Looks like I do have ms

[deanna1982]

Hi everyone.  I went to my doctor on Friday for a regular check up and I was lucky enough to be experiencing symptoms at the time ( loss of balance, leg weakness, foggy thinking). Well between my history, current symptoms, balance tests he did and my MRI, which states I have several small white matter lesions, he diagnosed me with ms.  I still go to see the ms specialist in June to get the official diagnosis, but he said he's sure and will do anything I need to speed the diagnosis up for me.  It's such a bittersweet moment.  I've known for a couple of years that it is ms, but it's nice to finally be getting somewhere with my doctor.

[calamfred]

I am sorry you've got the "pretty much sure" diagnosis of MS. But have to say it's better than living in limbo. And easier to fight when you know what you're fighting! Hope your specialist appointment goes well.

Regards,
C

[deanna1982]

Hi Melina2013,

Yes it is so hard to get any tests here in Ontario.  It took 5 years just to get an MRI.  I feel like most doctors don't really listen and they jump to a conclusion.  Whereabouts in Ontario are you?  I'm near Orillia, north of Toronto.

Deanna

[deanna1982]

Hi Poppy,

I'm sorry to hear that happened to you and honestly it's my worst fear.  Every time I seem to be getting somewhere with this I'm told something else.  As much as no one wants ms, I really just want this over with and I hope the neuro diagnoses me.  Have you been given a diagnosis?  I really hope you finally have some answers, it's so hard not knowing.

Deanna

[deanna1982]

Hi L,

Thanks for the welcome.  I am on the waiting list to see the neuro, but it's such along wait that the receptionist said that basically everyone is on the waiting list.  I've waited almost 6 years, I guess another 5 months won't kill me.

[melina2013]

I am sorry to hear that you have MS. I also live in ON. It is brutal how long it takes here to see specialist or to get tests done (if you are lucky to get any tests).

[Poppy7402]

I don't want to be a stick in the mud but your story is almost identical to mine, to a point.  My GP also 'diagnosed' me with MS.  Fast forward to the Neuro visit and much other testing, evoked potentials, LP etc and he said it wasn't MS.  

Who knows, it MAY turn out that you have MS, I just wouldn't take it as a slam dunk until the Neuro says it is.  My diagnosis isn't MS, but it may as well be for what it does to me.  :-(

Best wishes


Poppy

[Lulu54]

Welcome aboard, officially,  Sorry you have this diagnosis but it is so much better to know than to keep wondering.

Would it be possible to get on a waiting list at your MS doctor in case there is a cancellation?  I hear you about the process, but would love to see this get started sooner for you.  

sorry again, L

[SarahL2491]

welcome to the club no one wants to belong to, sorry to hear of your dx, but we are here for you!

[deanna1982]

Thanks everyone.  I'm so glad I found this forum and all of you to help me though this and help answer all of my questions.

[kwarendorf]

Hi Deanna - Sorry that your club membership is official.

As you digest this info many questions will arise. Ask away!

Kyle

[deanna1982]

Doublevision1, thanks so much.  

I do wish I could speed things along.  I live in Ontario and have had my specialist appointment since July, so it seems things move slow here.  I am on the cancellation list, but the receptionist said everyone else is too.  I really hope he makes the official diagnosis at our first appointment, so we can start to talk about treatment, but who knows. Like my GP said, they want to see certain things before diagnosing a person and I'm not sure I have all the criteria yet.  For example my lesions are not on the corpus callosum, so the radiologist said they are insignificant, but my GP said coupled with my history they are, and just because they aren't on the corpus callosum yet doesn't mean they will be.  Anyway I will keep in touch with this forum, it definitely helps when learning about ms and it's great support.

[Guitar_grrrl]

I'm sorry for your MeSsy diagnosis, but happy you know who your enemy is and can move forward to work against it.  Hopefully the MS specialist won't dilly-dally with getting you started on a DMD.

Big Hugs to you.

[HVAC]

I am glad you finally got an answer.

Alex

[doublevision1]

Sorry for your unofficial diagnosis but it's good that you will be able to move ahead with dealing with it, ie treatment, etc. Any idea why the long wait to see the neuro? Specialists are all busy, but six months seems excessive. It is now known that the earlier MS is treated, the better the outcome. And while in some respects, MS is considered to be slow moving, the sooner the treatment with a disease modifying therapy, the more likely you will stave off further relapses which may help you to avoid new and possibly ongoing troublesome symptoms. Not trying to worry you as this is certainly not something to panic about, but the sooner the better as far as treatment goes.

Your GP sounds good and very supportive. Since he offered to do what he can to speed up the dx process, why not ask them to try to move things along with the neuro? Perhaps an emphasis on how long you've been experiencing symptoms and how much they may be interfering with your life might be helpful. And surely between Jan and June, an opening will pop up due to other patients cancelling, change in neuro's schedule, etc. Good luck.

I hope you stay connected with this community as you will find a lot of insight,  useful information and advice from so many who have gone through what you're going through now.