Is there anyone out there from VA with a good MS specialist?

[Rachelinpain]

I am sobbing as I write this...having just come back from the neuroopthomologist who suggested that maybe I need to ask to see the neuropsychiatrist next week when I go back to my neurologist.  I have classic symptoms of MS and have seen 2 neuros my PCP and a neuroopthomologist none of whom have even suggested doing any further testing for the disease.  I am not crazy, or depressed, or anxious, I am a 32 year old mother of 6 who was, up until recently a third year medical student and active parent....I was intelligent and had obviously enough energy to work 36 hours striaght and still come home and play with my kids.  I have posted all my symptoms previiously but apparently 4 times in the past year I have become so suddenly stressed that my mind is faking symptoms of MS that mysteriously go away and now my mind has made me a complete idiot who can barely finish a sentance and needs to walk with a cane for fear of falling (in addition to all of the other symptoms I am havint).  Everyone keeps saying "your MRI was negative so its not like its MS or something, I do not know how else to explain all of your symtoms"...well they all seem to be expalainsed by mS to me but no one has even suggested checking me for oligoclonal bands, VEP or other EPs, repeat MRIs with the correct machines or contrasts or any such thing.  How is this possible.  All I can do is cry.  I do not even know if I am going to see my neurologist next week because he will probably just tell me it is all in my head too.  THERE is something wrong with me...if anybody knows a good doctor I may be able to see in VA please let me know, I do not know what else to do=(

[floridamom2]

I am new to this forum but I would like to applaud your decision to put off med school for now to concentrate on your kids and getting better!!  I am a working mom too, but the thought of how much stress it must be to go to med school and have a household with 6 kids to give attention to sounds overwhelming for even the most energetic person.

I am also a planner and the thought of not knowing what physical condition I will be in from day to day is very aggravating to say the least.  

Thanks for sharing your life and I hope that you start to find some answers soon!

Kristin  

[jenn38018]

I just wanted to let you know that I really feel for you right now!  You are going through so much of what I have, but even more intensified!  I won't go into much detail about my history because I won't bore you to death.  You can look back on some posts if you like.  I will tell you that I am the mother of two toddlers and in nursing school.  I am also suffering from MS symptoms with two negative MRI's in the past four years.  I can't imagine how you were doing medical school, nursing is hard enough for me!  Take Quix's advice, it has helped me.  

It is so hard for anyone not going through what you are to understand that you are sick.  Even my husband has not been supportive.  This has caused more fights and crying spells for me than I can count.  I finally had to tell myself that I don't have to prove anything to anyone.  I know I am sick, and that I need help.  I can only do what I can do, and no more.  You know your limits and what your body can take.  Don't ever feel like you are less of a person or mother for not beging able to be superwoman!  

Please know that you are not alone with this.  We are here to talk whenever you need.

Jenn

[Rachelinpain]

well, so far my neuro exam is rhomberg +, inability to tandam gain, and wide spaced deliberate gait, no one has actually EVER done a pinprick exam on me, I am having pain with r eye movt, put no positive signs of ON on exam, I have never been told that my reflexes are hyperreflexive, but then again sometimes that can be subjective and sometimes by the time i get an exam done the symptom may have  passed.  My MRI was doen on a 1.5 tesla machine, and my c-spine was done with no contrast (is that sufficient to pick up spinal lesions with MS.  My CT scan I had said thatr I had decreased brain parancymal volume, with widened sulci, otherwise normal  and when I looked at it myself, the front part of my brain  looked shriveled compared to the occipital lobe, but i do not know if that has any significance at all, I have never even been offed oligo testing or any eps, not even a VEP with blurry vision and pain behind my eye with movt....doesn't that sound strange?  I have found a doctor at MCV who I have emailed who specializes in MS and there is a clinic at UVA but they only do consulting with othere physicians, I would really hate to go out of state.  I wish I could find somebody I knew who was from here and who they see.  I feel like every time I go to mention a new symptom it is ignored because they have already made up their minds that I am psycho....by the way I think I am probably going to not go back to school...not quit, I think I have made the CHOICE to be a SAHM-I miss my kids too much, I do not think I want to be away from them for at minimum another 4 more years with residency.  My priorities have just changed and I do not think that is a bad thing, I love medicine, always will but I think life is just sometimes like that, that is another reason I want a diagnosis, if It does turn out i have MS we may need to plan for relapses and things like that.  I just feel crappy...sometimes i feel like i just do not want to see any more doctors, just deal with the symptoms, they eventually go away and go on with my life.  I tried to clean my house the other day (which i have not been able to do in a while) and it was like running a marathon...I am a big girl and a bit oput of shape but climbing a flight of stairs, or doing lite housework even for someone like me, should not make you wiped out....

[Quixotic1]

What they are suggesting is hogwash!  You are not somatizing to that degree, I guarantee it!  BTW - I was also incredibly stressed (move, new job, nasty divorce, bankruptcy, new custody of teen niece) when my first illness appeared and my colleagues said the same thing about me.  I had to travel to see a world-expert in vertigo to demonstrate that my entire vestibular system was whacked).

You may need to travel to see someone new.  Despite the cost and hassle, it would be worth it.  I'm serious about that.  Many times on MS boards I've seen that be the only solution.  However, it can often be very helpful to go ahead and see the psych.  They will be able to see any anxiety is secondary and can become your best advocate for properly finishing the workup.

You're going to need to do one or the other.

We have many people here and on other sites that have initially had negative MRI for quite a while.  This does delay diagnosis.  With almost no exceptions they will not diagnose MS without a brain or spine lesion.  However, they will most certainly be able to tell you the suspicion is high and give you a proper work up.  Lynn here will tell you she was lesion free until she finally showed up with cerebral atrophy.  The sum total of invisible lesions eventually reduced her brain volume.  I was told my MRI was normal (it wasn't) by a neurologist voted "Top 100 in City" and who said I was too old for MS.  My spine was neg for lesions in Feb on a 1.5 Tesla machine and had 6 old lesions in May on a 3 Tesla machine.

But, once a group gets behind the psychosomatic theory, you will never have a good relationship with them (I believe) even if MS is confirmed.  Neuro's are, as a group, too arrogant.

The fact that you are conflicted about your kids and your career means you are 1) human, 2) a woman #) working harder than most people can imagine and 4) normal.  You are in a tough position.  As you say, you could just drop out for a year if you really needed/wanted to.  If you were a male, this would not be happening.

What is your neuro exam like?  Reflexes?  Babinski, Romberg?

The East Coast is riddled with big universities and medical centers.  Isn't there one within a couple hours drive?

Quix

[Rachelinpain]

I did and thank you, there are no ms specialists in my area, i was contacted by the ms society here and she said there is no one here who specializez in diagnosing or treating i am already being seen by one of the few neuro groups they suggested and still do not feel like i am getting what i need.  I just want to find a doctor that will treat my like a new pt and take everything from the begining and do everything the right way, start from scratch, i feel like i am just a tossed salad right now and no one is helping me, now they want me to see a shrink because apparently i am suddenly under so much stress that my body is faking symptoms...my opthomologist said today...now i can not remember...something bout not wanting to go back t oschool cause i want to stay home with my kids (another story...which is actually true) but its not like i am at home enjoying my children instead of being at school, if i want to quit school my brain does not need to fake symptoms for that tho happen, its not like they wont let me quit unless i am sick...it seems like she is saying i want to be sick so i can have an excuse to drop out of medical school and stay nome with my kids...that seems kind of backwards....if being sick it would make the debt of medical school go away, i could definately  understand that=).. All I wqant is to be able to take my kids to the zoo again, to go to the beach, to drive a car, to stay awake long enough to see my babies....to paint my own d*** toenail would even be nice or to put my pants on without falling down, I guess my brain is faking that too!!

[Quixotic1]

Hi, Did you see my post to you?  I felt so bad that I missed your first two and that you've been posting for three weeks with no answer.  I even posted the link to find an MS specialist in VA.  

If you didn't, please read my note.  I wrote you one of my famous "epic discourses."

You are not getting a proper work up!!  You're right and I suggested some reason why, not that they matter.  But I'm so glad to have direct contact now.

Please respond.  I hope you're still on!  Quix