Greetings from Utah :)
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:24 am
Hi everyone. Hope you don't mind that I copied and pasted from another forum, it's just easier
My name is Kim, I am 44 years old and live near Salt Lake City with my two wonderful boys 16 and 18 and a one-eyed cat named Lucky. December 2nd 07 I woke up and my left leg was numb from my butt to my toes. It was a logistical nightmare getting to the bathroom as my leg was not controllable and went everywhere but where I wanted it to. On Monday, I went to the Dr. (family practice) and then for an ultrasound to rule out a blood clot. Then an x-ray and a lumbar MRI soon followed. It was first thought to be neuropathy from diabetes and then a squashed nerve root in L4-L5 (my disc there is in sad shape).
Two months later I finally got an appt. with a neurosurgeon (a resident). He was not convinced that my problem was due to nerve root compression as I should have had serious pain rather than numbness/tingling so I got 3 more MRIs, thoracic, cervical and brain to rule out MS. On March 22nd, the results of those were back. There are plaques in each section which indicate MS and I was diagnosed. Yay. Next up is a visit with a neurologist (MS specialty) on April 10th.
You know, it's interesting that you don't really notice "symptoms" until you are told the problem and then you think back. My left eye has bothered me for a few years, would get "filmy" but figured that was the diabetes. Unexplained fatigue. Not sleepy, but that kind that feels like your energy plug has been pulled. I figured I needed to lose weight and exercise more. Tingling hands? Using the computer mouse too much or sleeping on it (the hand). The bad memory? Everyone says their memory is bad. Well, do most people drive themselves to work and then sit for an hour after work waiting for their ride to pick them up?
Thank goodness I was poor anyway and could qualify for Medicaid. I had insurance through my employer, but when I went for the first MRI they wanted $600 up front because I hadn't met my deductible (I have been to the Dr. more times in the past 4 months than the past 10 years). I didn't have it, I only made $8.40 an hour. Luckily they let me go ahead with it since I had applied for Medicaid and it looked like I qualified. I quit my job as I can no longer do that kind of work (custodial/laundry). I was hoping to get another position there, but right now I can't see very well out of my left eye...
Nice to "meet" you all!