new diagnosis- fast diagnosis
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 4:06 pm
Hello
Since I read this forum a few times a week, I figured I may as well register and introduce myself!
I'm 34 and was diagnosed after a whirlwind of less than 6 months of symptoms. On May 29, I was walking across the parking lot at work when my feet both suddenly went numb, as if they were asleep. The tingling persisted for days…then weeks..and random other symptoms started happening. Numb spots on my soles, hypersensitivity on my lower legs, complete loss of sensation on the back of my thighs, burning hot sensation in my toes and for about a week I could not curl my toes no matter how hard I tried.
I knew something was wrong and called to make an appointment with a PCP. The nurse practitioner examined me and said, "well, what do you think you have? I'm not sure." Since I could walk, see, think and feel I don't think she thought it was really too big of a deal. She decided to order a thyroid panel and blood count. I suggested a B-12 level and she agreed that was a good idea. Results were normal.
June- So I called another PCP. He saw me, asked me what I thought (I should say that I am a PA student, so my doctors always like to know what I'm thinking and use it as a teaching moment) and I told him, “I don't know. This doesn't fit anything quite like the textbook, but I know something is wrong.” He offered me an EMG or a neurology referral. I opted for the neuro referral.
July- Neuro gave me an appointment for November. My symptoms persisted yet were always changing. I called the office all the time to get my appointment sooner and they never had a spot available.
August- I went to the student health one day for a cough or something. I commented on the trouble I was having getting into a neurologist. I'm sure my tears as I described my symptoms helped my case and before I left the student health office a phone call had been made and a neurologist appt was two days later (moved from November to August- not bad!).
I will never forget what the neurologist told me two days later-- "I don't think this is MS, I think its something completely different-- I am ordering an MRI because when a 34 year old woman has sudden neuro symptoms, it is stupid to not order this test. You don't have to go if you don't want, your symptoms might just go away." At that point my symptoms were not bothersome. I felt like I was walking on a stack of quarters in my shoe, but really not much else. I realized around that time that my feet never hurt at the end of a long day, even when wearing bad shoes. Sometimes there are benefits to decreased sensation, I guess. Heat started bothering me too. I especially noticed when making the walk to the river with my mom and I started to cry as my legs started to tingle and feel “drunk” on the path I have taken so many times before. Getting into that cold river never felt so good and healing as it did that day.
One week later, the neurologist called… I only remember-- lesions, on brain and spine… had a colleague look at it…--MS clinic has accepted you as a patient, they will call---
That was the end of August. Met with my MS neurologist in September, had tentative diagnosis of MS at that point and he ordered about 9 vials worth of blood and an LP. I told him, and he agreed, that I wanted to start treatment as soon as possible. After my LP results were back we met again. My official diagnosis was on October 13. I started copaxone on October 19.
Everything seems to be a blur since that MRI. Somehow, I managed to finish PA school and am preparing for board exams in a couple of weeks. I think once all of the rest of my life slows down a bit, I might be processing this differently but for now I just keep going day to day and am doing what I can to stay healthy, strong and smiling. My family and friends are incredible. Thank God for that.
I have NEVER had a symptom before in my life no matter how far reaching I go. My family is healthy. I am healthy. My only abnormal lab was Vitamin D deficiency, which is ironic since everyone who knows me knows I love the sunshine. I have been vegetarian since I was 16. I grew up in Arizona and have lived all of my adult life in Texas, except for a 2 year stint in Northern Colorado. I am fortunate that my symptoms have been sensory only as of yet.
So thats it… this forum is very helpful. Thanks for all the information. I hope that I may be able to help someone else along the way as you all have helped me.
Since I read this forum a few times a week, I figured I may as well register and introduce myself!
I'm 34 and was diagnosed after a whirlwind of less than 6 months of symptoms. On May 29, I was walking across the parking lot at work when my feet both suddenly went numb, as if they were asleep. The tingling persisted for days…then weeks..and random other symptoms started happening. Numb spots on my soles, hypersensitivity on my lower legs, complete loss of sensation on the back of my thighs, burning hot sensation in my toes and for about a week I could not curl my toes no matter how hard I tried.
I knew something was wrong and called to make an appointment with a PCP. The nurse practitioner examined me and said, "well, what do you think you have? I'm not sure." Since I could walk, see, think and feel I don't think she thought it was really too big of a deal. She decided to order a thyroid panel and blood count. I suggested a B-12 level and she agreed that was a good idea. Results were normal.
June- So I called another PCP. He saw me, asked me what I thought (I should say that I am a PA student, so my doctors always like to know what I'm thinking and use it as a teaching moment) and I told him, “I don't know. This doesn't fit anything quite like the textbook, but I know something is wrong.” He offered me an EMG or a neurology referral. I opted for the neuro referral.
July- Neuro gave me an appointment for November. My symptoms persisted yet were always changing. I called the office all the time to get my appointment sooner and they never had a spot available.
August- I went to the student health one day for a cough or something. I commented on the trouble I was having getting into a neurologist. I'm sure my tears as I described my symptoms helped my case and before I left the student health office a phone call had been made and a neurologist appt was two days later (moved from November to August- not bad!).
I will never forget what the neurologist told me two days later-- "I don't think this is MS, I think its something completely different-- I am ordering an MRI because when a 34 year old woman has sudden neuro symptoms, it is stupid to not order this test. You don't have to go if you don't want, your symptoms might just go away." At that point my symptoms were not bothersome. I felt like I was walking on a stack of quarters in my shoe, but really not much else. I realized around that time that my feet never hurt at the end of a long day, even when wearing bad shoes. Sometimes there are benefits to decreased sensation, I guess. Heat started bothering me too. I especially noticed when making the walk to the river with my mom and I started to cry as my legs started to tingle and feel “drunk” on the path I have taken so many times before. Getting into that cold river never felt so good and healing as it did that day.
One week later, the neurologist called… I only remember-- lesions, on brain and spine… had a colleague look at it…--MS clinic has accepted you as a patient, they will call---
That was the end of August. Met with my MS neurologist in September, had tentative diagnosis of MS at that point and he ordered about 9 vials worth of blood and an LP. I told him, and he agreed, that I wanted to start treatment as soon as possible. After my LP results were back we met again. My official diagnosis was on October 13. I started copaxone on October 19.
Everything seems to be a blur since that MRI. Somehow, I managed to finish PA school and am preparing for board exams in a couple of weeks. I think once all of the rest of my life slows down a bit, I might be processing this differently but for now I just keep going day to day and am doing what I can to stay healthy, strong and smiling. My family and friends are incredible. Thank God for that.
I have NEVER had a symptom before in my life no matter how far reaching I go. My family is healthy. I am healthy. My only abnormal lab was Vitamin D deficiency, which is ironic since everyone who knows me knows I love the sunshine. I have been vegetarian since I was 16. I grew up in Arizona and have lived all of my adult life in Texas, except for a 2 year stint in Northern Colorado. I am fortunate that my symptoms have been sensory only as of yet.
So thats it… this forum is very helpful. Thanks for all the information. I hope that I may be able to help someone else along the way as you all have helped me.
