I had my first meeting with the M.S. Specialist on Monday

[johnniebear]

It was a very long day,  up at 4am, on the road at 6am  my appointment was at 8am,  driving thru the Chicago rush hour traffic delayed us by just a few minutes  for 8am  appointment, I only live 45 miles away.

So, my wife & I were taken back to the exam room at 8:20, the nurse took my history  & did a few minor hand & balance tests, blood pressure & such,  the DR was reviewing all reports & MRI'S during that process.


9:20 ish the DR    introduces himself,  a very  pleasant man in mid 60's,  He did a exam, took alot of notes.
and  had questions for me & my wife. I even brought my neurosurgeon report regarding the Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion that the  neurosurgeon thinks I should have done.

Now  its nearly 11:15, time for the DX, he began by saying he is only a phone call away no manner how minor something may seem.  The Dr had great personality & even sense of humor.


He talked about my pending neck surgery first.  He recommended that I have an EMG before I have the surgery & only have surgery  if I can't bear the pain any more, I have a large  lesion just above the herniated disk C5-C6.
he told me that my CNS is compromised, I have some symptoms. and  he  reluctant to say what type of MS, he really feels that I'm in the very early stage of MS, & possible very  mild RRMS, and he doesn't like the term Benign MS.


He said he is  careful what we tell people and not give them false hope that their symptoms may never get worse.

The DR told me he couldn't make any promises about the path from here on out, each case is unique.
He feels  no DMD yet.   Six month follow up MRI'S on  the medical centers  3T MRI.


The Dr also said he would mail a copy of the report that he is  sending to my local Neruo. I'll post a summary of the report when I receive it, so others may be helped by the details.

Bottom line,  I'm very pleased with the Dr.  and I'm ok  without a  formal DX.   Because I feel we have found the right DR should things so south for me.

                   I'm so fatigued right now, I want to thank everyone for their support & comments.

thanks,
                                   very sleepy  John...    :-D
  
                                  AVOID CHICAGO DURING RUSH HOUR,.

[HVAC]

John,
  I am so glad to hear about your Doctor. Gets some rest.

Alex

[Lulu54]

John,
Its good to hear you are comfortable with this doc and were treated well by everyone.  I really dislike hearing that dmd's aren't an optino right now.  

Promise me that you will absolutely call him at the sign of anything different, ok?

As for Chicago, you are so right that rush hour is not the time to be on the roads. :-)

I'm so glad you have answers,

welcome over here on this side of the mountain with the rest of us who are dx'd.  Now that you have answers don't forget to come around and keep us up to date.
be well, L

[KenDub]

Supermum couldn't have said it better. Sleep, sleep, sleep. There is no substitue for sleep when you're feeling M.S. fatigue. I managed to experience fatigue for 3 months straight because I wasn't getting the proper sleep, and I was probably having a mild exacerbation as well. I was on medication that helped a great deal, and I drank lots of Monster energy drinks. It wasn't until my body said "enough" and went to sleep for 20 hours straight that I snapped out of the fatigue I was feeling...for the most part.

I still drink coffee in the morning, but that is normally the only artificial stimulant I need to get me through the day when I am getting the proper amount of sleep. The real trick is figuring out how to get the proper amount of sleep :)

Here's to a mild progression (or none at all),

Kenny

[supermum_ms]

Your neuro sounds like a one of the straight shooters, its great your confindent in him!  I agree with jen, doesnt like the term benign MS - thats a good sign! Only think i dont understand is why no DMD, did he give you any idea why that is?

Your trip sounded tiring, so sleep sleep sleep, it might take a few days to feel rested after so long an excursion.

Cheers.....JJ

[jensequitur]

Doesn't like the term benign MS - that's a good sign!