This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

ok, Im 21 years old, very active person up til this point I was working 2 jobs one fore 40 hours the other for about 20 hours. Because the doctor said I quit my 20 hour a week job, and now just do the 40 hours.
I woke up with numbnesss and tingling from mid torso down about 1 month ago, no past issues with numbness or anything. I figured it was nothing and waited it, after the first week, i went and got check out. They did blood test and sent me for an MRI then sent me to a neuralogist.
He did more blood tests and then a spinal tap. He says I have MS, he is starting me on Betaseron.
I immediatly divided into reading about MS and things. I dont think I have it, being this is my first attack, (I have the reports from my MRI) I do have plaque in the spine and spots in my brain, I also have one lesion on my spine.
Everywere I read it says two attacks minimum are needed, Im still on my first attack the numbness hasnt go away.

Do anyone have any ideas what i should do? I am really lost and I just keep finding article after article and I dont think any are helping its more or less repeating

This is just my opinion, but your doctor seems confident that you have MS from your test results. Try the Betaseron. Most research says it works best when started immediately after your first attack. Educate yourself. I know you feel overwhelmed because there are many sites on M.S. But, keep reading. Read about diet and vitamins and exercise. I feel it can make a difference too. I strongly believe in having your B12 levels and Vitamin D levels (test is 25(OH)D) checked. Read about Omega 3's as an anti-inflammatory. And if you find that Betaseron doesn't work, there are other options. Keep educating yourself. You have to be aggressive with this disease.

When it comes to MS, it never hurts to get a second opinion.

Even though your neuro has diagnosed you with MS, I would get your family doc to refer you to the closest MS Clinic. If they arrive at the same conclusion, then at least you won't be second guessing yourself or neuro.

Harry

Hi LS-
This must be a scary time. My husband has had only one MS attack, last March, but we listened to his doc and started him on Copax. He is doing well with lots of good nutrition, supplements, exercise and rest....

Do you have any family members that can help you thru this time? I went to my husband's appointments with him, and helped him make sense of all of it. Could be a good friend, too.

Like Harry says, you could always see another doc, neurologist or MS specialist in your area if you still have doubts.

Best of luck to you in all your upcoming decisions.
AC

Hello LiquidSkin, (I love that name!),
The diagnostic criteria do get tinkered with from time to time, but assuming your,"spots on the brain", are lesions or plaques it would seem that, sadly, you do fall into one of the categories on this page:
http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/DiagnosticCriteria.html
A second opinion wouldn't do any harm though, or maybe a chat with your doctor to see if they are 100% certain of the diagnosis, and why they are so sure,

I say most certainly get a 2nd and 3rd opinion. You need to find the dr you have the most respect for, and who will give you the full range of options that you have if it is MS.

Try not to be too scared - early awareness of MS and how it impacts *you* is the best way to deal with it. And you can learn how to deal with it!

Trish

Ok, so I was going thru all my stuff for mydiagnosis and such, well I have my MRI disc, (being that he has no connection to were I got the MRI done) he doesnt have the pictures and so on, he scanned over them, then he scanned over the reports. I was kind of annoyed, i mean it was all 10 minutes before he had a decision on what he thought i had, but I figured he was just going to read them later and so on. I looked into the folder with the disc for the MRI there is the report on my brain, so he skimmed over the MRI of my brain, then didnt even read the report that goes with it. BECAUSE it was with the disc, there were no second copies of any of it..he didnt have the sheet with him, I have it cause he left it in the envelope
So now im pissed cause he gave me a diagnosis on him skimming over some reports , which are missing some of them, and the blood work and spinal tap. Now this would we all fine and i could shrug if off as a standard ok this fine. But I read the report,he didnt have, it says I have a 9.0mm cyst in my brain which got me curious did some research and it explains some of my sytmpoms, so I get mad again.
Talking with my mother she is like this and that, I asked about her Medical history to and to see if I can explain anything esle going on with me. She said the only thing she had serious was what is called b12 defiency, well I looked that up and now i am really pissed off that this neurologist didnt even look into my family medical or anything.
Now i really dont know what to do, I am looking into a second opinion, trying to get a doctor outside the area I am in, just because I live near a miltary base, nothing wrong with that, just when you have that many already paying customers, little girl who has close to horrid insurance isnt the first person you wanna spend your time with.

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"9.0 mm mucous retention cyst in the left maxillary antrum"

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Hi LS no wonder you are mad. I'd definitely find a doctor who can help you spend some time following up on your family and personal background info!