Neuro Appt tomorrow.

[rlsFMS]

Hi All,
Hope you're all doing well... (as can be.)

The greatest benefit I've found on this site (besides the absolute kindness of everyone) are the stories that are helping me identify/remember certain events in my life that may or may not be considered MS "Attacks".

I have a neuro appt tomorrow (my regular neuro) at which time I am going to discuss with him the "probable" MS dx he has given me. I am giving him another chance before seeking a second opinion.

I have many questions to ask him, including more information about the lesions I have, Size, shape, location, etc.  I have the CD's but don't know what I'm looking at and could not find the "report" on the CD.

However, other information I thought I should share with him, but am wondering if any of it is even relevant.... I'm sorry this is so long.

1) More than I can count or remember, I've had migraines (including "painless") where I've lost my peripheral vision.

2) I've had episodes of vertigo where I haven't been able to get out of bed.

3) An episode where I could NOT move my neck or even swallow without 10+++ pain. This lasted a week.

4) Many falls and bumping into things, falling down stairs, etc.

5) From age 19 - 35 my eye sight increasingly worsened. It has now stabilized, and I do not show any MS indicators according to my eye doctor.

6) Coginitive issues: Forgetting BASIC things -
- forgetting to rinse my mouth after brushing my teeth. This has happened on more than one occassion.

I realize the list above is not actually all "attack" related, but it's info that I thought may be relevant.... Is it relevant?

Also, I had a Urology Test yesterday that was not at all pleasant and I have a chronic urinary track infection where I am going to have to take low doses of antibiotics for several months. The urologist insisted that this could not possibly be related to MS and/or Fibro... BUT - that confused me and my husband as we understood that not only do these conditions affect the nervous system, but are also auto-immune conditions... Aren't they?

There is probably more that I've experienced over the years; but I've always been a "driven" type person and often ignored how I felt and just did what I had to do. My mom always told me I "over did it" and my husband (used to) call me a "work-aholic". Now, I can't even do 1/2 as much as I used to. If I do get around to doing things, it takes me 3 times longer than it used to. Merely cooking dinner or cleaning, paying bills, etc... And after doing any of these things, I need to rest, for at least an hour. Even walking less than a 1/2 block to pick up my son at the bus stop does me in for at least an hour... It's either pain and/or fatigue that "gets" me.

Sorry I rambled.

rls

[sllowe]

Rls,

Good luck tomorrow! I think you have a good list here!

My thought about probable is that no-other reason is identified at this time. So, would transition you right into the question for the doc - what could this be. Doc would have to list off conditions it's not too you at that point, if like Ren says, he/she's feeling chatty and wants to engage.

If you can get back to the facility you were imaged at, they will give you the report. Just have to call them, they will print it, and you can pick it up and have it in hand for the appt.

Wishing you a pleasant appt. one where the doc is concerned and puts all the pieces to the puzzle together for you.
-shell

[rlsFMS]

@ Bob - Thanks for the clarification! - That makes sense, now that it is explained about the auto-immune. Guess I'm just paranoid, or should I say, anxious for some sort of dx with this neuro after 2 years. I went to the uro due to frequency (19 times a day) and incontinence.

I still don't really understand the eye thing. I mean, I get loss of vision, and blurred vision/pain - - - usually, but not always, associated with a migraine. I have gone to Center City Philadelphia to Wills Eye Institute where I was examined and just recently had a "new" test at my eye doctor where, instead of dilating my eyes, they took pictures, so to speak, where they viewed the "inside" of my eyes.

@Ren, Hello! and thanks for the welcome... One of the times where I lost my vision, I went to a neuro right afterwards and had a brain MRI - that is when they found a "white dot on my left frontal lobe"... Which, that neuro said is common in people that suffer migraines.

That first brain MRI was approx. 10 years ago; since then I've had 3 more; the first one changed from the one 10 years ago where I was told I had lesions; the next one "changed" again but the last one, there was no change. (I do not know the specifics of what "changed").

Thanks so MUCH for both of your responses. I'm working on my list tonight trying to get everything in order.

[rendean]

Hi rls and I'm adding a big welcome as well. I don't think we have met before.

My OPINION is to ask all but question number 3. It may be related to MS and if it is I'd like to know how.

If the neuro is in a talkative mood then ask all your questions. If not then ask the ones that interested with your daily living the most, i.e. the fatigue, the vertigo, cognitive issues, and I would ask him to explain the CD images to you.

As for the migraines...I am a migraineur and neuro's are always blaming migraines for EVERYTHING including white spots on your MRI's. I have both migraines and MS.

Good luck!
Ren

[COBOB]

Many MS "eye issues" can not bee seen with an eye exam.  Sure, if your eye muscles are effected (Cranial Nerves 3,4, or 6) you may have double vision or tracking issues.  Demyelination of Cranial Nerve 2 (Optic Neuritis) can only be seen on an "eye exam" about 40% of the time.  Most of the time, damage to the Optic Nerve happens deeper in the brain and can only be detected by MRI or a Visually Evoked Potentials test.  There is nothing for them to see in the eyes.

As far as MS and autoimmunity, autoimmune disease are not like immunosupressive conditions.  Autoimmune disease typically refers to over active or over stimulated immune systems.  This sometimes causes the body to attack itself.  Bladder issues and infections in PwMS are related to urine retention, ineffective emptying, urine reflux, incontinence due to loss of muscle tone, etc.  It has more to do with muscular dysfunction of the bladder.  

Bob