is correct. But also want another opinion on the recent reconfirmed DX. Am I asking for the moon here?

My GP put in a 2nd opinion request. It stalled. I investigated only to learn that the local 'MS neuro specialist' is in the same office as the neuro i was referred to following the month long vertigo. Office policy is that "once you see a neuro in the office, you do not switch" Is this common???

[Lulu54]

Hi. It is pretty usual to not be allowed to switch doctors within a specialty office if you are looking for someone to givey ou a different answer. BEsides, the 2nd opinion would probably not be very objective if the neuro could see your records from previous visits.  

Its not unusual to be in denial about a dx of MS; unfortunately ignoring it doesn't make it go away.  The fact that the doctor wanted to put you on drugs pretty much seals it that the doc was thinking RRMS - that is the only one with clear approval to treat the MS with these expensive drugs.  

Not all radiologist reports on MRIs will list locations or count the lesions.  Most of my MRI reports do not have this and not a single one has the number of lesions listed.  I'm glad they don't because in reviewing my images with the neuro once and another time with the MS nurse, it is obvious I have almost too many to count - some very large and others truly minute.

I'm glad you found us here and I hope you will stick around and ask your questions.  Good luck with the next step.
~L

[kwarendorf]

I agree that the meds prescribed may give a clue to the type of MS. That said, I would want a second opinion from an MS specialist. I would also want an explanation of "not normal".

It's your body. You are allowed to make a stink if you are not getting the information you want. Don't let them pat you on the head. If you have to drive 2-3 hours to see a qualified MS specialist, the start your engines!

Kyle

[jmp77]

Sorry about that vagueness. Yes, brain MRI with and without contrast. deemed 'not normal' but no explanation of where the lesions were located....how many..etc llike I am reading on other's comments.

Realize my neuro said "MS go on meds" but didnt even say what type of MS....I suppose I should infer that the meds he suggested would indicate the type of MS That just now occured to me.   Sigh.

[kwarendorf]

Hi jmp welcome to out little world. I'm sorry you found us :-)

I'm not sure what "MRI...not okay" means. I assume you are talking about the MRI you had a year ago. Was it of your brain? C-Spine? Done with and without contrast?

As to not seeing other doctors within the same practice, I've never hear of anything like this. It makes no sense that if you are suspected of having MS that they would prevent you from seeing the MS specialist.

Kyle