Time for dinner, but I have one thing to say.
What a Weenie!!!
Sheesh!
Quix
Maybe it's Neuro season............
....just kidding!
M
Momma Doc Q1, I just ate several PURE BEEF FRANKS, so go ahead and say whatever you like about weenies.
Zheesh, sb, you have been through the mill. Since you said you will have been to alll of the clinics in our state, should I assume you've been through the one that has done so much for our dear Lulu? They sure didn't help me, but what do I know? She's had a very good experience overall, from what I gather.
Too much nonspecificity in my symptoms and tests, I suppose. Well, I'm about 97% well now, so I'll pray it stays this way but allows me to keep the gabapentin, at least until I see if I still need it.
We will continue to pray for your situation -- both of you.
Hi,
I went through Riverhills MS clinic in Cincy, and the neuro(DR. Schmerler) specializes in MS. From limbo land to dx after one Brain MRI. Of course I had spinal MRI from earlier that had lesions. So it wasn't hard for him may be, still he knew at once he is looking at a MS case against all the odds.
You could try the same clinic.
It stinks that you continue to struggle with this, a t least it sounds like she was listening even though she refused to act. PD -We've talked enough about our night and day differences in the experience in Columbus - I'm just sorry it was so bad for you two.
I was VERY impressed with Dr. Melanson at the UC MS Clinic when I heard her speak and had the chance to talk with her. AND I know a woman who sees her and has nothing but praise for her skills. I would see if you can get in with her.
I have told my neuro if I ever leave him I am going straight to UC and hiring Dr. Melanson.
Hang in there - of course, what choice do you have? I'm sorry this struggle continues for you.
hugs, Lulu
hello, my advice to you is to keep pushing for a diagnosis. My first skier with MS happened way back in 1998, and then I had a lot of accidents, was under major stress, experienced numbness and tingling in my fingers, and eventually wound up hitting a stop sign and telephone pole. I lost my job, and developed permanent numbness in my left hand, which basically makes me unemployable. I have tried to use assistive software technology, but first learned on a PC, and I am committed to using a Mac.
I too got the “if you have any other problems come back and see me” advice from my doctor back when I had a job. Since that time, I quit that job, opened a business, closed the business, got a job, then got fired from that job. The basic outcome is that I was without good medical insurance, which might have caused my MS to remain undiagnosed, and was a key factor in my eventual loss of dexterity in my hands. If I had been taking copaxone, which I currently take, I am 100% certain that my MS would not have progressed so far. Good luck in getting your diagnosis.
So sorry to hear that you are still floating (or should I say quacking?) in limboland. Geez you must be fed up and just keep at it..you will get there..
Love Sarah x
Quix- As always, you crack me up. LOL You can always bring a smile to my face.
Mike- That was a good one too!
PD- I tried OSU's MS clinic but they wouldn't let me in the front door. I was referred out to their neuro center, where I got a student and a teacher. They chopped up my symptoms, history, and neuro exam to stress since my blood work was all normal and my MRI is what they considered normal with a few nonspecific lesions. My MRI was..No big deal they said. I know LuLu and a friend of my mother's goes there, to the actual MS clinic, and loves it. I look at it as this..there is bad apples in every bunch. Maybe we just got the bad ones, although I'm beginning to wonder if I'm an attractant for close minded /bad neuros or maybe it is true, and my case is complicated to them. I just wish they figure this out! Keep praying..I need a little help down here.
siv1- I'm not sure which clinic she's referring me to. I was the one that mentioned Cincinnati because my old opthamologist wanted me to go there, back in 2008 when I started to have eye muscle weakness, and it's the only one I have not been to, that's close. I'm not sure if anything has changed on my MRI, but I'm due for both brain and spine. I hope my body stops being stubborn and gives up some evidence or the doctors where I'm going, can "think outside the box" and look at me clinically.
LuLu- I agree that she is still listening to me, but I do wish she would act. Out of all my neuros, she has tried, at least. I've had more neuros that either gave up and threw their hands in the air, or just chopped it up to stress or nothing. What does UC stand for? Is it around here?
kbads- I'm so glad you got diagnosed, but it's so unfortunate that you had to loose so much before that diagnosis came in. That's pretty much what my family and I are afraid of. Pretty much my worse fear, in fact. My whole left leg became weak, back in 2008. Occasionally my ankle and toes would come back, but not anymore. I wonder if I ever will walk normally again. The doctors just don't seem to get the fact that I have a life and family to raise, and the whole entire time this is happening, I deal with these symptoms that no one can explain. They just want to throw pills at it.
To everyone- Thank you for your support right now. I really don't ask for it as much as I need to. I just don't know what to do right now and I really need to find a good doctor. I don't think I'm asking way too much, just something other than "watch and wait" and "pills for symptoms that creep up". I want to know the cause. I'm stuck it seems in limboland, and it was made clear to me yesterday that my body would have to give up more evidence before a diagnosis could be made. I'm scared of what that will mean to me ability wise. My neck is already starting to lock up and not bend to the left. My left leg is foreign to me. My bladder is acting up neurologically now (just to name a few new symptoms) SO if I wait for more damage to occur, what will I be like then, if I'm already like this?
And what about my spine and the 3T with the vena cava filter? Will this prevent me from going on a 3T? How could I find out if my vena cava filter is 3T approved by the FDA?
Sarah- I'm still quacking..but I think I'm started to get that pruny look, because I've been in the water way too long.
Take Care
I know it is quite a drive for you, but have you tried the Cleveland Clinic? When I lived at Indian Lake, that was where I went. I saw a Dr. Stone there at the MS Clinic. She was wonderful! While I didn't get my dx there, I can honestly say that she cares about who she sees.
I wish I could go see her now....but I moved to CA. lol
Addi
Yep, just came from Cleveland Clinic ( CC ) back in Dec.. I saw a Dr. B twice. He was nice and all but I think he threw in the towel by the 2nd time I was referred out there by my opthamologist. My local neuro agreed with me going back both times. He wanted to do the same as as the year before..treat symptoms, watch and wait. He was stumped over my case, according to my local neuro.
I did get a little mad at him over this last visit. I complained about new symptoms I was experiencing and it seemed that he wasn't really listening. He said that although my exam was abnormal, it wasn't any worse compared to the year before, and he thought that my symptoms were improving since I didn't have seizures or migraines anymore. I had to remind him that I didn't have a migraine since 1998, and I was on an anti seizure/migraine medication, after a seizure like episode in 2007, so to me that isn't an improvement, but an indication that the meds are working.
I think I also got the old brush off, because he told me that he didn't understand why I kept making this long drive to see him and that my local neuro should be able to take care of my needs. I took that as he really didn't want to see me again.
I wasn't impress with him, but it sounds like you got a good one. Thanks for the suggestion anyways. I wonder if I could see other doctors, even if I've already seen another?
"W"
"T"
"F"
I'm so sorry folks, but someone had to say it!
I'm sorry slightly-b, and I'm not liking it either, and by your side all the way.
-Shell
SB - sorry, UC is University of Cincinnati. - Lu
Shell- I've been saying that for years now LOL...I've become a regular potty mouth. For each symptom I've added on, I'm cussing up a storm, and wondering when is it going to stop. I thought by now, someone would say, yep..you have _____. and then the mystery would be solved. I guess I was wrong.
In a way I understand their hesitation. They want to make sure that this is MS that they are dealing with, but it's funny to think that some doctors will diagnose, and can diagnose clinically with some evidence, while others want the typical presentation of MS on MRI before they diagnose and want it followed like a book. They should take a look at the National MS Society's web page that discusses the fact that a normal MRI doesn't exclude you from having MS, which I guess my MRI isn't exactly normal, but neuros discount my lesions because of them being non specific.
LuLu- Thanks, I didn't realize..She said wherever she is sending me, they were named the top doctors of the country.
On a side note, I went swimming for the first time in a couple of years. I was a great swimmer back in the day. We packed up the kids and went to my Mom's house. To make a long story short, I wanted to cry. I had no power in my legs or left arm compared to just a few years ago. It was so disheartening to say the least. I guess for some reason I thought that I would be normal in the water.