WHAT TO EXPECT FROM NEURO?

[kimstvr]

Hi again everyone. Well a few of u have read my previous questions and helped tremendously- thank u. I hope u all are doing rather well. ok so heres my latest. I went for an mri on Thurs.10/04/07 with & without contrast. I was not to see my neuro until 12/16/07. I then received a call this am and they told me they have a cancellation for monday morning and would like me to come in. Keep in mind i have had mri and lp before 6 yrs ago. I have a feelin this appt isnt going to end as well as the last. Last time he told me he wasnt confident that it was ms. So if this is the time for me to get that news, i guess theres not much i can do. howerver, i would like to know, when one does finally get diagnosed, how is that done? Do they sit u down and tell you, and then schedule a follow up? do they do more tests immediately? any info would b greatly appreciated, i'd just like a heads up if possible! thanks for ur time and hope u are all doing well!

[Roxie0818]

Hi Kim...  When I was first dx.. I had all the test done before.. I'm not sure what recent test you have... Like evoked respone testing..  My primary neuro told me he was sure it was MS but wanted to refer me to a MS speacilist... so I did that.. then that neuro sat me down and went thru all my tests and said yes, it indicates you have MS... so I asked.. Ok.. what next?  He discussed the disease modifying drugs (dmd)  Avonex, Betaseron Copaxone and Rebif....  went thru those.. the decision on the drug is yours.. but he gives you details of them all... everyone has their own opionon what worked for them...  then we discussed what a "flare up " is and when to call.. and what he does for flare ups.. most neuros do IV solumedrol (steroid)...  so I would ask him what his protocol is...  some neuros do MRI's yearly, some do not.. I asked him that....
even if you are prepared when you go in Monday... it seems a person can never be prepared enough lol  ya know??   Have you had a recent LP done??   Hope this helps a bit....
take care
Roxanne

[kimstvr]

thanks a bunch for your input. I did have a lp done 6 yrs ago. it was clear therefore i thought all of this was behind me. u r def. right about being prepared. I really hate not knowing what im in for. (as most people lol) Six years ago, he admitted me for 24 hours and ran some tests. Although he did tell me that my tests didnt confirm ms so i assume they were all negative.  can u explain evoked response testin in laymens terms? i think i may have also had that 6 years ago. thanks a bunch and take care!
Kim

[Roxie0818]

Evoked response testing  measures the time it takes for nerves to respond to stimulation. The size of the response is also measured. Nerves from different areas of the body may be tested. Types of responses are:

    * Visual evoked response or potential (VER or VEP), which is when the eyes are stimulated by looking at a test pattern.
    * Auditory brain stem evoked response or potential (ABER or ABEP), which is when hearing is stimulated by listening to a test tone.
    * Somatosensory evoked response or potential (SSER or SSEP), which is when the nerves of the arms and legs are stimulated by an electrical pulse.

Each type of response is recorded from brain waves by using electrodes taped to the head. The visual evoked response (VER) is the most commonly used evoked potential test in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Im just saying if you had these testing done 6 yrs ago, he MAY want to repeat them.. depending on the MRI....but every doc is different... hope this helps
take care
Roxanne

[kimstvr]

Well Roxie I must say ur information was not only helpful but also very accurate. Thank u so much. I went to neuro today and went over mri results. He has now scheduled me for a VEP & SSEP. Also an mri of my spine and neck. He also gave me a huge binder with info on a drug called Avonex (which I have seen mentioned in here a few times.) He asked me to review it and watch a cd. He also told me to call him if any new symptoms arise or if my origional symptoms worsen. Im sure there are many of u that are familiar with this drug so any personal info would be greatly appreciated. Also anyone who may be new at going thru this such as myself, I would love to hear from u as well, I know personally any input would be helpful. I really do not want to let this new found info consume my family life but would like help in making it as easy on hubby and children as possible. thanks again and I hope u are all doing well.                 Take care.