Hi there
My diagnosis was given based on MRI and symptoms. I don't know if we are meant to name names here but my neuro is Dr Gerrie (same hospital as you), I had to push her for the DMDs but she gave in eventually! She did at that time request a lumbar puncture to confirm the diagnosis.
If you do have MS you need to be on them - well obviously if that is your choice, the course of my disease might have been completely different I'd I had been offered DMDs years ago.
Mand
having done some Wiking, i think thats what the xrays and bloods were testing for -sarcoidosis, and some of the sysmptoms are alike, it does say that MS can sometimes be mixed up with Neurosarcoidosis and vice virsa.
thanks for that
Gx
My Neuros at the point where everyone is reading my MRI's it seems :o) however yes now you mention Sarcoidosis thats the other thing she said it may be but my symtoms dont fit exactly but the leasions are more like Sarcoidosis..... hum i'll need to have a look in to what that is...
Gx
Chest X-Rays are not a basis for an MS diagnosis! Neither are blood tests - they exclude everything else but MS. Nowadays neurologists will base a diagnosis on MRIs only. Another possibility is sarcoidosis, but the lesions look very different.
Who is reading your MRIs? Are they being done by a radiologist in the NHS, or are they being read by your neuro?
hello, because i am Forces i get treated by the NHS however Its paid for by the RAF and trust me no exspence is spaired, they would be to scared of what the papers would say if they did penny pinch. theres no cost cutting involed at all, my Neuro said that the treatments she'd give me are very strong and aggresive and with out being 100% sure its MS she doesnt want to put me throught it, (oh and my GirlFriends due this week so didnt want to wipe me out for that) she said if i put a gun to her head she's say it was MS but my 9 blood tests, 3 LP's, Chest Xrays, all come back as clear as a whistle just my symptoms and MRI that suggest MS, she did say what else it maybe but i cant remember. somthing beginning with S thats all.. sorry.
As for Deployments they honestly dont bother me, ive been all over the world some good some bad but hey thats life, and what i get paid to do.xx
Hi G,
I agree with everything Laura has said, I just wanted to wish you the best no matter what your dx is.
Take care of yourself and push this neuro for an answer. Ask her what would cause these lesions if not MS.
doni
What other tests has she done besides the MRI? If you are not functioning completely, you don't want to be deployed anyway. It would put you and the people you are serving with at greater risk. MS is exacerbated by stress, and being deployed is definitely stressful. What on earth is your neuro thinking with this reasoning?
The UK does such a better job of supporting MS patients than we get here in the states. If I were you I would quietly start looking into what programs you would qualify for if you get a MS dx.
From what you've written before, and your presentation here, you sure sound like MS but I'm not the doctor. If it is, you want to get on DMD's immediately and I realize the NHS has that idiotic cost-sharing scheme that has to be satisfied. Perhaps your neuro is trying to save the NHS money?
There is absolutely no way the the arthritis is causing the lesion load that you have !
stay in touch,
Lulu