need help understanding

[kingfan]

My daughter was finally diagnosed before Christmas I say finally because it has been looming over us that something has been wrong for two years.  She is now experiencing amnesia and it lasts for hours she doesn't know her husband and 19. Month old baby. I doubted her at first and know I'm in total denial. Her Neuro said she should see a psychologist doesn't that seem strange. I'm not impressed with her Dr she rreally wasn't informative at all. Any one out there think this is what she needs or look for another Neuro. Thanks

[kingfan]

I'm sorry I was not very clear last night when I posted this. She definitely does have ms other symptoms she s had were the terrible headache s blindness in one eye then this memory thing I wish she could find a better Dr I'm certain hers doesn't specialize in ms or she would be more informative. I'm going to call her shortly and see if she would get on here and talk with you all about what is going on with her. I sure think it would help knowing she's not alone in this. I appreciate your input thank you so much

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome to our little MS community,

Are saying your daughter has been diagnosed with MS? If you are, this is a great community filled with people who are living with MS or going through the diagnostic process, all very lovely people willing to help others as best they can......

If your daughter and her husband have concerns or lack confidence in her diagnosing neurologist, then it might be a good idea to get another opinion, preferable with a neurologist that specialises in MS. Her local MS organisation should be able her with who's recommended and or associated with them, they should be able to recommend a psychologist who's got experience with MS patients too.

It's not actually unusual for a person with MS or any chronic medical condition to start seeing a psychologist or therapyst for anxiety/depression or even to help them come to terms with their diagnosis. There are also cognitive symptoms associated with MS, and it's not uncommon to have IQ and base line cognitive assessments done during the diagnostic process and or to identify specific areas of needed assistance etc.

A neuro referring someone to a psychologist isn't really strange but what does seem strange though, is the only thing you've mentioned her experiencing is temporary amnesia "..now experiencing amnesia and it lasts for hours she doesn't know her husband and 19. Month old baby.".....being unable to recall the name of something, calling something by the wrong name, loosing the next word in their sentence or loosing their train of thought etc are the more common cognitive issues associated with MS but true amnesia, I think that would probably be classed as quite rare in MS.

Do you know if during these temporary episodes, if she's otherwise functioning normal but she's just not able to recognise who familiar people (husband/child/mother/father etc) are by their 'facial features', which is known as acquired prosopagnosia (face blindness) or is there a lot more to it?    

Again welcome to our community :D

Cheers.........JJ

[essdipity]

Hi there. I too would be very skeptical. Her major symptom is amnesia? And she's had this or other issues for only 2 years? This certainly doesn't sound like  MS symptoms I'm familiar with, and I don't remember others posting about that here.

Is her doctor a neuro specializing in MS? Some say they do, but if pressed they 'specialize' in dozens of disorders. Have you seen her MRIs and radiology reports? Her brain would have to look very abnormal for MS to be causing amnesia.

I agree that she should see a psychologist, maybe more than one, including one who will do neuropsychology testing on her. This is a comprehensive assessment giving good insight as to how the various parts of the brain are functioning. If evaluation by psychologists does not give an indication as to what could be happening, then perhaps she'll need treatment for a psychiatric disorder as well as MS.

More details would help here, and I'm sure more people will comment.

ess