I'm just beginning the process...

[mary_kay]

Greetings!  I am just beginning the search for the reason for my neuropathy, balance, coordination issues... from what I have read, it will take awhile.  Have had one appt. with a neurologist and will have a glucose tolerance test and other blood work. If that doesn't show diabetes, I will have a "nerve test" whatever that is (?)  I also have noticed a problem with my left eye. I have astigmatism anyway, but my fairly new glasses don't work for my left eye anymore.  I notice double (up and down) vision especially after I use the computer for a time.  It takes forever to clear up, but never clears up completely. I also have seen some little circles of light behind closed eyelids occasionally.  I am a patient person, but I sure hope I don't have to wait too long to find out what is causing my numbness and other symptoms.
Thanks for the tip about checking for color perception.  I will definately try it.  
Peace to all...

[mary_kay]

Thank you so much for the advice.  I am so relieved to have a place to discuss this and not have to feel like a hypochondriac.  I have been whining about one thing or another for years and so many times things were attributed to stress, aging, etc. Finally, when I told my NP that "...something is wrong!" she listened to me and sent me to the Neuro.  So....here we go....
Thanks again and Blessings to you all.    Mary Kay

[wonko]

Hi MK,
While we're always happy to meet new people, I'm sure we'd all prefer different circumstances!

I think (others?  pipe in?) that up-down double vision is less common than side to side.  Neither are fun!  

As for the nerve test, it's probably a nerve conduction test.  I've had this twice.  Kind of annoying, but not typically painful, you just lie there and a doctor or tech measures some distances (usually some pen marks on your skin) and gives you little electric zaps.  Don't use lotion or anything the day of the test.  If the nerve conduction is normal, that rules out things like peripheral nerve damage, but does not rule out problems of the central nervous system.  You may also get an EMG, which is a bit more annoying and involves having narrow needles inserted into muscles and getting more zaps and have to flex certain ways.  Mine was ok til the last leg, he placed the needle too close to a nerve or something, and it hurt, but not too badly.

My advice to you (I've been tossed around docs for around 6 months now, (thankfully all of my tests look pretty good, but I continue to experience progression in symptoms so I'm banging on lots of doors!) is to ALWAYS ask for copies of test results and scans, and save your own copies.  This will be a big help if you need to see more than one specialist.  

This forum is really helping me learn how to handle the doctor shuffle and is also a great help to me on those days when I have just had it up to my neck with this nonsense!  A lot of ppl here have either no diagnosis or a diagnosis other than MS, and I'd say there is an enormous combined experience with all kinds of tests, doctors, symptoms, and so on.  We're all unique, but there's always some one here who can relate!

Best of luck, and hope your doing well.