Greetings from Ottawa

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goldarn
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Greetings from Ottawa

Post by goldarn »

Hello All,

I'm currently undergoing diagnosis in Ottawa. My experience so far seems very alien to what I'm reading. If anything I feel a bit railroaded at the moment.
Having longstanding depression and fibromyalgia I've discounted symptoms that it seems I should have been paying attention to. I had some sort of event in May that knocked the stuffing out of me. Vomiting, staggering, vision issues, tremendous weakness, extreme exhaustion, confusion, concentration issues. I was a mess. I found out my GP had dropped me from her roster for being away more than 5 yrs.
As symptoms eased or I adapted I made it to a walk-in clinic about 1.5 months after the event. The Doctor took my blood pressure and it was screaming high enough that he called an ambulance to haul me off to the QCH which put me in Observation and worked to lower it. They did a CT scan which showed something they called speckles. I have had good fortune with the Internal Medicine Doctor I was assigned to who arranged an MRI, Nephrologist, more antihypertensives and is working on lining up a Neurologist.
Because of the multiple/symmetrical? lesions she is pointing me at a local MS specialist. But I am wary. Yes so many symptoms fit, but is it like going to a guy with a hammer that finds everything looking like a nail? If any of you would care to advise me it sure would be welcome.
Lyon
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Post by Lyon »

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Last edited by Lyon on Sat Nov 26, 2011 10:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
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goldarn
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Post by goldarn »

Thanks Bob,

I guess that is part of my question. As a not yet diagnosed, but clearly messed up person, would I get a more objective assessment from a more generalist Neuro or from a specialist? Which do you think would be more likely to be up on near relatives of MS?
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Post by Lyon »

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Last edited by Lyon on Sat Nov 26, 2011 10:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
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goldarn
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Post by goldarn »

I'll be spending much time with that. It will help me get my thoughts organized,i f doable. A wonderful source. Thank you both.
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DM
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Post by DM »

I'm in Ottawa as well. You'll probably be sent to the General, as the General houses the MS clinic in Ottawa. You'll receive a series if tests, visiting the 2nd floor from A-Z, and once diagnosed, you will be visiting Dr. Freedman, maybe and probably. Certain approved drugs will be presented, or if you qualify, a clinical study.

I am near the end of my clinical study, in another few months. I'm looked after well and the staff are very accommodating.

I would have to say that the neurologist will order the tests, and if MS is suspected, you will be passed on to the MS clinic.

Feel free to PM me if you have further questions.

Good luck.
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goldarn
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Post by goldarn »

Thanks for passing along the gist of how it goes here DM. I'm glad to come across another Ottawa denizen and hope the condition treats you well.

I am most pleased to have found this site. Informative and friendly it seems like it will stand through the years. :)
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goldarn
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Post by goldarn »

I've been given the word that it isn't MS on the basis I had no episodes of paralysis in my youth. I wish I believed him. Even more so I wish all of you only good events in your health.
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Mike56
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Post by Mike56 »

Hi Goldarm,

You say you got the word it's not MS, but that doesn't mean it isn't something. You had symptoms, and the CT found speckles??? sounds like they need to keep looking.

Are more tests being arranged? Any of your symptoms lingerring?

There are cases of a one time event, but the so called speckles should be enough to make you and your doctors want to continue looking for answers, I think.

Good luck to ya!
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goldarn
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Post by goldarn »

Hi Mike,

There is little doubt that it is something. The Neuro is blaming hypertension for the lesions, where I'm suspecting the lesions brought on the hypertension. Of the remaining symptoms what brings the most aggravation is the difficulty communicating. I can't seem to present info in a complete way and often it is the most important that is left out. When questioned uncertainty rules and I'm just not up to arguing. So for now their focus is to see if the hypertension caused other damage despite the fact that it wasn't measured until 6 weeks after things went wrong and recovery had begun on many fronts. Throwing meds at it has lowered it to Stage 2 levels which is a huge improvement.

I'm still walking like a drunk, unable to climb more than 1 set of stairs, needing puke patches if I want to move much, getting used to different pains, requiring hours to do something as simple as replying to this and uncertain about pretty much anything. So here is to hoping he is more forthcoming to my new GP.

May the wildfires out your way get stopped soon, and thanks for replying even though I'm not a certain true member.
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Mike56
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Post by Mike56 »

Goldarn,

Thanks for your well wishes re wildfires in BC. We've had milder, cooler weather lately with some rain, and it's helped a lot! Most of the evacuation orders have been recinded. The smoke has cleared up around my place (Blind Bay, Shuswap Lake), and I think they've got control over most of the fires.

You don't have to be diagnosed with MS to get some good out of this site. I'm 'probable MS' so far, and even if I get dx'ed with some other disease besides MS, I'll still keep an eye on this site. Your symptoms, my symptoms, lots of other people's symptoms are soooooo much like some of the symptoms of the for sure MSer's that there is benefit here for us.

All the best to you!
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