waiting...

[robertsmom]

I just went back to the neuo this week. My gp sent me back with symptoms of balance issues, hazy vision, fatigue, constipation and rinary issues. I had similar 1 1/2 years ago and an mri with 11 leis ions. negative lumbar, but do show  eidence of damage to optic nerves. Now  i am going back for 2nd mri. doc says he doubts it is ms, but can't explain any of y symptoms. Won't even listen when i try  to dscribe an incidnent a fw yearsago where i couldn't walk or talk.  How do I get them to listen and should i seek a new neuro?

[robertsmom]

My MRI got moved up to tomorrow. If I'm not feeling good about near on 2/13 appt then I have already identified a specialists. Just looking forward to any kind of clarity at this point.

[SarahL2491]

that depends probably on your particular insurance coverage.  HMO usually requires a referral and when I was searching for a new neuro, the one I had originally picked ONLY sees people by referral, its his personal rule.  So you may have to do some "checking" out of both your insurance and doctors.

My last insurance company had no problem with multiple neurologists but my prior one did unless referred.  Go figure.  Now we have to be insurance experts!  As I said in another post, I personally wrote the neuro I wanted to try and he was kind enough to write me back (many neuro's won't take patients who have medicare only)

Good luck

[robertsmom]

Thanks for the comments. Will I need a referral for a new neuro?

[Twinsmom06]

Wow..yes...new neuro! I am in the same boat as you! Over a dozen...maybe even dozens of lesions. All in the "right" spot (although no dawson fingers reported by radiologist). My doc swears he thinks its MS just based on that info...as well as a recent "stroke like" event that landed me in the ER a few months back. I also had a negative LP and he about fell out of his chair when he saw that...he thought we had a slam dunk diagnosis until that came through...ugh.

He offered to start DMD now but we talked and agreed that waiting a short period of time to do another MRI was at my comfort level. So, I have one this coming Tuesday and I am so nervous about it. I have had 5 already so I'm not sure what my problem is with this one...maybe that this is the "last" test that will either confirm or keep me in limbo land.

Good luck to you. I hope you find someone who listens and does not count you out because you had a negative LP! Keep the scheduled MRI, get the results and then take all your reports,films, CDs to another doctor who will CARE for you!
Kim

[kwarendorf]

It's time for a new neuro. Life's too short to tolerate doctors who neither listen nor care.

[SarahL2491]

11 lesions?  unexplained?
did your neuro take the short yellow school bus to med school?

I agree with Deb61, you need a new doctor and if you have involvement with your optic nerves, yes, you should see an opthalmologist.  If I am not mistaken, there are MS specialists in that field.  Someone jump in here if I have misquoted it....

We'll think good thoughts for you and keep us posted.

[Deb61]

I do think it's time you saw a different neuro.  You probably won't get him to listen to you and that long between MRIs with that many lesions, involvement with your optic nerves, and the symptoms you've listed should have been followed up much sooner with a follow-up MRI.  

You may want to also consider seeing an ophthalmologist as well . . .