Could It Be Ms?

I only read the first sentence. One of the symptoms of early onset is irrationality and/or euphoria. I "command" you - lovingly - to make an appt with a neurologist within 24 hours.

Hi there,

i've got an appointment with a dr on thu and i'm hoping I can get referral to a neurologist after xmas. When I spoke to a nurse today I couldn't help but get the impression that she thought I was a hypochondriac.
I'd mentioned i'd had an episode a couple of days ago where I completely lost my balance. I also mentioned short term memory loss and slurring to which she asked had I been reading up on ms? I just got the impression that she thought I was worrying over nothing :-(

The topic of skepticism in the medical field is important. Let me give a living example. One person had a big ms attack while visiting the usa. He went to the emergency ward of large hospital. "so, i'm safe!" many serious symptoms were coming-and-going. Typical of ms he got giddy like on a psychedelic drug while needing a wheel chair - all the grave nurses and administrators standing about asking silly questions before being admitted. Hours passed in an empty waiting room. Finally, admitted to the care center, he mentioned his condition and that he had ms. He also said he needed repatriation to holland and there was a question about a diagnosis for the insurance company to go ahead. A total of 7 health care workers interviewed this very ill soul as if he were on trial. A neurologist showed up calmly dismissing his symptoms: "that doesn't sound like ms. Symptoms should be permanent". He had to see visible consistent signs. He was blind to signs that were present! In the hours of resting and waiting the obvious signs had temporarily died down even though very weak and shaken. After many hours he finally pulled out a special "health passport" indicating ms and his doctor's practice. It was also in english. Everyone disappeared and regrouped. My opinion is that they were covering themselves. The patient was abruptly released completely untreated and without a goodbye, but only after signing several documents that certainly including disclaimers.

He waited a day or two then broke down and went to another hospital that cost 10 times the previous one. There his signs were immediately acknowledged and "ms exacerbation" was diagnosed within about an hour officially. After a long struggle with his insurance company back home, all bills paid by the patient were reimbursed. Lesson, and we should learn from everything and not give up, skepticism and lack of human compassion often rule common medical practice. If that person had walked in with a specific pain in his arm, moaning, the chances of his being treated by the first hospital - at least for pain - would probably have been high. But a crippling ms exacerbation that took a year to partially recover from was not even given the slightest attention, and he was treated as if being arrested then put on trial than cared for by those in the "healing arts".

The most important diagnostic tool for ms is the mri scan. The latest mri techniques and the most recent knowledge of ms is important. Although respecting the education and responsibility of neurologists, many of them do not know enough about ms today and opinions vary widely. The radiologist is, to my experience, really the one who does the analysis and together with the neurologist conclusions are drawn. Other tests further confirm probable or definite ms. "probable" is as good as a "yes". The system is built classically upon doubt. This is good and bad since it could be another equally serious disease that would require a different approach. Lupus is similar, for example. The doubt should not affect the patient but it does. It is just their way. It is not that you do not have ms or something real. Usually doctors are body and machine oriented and not thinking about the person. 90% of ms suffers are ambulant with "invisible symptoms" as with fatigue syndrome. If you do not show "neurological signs" at the physical there are the next steps. If one is certain about their condition those next steps should be requested. You are the client. Never forget that. Sometimes md's act like high priests. They are just people, even if initiated into a learned club, often scratching their heads at what they cannot see or detect by machines. Also, if one clinic won't comply then simply go down the road to another. The world is full of neurologists.

Finally, people with symptoms want to find out why. This is natural. It's their one life they are living, want to get rid of illness and live it. For me the purpose of health is a primary motivator in getting everything I want from any system, and I go to the best - not because I am rich, but because I just insist on carrying on. ("sound mind, sound body" by pellitiere of stanford u.) I have things do get done, period! This quest has led me to true therapies, like acupuncture by a specialist in ms, a professor with vast knowledge. Such enlightened people are very rare, but search and receptivity leads to the right thing. I am now looking into radionics treatment. There have been many, many strategies over two decades. Just the active search and refusal to be a cripple acts as a focus of concentration for many. Curing your illness becomes your first priority, even if you let a year or two slip by which is expected. But one still learns. If I must eventually use a wheel chair so-be-it. There are many forms of ms, some more solid and progressive than others. But there are cases where an apparent sure decline suddenly transformed into complete remission. If a doctor is skeptical it means you do not show permanent crippling symptoms. Is that good or bad news? Visit an ms center and see the other 10%. The problem is balance. The medical field should acknowledge what a person actually suffers from and the patient should not be anxious to be labeled, even though yearning to find a reason other than their own mind or god's punishment. Ms can have tremendous social and professional repercussions. If you are highly functional maybe seek a non-diagnostic approach and get treated by those who can heal you. There are drugs like beta-interferon, however. Always, treatment as soon as possible (secondary prevention) for any ailment is necessary. I'm sorry to go on, but with ms can come cognitive problems that affect good judgment. Objective feedback from a highly trained physician or qualified healer in the various "alternative" fields will at least help keep judgment sound. We are in charge of our own precious lives in the search for therapies and cures. Let's never give up even to the last breath.

Aura,

thanks very much for your detailed response, it must have taken a while to type all that!!
I'm still waiting for my referral to a neurologist so that I can have my mri. Recently the symptoms haven't been too bad but I know that something just isn't right! I just want to find out what I have so that I can stop worrying about it and get on with things.

Heartfealt thanks!

I feel - hey I know! - symptoms can come and go. And just when you get to the dr nothing shows! It's a matter of keeping track daily, even hourly of what's going on. Try not to show up with a long list, but a brief one is ok. I was just talking to a guy about keeping a medical diary. You might be surprised how 5 years can pass.

Even if your test results keep coming back normal and they tell you it's all in your head, just keep on keeping track of things. You know your body and you know something is wrong. Somtimes, it takes a while to find the write Dr. Who will listen, and sometimes it takes a while (years ) for things to show up. I have been falling down for a few years, I can't remember exactly how many now, I am dizzy, and have blurred and double vission, I am so weak and fatigued, my memory loss is terrible, and I woke up this morning and could not remember what day of the week it was or if I had to get up and go to work, or put on my uniform. I spent an hour paniced because I could not remember when the last day I took a shower (it was yesterday morning my husband told me). Yes some days are better than others and I still don't have a diagnosis. My last mri didn't show anything. But I am still keeping medical notes for the Dr. Like the last entry, by the hour, by the few minutes, if necessary. I just keep a little notebook and when I notice something like pins and needles in my hands and feet, I note it and the time and what I was doing. Or when I fall, I write the activity and what I was doing. My neuro that I have now, actually takes the time to read it. :d . One thing I have learned. There might not be a magic pill to take today to make you feel better. That was what I was in search of. Something to make these horrible symptoms stop. Now! Ok yesterday! - I about drove myself and my family crazy looking for it. What I am about to tell you might make you mad - but hold on. You need to try to accept what is happening to a degree, because there is not magic pill to put you back to the way you were. There is no magic pill to make these symptoms just stop. There is low fat diet, that helps, - they say no dairy, no red meat, medicine - once you do get diagnosed that helps) and support, there are people who care. You can deal with it. - I have not been able to do the diet, = my husband is a diabetic, and loves sugar, I love - milk and cheese. If you try the diet, - i'll try it with you.

Even if your test results keep coming back normal and they tell you it's all in your head, just keep on keeping track of things. You know your body and you know something is wrong. Somtimes, it takes a while to find the write Dr. Who will listen, and sometimes it takes a while (years ) for things to show up. I have been falling down for a few years, I can't remember exactly how many now, I am dizzy, and have blurred and double vission, I am so weak and fatigued, my memory loss is terrible, and I woke up this morning and could not remember what day of the week it was or if I had to get up and go to work, or put on my uniform. I spent an hour paniced because I could not remember when the last day I took a shower (it was yesterday morning my husband told me). Yes some days are better than others and I still don't have a diagnosis. My last mri didn't show anything. But I am still keeping medical notes for the Dr. Like the last entry, by the hour, by the few minutes, if necessary. I just keep a little notebook and when I notice something like pins and needles in my hands and feet, I note it and the time and what I was doing. Or when I fall, I write the activity and what I was doing. My neuro that I have now, actually takes the time to read it. :d . One thing I have learned. There might not be a magic pill to take today to make you feel better. That was what I was in search of. Something to make these horrible symptoms stop. Now! Ok yesterday! - I about drove myself and my family crazy looking for it. What I am about to tell you might make you mad - but hold on. You need to try to accept what is happening to a degree, because there is not magic pill to put you back to the way you were. There is no magic pill to make these symptoms just stop. There is low fat diet, that helps, - they say no dairy, no red meat, medicine - once you do get diagnosed that helps) and support, there are people who care. You can deal with it. - I have not been able to do the diet, = my husband is a diabetic, and loves sugar, I love - milk and cheese. If you try the diet, - i'll try it with you.