This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

OMG I know. Not knowing was the worst. Hard to believe but relief was one of the things I felt when I heard the diagnosis.

yeah i know theres def something up have done for ages even if its not ms its def got 2 b something lol, how are u since being diagnosed? xx

scottishsarah,

Wishing you all the best and hoping for a negative outcome.

Drury

Welcome scottishsarah, this site is a great fine for you.

I felt all the things you have been for many years...and now I'll get VERY cynical...
If you are female, and go to a Doc with sort of vague symptoms that can't be diagnosed with a blood test, you will leave the office with and antidepresant and some sort of anti-anxiety drug.
Now, I will grant that MRIs and CTs were not common tests years back (I'm 53) but my MS was so advanced that it showed on CT without contrast, because I had begun to buy in to the stress DX.
I agree that a neuro MS specialist is the way to go.

I wish you the best...hopefully a diagnosis that is NOT MS, but a diagnosis!

Thanks guys im really glad i found this site glad to hear other people suffer from the same symptoms and things as me lol, sounds terrible a? xxx

hi guys got ma appointment through to see the neurologist its this friday can someone tell me what happens at a first appointment please xx

scottishsarah wrote:hi guys got ma appointment through to see the neurologist its this friday can someone tell me what happens at a first appointment please xx

Heya well here in Hertfordshire with a general Neuro (not specialize in ms) he order bloods then followed by MRI as I was in Hosp at time of my first attack he then suggested Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
Following that a DX MS RR

I then requested to change to a hospital speclized in MS in London who then carried out their own test MRI/bloods and Eye Evicol test.

Really you want them to say their sending your for an MRI if not try and push for it.

When a Neuro carry's out blood test they will be checking for other illness that can mimmick MS e.g lupus their can be lots

Scotishsarah their is great people in the forum who may advise you better than me

But please come back and let me know how your app went
xxxxxxxxxxxx

hey scottish sara, i would be sure they order up an MRI and do them with and without contrast. i think i mentioned to you before that my lesions only showed up in the MRIs with contrast...may have been missed otherwise.

the neuro will probably also do a general exam where they will test your ability to resist with your legs, arms, ability to squeeze with your hands, sensory things like poking you with a safety pin (mildly). Also may make you walk down the hall to see how you move, walk in a straight line and shine a light in your eyes to see your optic nerves.

good luck and let us know how it goes!

hey guys i went 2 ma appointment today and feel worse lol, he didnt do any tests like nothing at all, told me its def not ms and im suffering from functional or dissociative symptoms. which is basically depression but i really dont feel depressed or stressed or anything if anything im happier than ever, what do i do now do i leave that as my diagnosis or take it further? xx

Do not leave it lie Sarah, I think I probably went to 20-30 appointments over a period of nearly 30 years, leaving each time with a recommendation for an anti depressant and a tranquilizer. I don't want to make any blanket claims, and I love all of you 'guys' out there, but I do wonder if men are diagnosed faster than woman in general.

Granted, many of the sx of MS are vague, and when my sx started I'm not sure that MRIs were invented yet, and if they were they were not used on the basis of 'maybe' kind of stuff. But I was never even steered toward a neuro. I was steered toward to surgery on my hands because of the numbness, chiro because of the l'hermittes, ENT because of dizziness, cardio due to random falling etc etc...

If you feel that you fit the profile, find someone who will listen. Actually, just find someone who will listen..

Was sitting and reading this. It comes to my mind that a could ortho dr. I can't call up the name now. They are not neuro's but the ones that do the spine.
Would also be a place to start.

It may not be ms and is not always something in the brain.
They can always order the mri's. Even a GP can order them. You may have to get bold.

There are many diseases.. these symptoms can mimic so really try and watch surfing I I know that is a hard one. With the invention of the internet.

It is like pick a symptom pick a disease.. pick a cure out there.
The dr's your seeing are dropping the ball though.
Good luck

scottishsarah wrote:hey guys i went 2 ma appointment today and feel worse lol, he didnt do any tests like nothing at all, told me its def not ms and im suffering from functional or dissociative symptoms. which is basically depression but i really dont feel depressed or stressed or anything if anything im happier than ever, what do i do now do i leave that as my diagnosis or take it further? xx

Tell em you want a second oponion reasons your not feeling well let them know you mean business and want a DX of your symptoms and not guess work you want a tests mri , bloods to start with

Are you based in Scotland???

hey thanks for the replies yeah i am in scotland. I got a phone consiltation with a dr today as no appointments and i told him i wasnt happy with the appointment on fri as he diagnosed me with that functional and dissociation symptoms without carrying out any tests he didnt even get me to stand up or anything i was only in the room 10mins at the max lol, the dr today said that was terrible and that it wsnt right but he doesnt have the letter from the hospital to explain anything so to call back or get an appointment in 2weeks. x

Well done xxxxx

If you can next time request the face to face hospital appointment the fact that he never had the previous Dr report to hand does not matter as you were not happy with the report or the way your symptoms were dismissed with out the use of diagnostic tools by example MRI , bloods.

Previous Dr report would consist of his thoughts with your symptoms I think more Doctoring skill are needed not just based on a hunch their cant be much in the previous quacks report

yeah i know your right, meant to say got blood tests a while back for vitamin b12 deficiency, anaemia, diabetes, and thyroid all came back clear, should they do more blood tests for different things? also meant 2 say that neurologist said he doesn't think i have ms as i have to many of the symptoms which i find strange, here is a list of all my symptoms there is alot.

pins and needles, tingling sensations, heavyness in arms sometimes, dizziness,numbness,no sex drive, feeling like i have no legs while lying in my bed (often), memory loss (only short term memory), lack of concentration,cramp think thats everything.

has any1 here suffered as many symptoms while having ms or do u think its something different? xx