My doctor gave me a lecture on alcohol today too! Evidently coumadin and alcohol do not mix. I was already cutting back to two drinks a day - but that's too much.
That's great - sounds like he's really got his head in the game.
Sounds like you have found a good doctor Audrey. I hope that you can get to the bottom of all that is going on with you.
Let me know how your ultrasound of your carotid arteries go. I have to have a MRA to check the my subclavian artery. I am 56 - possible MS.
Carol
I like the sounds of your new doctor. It sounds like he is very intelligent and concerned for you.
I have been thinking about you throughout the day and was waiting for an update.
All in all it sounds like a great visit. I am in awe of the fact that they actually looked at your records before they saw you. That's a great sign. Of course hearing that your brain has shrunk is not good but you are getting closer. The 'co-morbidity' issue makes sense since there are so many things going on at the same time.
Oh my!! I didn't know you were drinking:-). Not a good idea probably.
And to have a follow up this soon----it's amazing. Hopefully he will reveal the other abnormalities that they have identified.
I'm rooting for you all the way Audrey
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Quix really made me laugh with her response!
Audrey
Audrey,
This sure sounds like an excellent next step for you, although the brain atrophy is not good.
It can be hard to hear all this type of news at once from the doctor, along with critical suggestions on how to better the odds in our favor. Been there, done that ... I quit smoking cold turkey and gave up daily drinking at the time of my heart attack. It was an event that forced me to step up and take responsbility for my health. It sounds like now it is your challenge.
How great that you are not having to wait months again to get back for additional testing. I'll continue to hope for the best for you.
be well, Lulu
Golly gosh Audrey, if i had 3 or 4 drinks i'd be under the table, i can already feel the affects of alcohol before i've even finished a glass and even then i've watered it down with soft drink. I think asking about alcohol consumption is pretty standard, i laughingly say I dont drink because i'm a one pot screamer and sometimes there is a look of disbelief, I then explain that my brother is an alcholic, which seems to be an acceptable answer. lol
My brother was open about his drinking (probably 3-4 bottles not glasses) but never thought he was different, he didn't ever walk like you expect from a heavy drinker, drunk or sober, he just didn't see alcohol as being a problem. It was only when he developed peripheral nerve damage in his feet, which was directly related to his drinking, did he stop drinking. More than once we've laughed about the irony of him being the alcoholic and i'm the tea-totler that actually looks like i've had a few to many lol.
It sounds like this appointment was beneficial but i feel rightly or wrongly, that unless you can start saying you've stopped drinking altogether or you only have a glass of wine with dinner, alcohol consumption is going to be in the forfront. Just like smoking, or migrain gets blamed for everything, so to can alcohol. Thinking about alcohol, i'm sure we had a long discussion on how MSers are more affected by alcohol than they use to be, i'll see if I can find it.
Keep us posted on your test results.
Cheers...........JJ