@ Rest Area 51 Paging ALL MS Newbies July 25 '11

[gomer]

Welcome to Rest Area 51... a special haven or your New MS family for newbies Dx'd w/MS in recent days or years and newbies at .

Pull into a nice cozy shady parking spot Pitch a tent or just lay out a blanket and enjoy the crisp cool fresh air . Feel free to share your ideas, experiences and support to your fellow newbies. Relax, you are among friends that understand. We have a virtual soap box, feel free to vent anytime.

Being a newbie can be as scary and lonely as being in limbo, Remember we are you family away from family. The BIG question answered, means many more new questions and decisions.

If you have not taken a advantage of our Rest Area 51 lately, PLEASE grace us with your presence, take a break from the MSuper hwy and let us know how YOU, a member of our MS newbies family is doing. For those who stop in and say hello each week, thanks.

Hope everyone had a great week!

Remember:
Have a QUESTION? Please don't be shy........
The only dumb stupid question.....
..........................is the one NOT asked.

Newbies..... a quick short note.
If you are real new and confused about meds, either DMDs, aka CRABs or Sx relief, I suggest you check out the medications forum for more specific related postings on that topic. Feel free to ask questions here about how we made whatever decision WE made.

?How was your Week? ........
...Good I hope, Any Dr. apts tests etc?

? What does the new week have in store for you?
....Any Dr. apts. tests etc.

Gomer Dr. of, Been There, Done That

[wassons5]

Hello Everyone in MSWorld!

Today I went to my first visit with my new General Doctor. He put me on an anti depressent and Loritab. He said he can only help with my pain for a short time. and if I needed long term pain management, I had to go to a Specialist. So he is sending me to a Muscle and Joint Specialist.

I was told that I have to have different DR help me with all my symptoms. He said he could help me when I get sick and my depression. He said my nuero will help with my MS meds and my migraines. And the Pain Specialist will help with my pain.

So, my question is. Do you all have 3 or 4 different DR? Does your nuero take care of all your med needs? I feel like all the DR don't believe I am in pain. Or have all the problems I do. It's very frustrating to have to go to all these DR. And it's hurtful to not be believed, like I am some kinda liar

[journeyman]

WASSONS5

I now have two Neuros. I have an commercial one and a VA one. The commercial one is the MS specialiasts and the VA Neuro is able to get me my meds. ($2,000.oo / mo) VA under $10.00 / mo. They both work together. I have a pshchologist who monitors and prescribes my bipolar meds. I also have a commercial and a VA primary. So to answer your question...YES I do have multiple Dr.s.

Good to talk to you.
Dave
J: Tampa, Florida

[gomer]

Hi crew.......
I have no idea how the "exclamation" creaked into the title.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Doctors, how many?

My list of regulars;
-1- FamDoc
-2- Endo (diabetes)
-3- cardiologist (heart valves)
-4- Neuro (MS)
-5- Neph (kidney)
-6- Podiatrist (feet)
-7- Ortho (ankle)
-8- opthamologist (eye)
-9- urologist

Others on a as needed basis.

J-man... hope to be making like a snow bird out of season in a few weeks.

Gomer

[journeyman]

Glad to see you back.

On Aug.5th through 19th I will be heading to TX to take care of my D-in-law who just has a vertebrae fusion. This should be fun. Its their hottest month. Hope my cooling jacket comes before I leave.

When are you coming down. I will take you back to out first place where you can get a decent cut of fish. Sorry about the last one where we froze to death and I can't remember what either of us had to eat.

So which of those Dr.s kept you out of commision so long. We missed you.

I am seeing the VA Neuro tomorrow and hopefully will get back on meds. I either had a flair or am heading back in to the MonSter.
Dave
J:

[gomer]

Hi J_man........... I have a VA MS clinic apt Aug 11, so will TRY and head So the next day. i SHOULD have ABOUT 10+ DAYS before I need to head back. about Aug 24. That leave a couple days window to meet.

My FamDoc apt was to be the tenth, but was moved up to next Monday.

where is EVERYone?

Gomer

[journeyman]

VA Neurologist.

Well I did not get my Rebif. But the appt. went well. He requested the MRI discs from early on and most recently for comparison. He did an exam and said that it was abnormal.

He said that he has worked extensively with my USF Neurologist. He also said that since I have worked with him so long he would like to have him make the calls for the medicine and the VA would work on getting it for me.

I go to my USF Neuro next Thursday to see if he wants me back on my medicine. The VA Neuro thinks that if I no longer have visible lesions on the MRI I probably no longer need the medicine. So... I go back to the VA Neuro in two months. The two docs will talk in the meantime.

The VA doc paid my USF Neuro a great compliment. I said that the USF doc knows more about MS than anyone in the surrounding area including the VA.

So I and getting the discs and following up.
Dave
J:

[journeyman]

THANKS SPARKY

Somehow a word got added to the header of Area 51 and in scanning I missed it. Even Gomer doesn't know how that word got added.

Thanks for catching my oversight. No the message wasn't that important to move it.
Dave
J:

[journeyman]

Appts.

I have my non-VA Neuro. appt. on Thursday. I am hoping that he will get me back on Rebif. But maybe not since they say my lesions are now gone. My understanding is that I still need it to prevent further damage. OH! well...we will see.

I leave for Dallas TX on friday. I fly from Tampa to Atlanta. I have a 45 min. layover to change planes. Fortunately the gates are only 5 apart. My son is laughing as he and I both know what Atlanta is like. He says he schedules a three hour layover and then hits the bar. That's just not for me.

I got my cooling vest yesterday. I have to mow the rest of the yard today so I will put it to the test. I is 93 degrees and 80 % hum. Should be a good test. The vest cost $9.00 and with shipping it was $~16.00 total. I will be keep you posted. It is a nice fashionable red.

Dave
J:

[bballmom]

Texas heat

Journey man....it's a good thing your cooling vest came in before your trip. The high in Dallas today is 107! I think I'll just stay inside. This is day 32 of triple digit temps with no break in sight.

Anywho, I hope everyone is well. My MS has been fairly nice to me this Summer...hoping it continues.

[journeyman]

BBALLMOM

I am a weather hobbist. Love hurricanes. So my son called me from Dallas this AM. and told me that I may be present in Dallas for a weather record. Number of straight days over 100. I can hardly wait. I would rather sit through a hurricane. I told him to get his a/c tuned up because I may not be going outside to witness it.

Thanks for the comments. I fly out on Friday.

My son, wife and grandson will be here for Christmas this year. We found out that Dallas is playing the Bucs here on Dec. 17. So guess where we will be? Should be a lot of fun. My Dau-in-law was born in Dallas !!!
Dave
J:

[JudySz]

Been on Ampyra a week now. So far, so good. I am walking faster....Now if I could just get rid of this fatigue and get my eyes a little better, so I could drive further, I would be great.

Busy week for me, lunch with old co workers yesterday. Great fun, but now I miss working. Medina county fair this week. Going tonight, tomorrow, Friday with grandkids and Sat with everyone. Dd is coming home from DC for a Fair visit, so she will be here with me till Mon am. Good thing, dh is going out of town for a meeting, so I will have someoen here with me.

I will let you all know next week how all those days at the fair were. I will probably sleep all week next week.

Hope everyone is doing well.

JudySz

[journeyman]

Reg. Non-VA Neurologist appt. this am.

I got examined by three neuro's and they decided that I seemed to be in a remission. They did not want to start me back on Rebif.

This Doc also works at the VA with my VA Neuro. They gave me an "open appointment" to see them should anything change. They told me just to enjoy myself. If I am to get a MRI in February and see my VA Neuro as often as he sees fit.
My non-VA neuro wants to see me in a year.

I don't know whether to be excited or disappointed. Guess I'll be excited and get on with life.
Dave
J:

[gomer]

Hey Hey J-man.........

Take advantage of the break from your MS Sx and ENJOY your trip to Tex.

Gomer see ya in a couple weeks or so.

[journeyman]

Heat experiment in TX

It was 108 degrees here in Dallas today. We were outside quite a bit. We went to a computer gamer's convention. Had to walk half a mile due to the sparse parking. I admit it is much worse in FL with the humidity.

Three time we had to walk out in the sun. I baked but was not ready to burst into flames like FL.

But then I am in remission so maybe that was the difference.

If you have never been to a computer gamer's convention it is quite an experience. A totally dark room except for computer light. Three thousand computers and five thousand gamer's. Occasional shouts when a team would win their game. Upon leaving there were thousands of dancers all in a spectical of glittery costumes. Gatherings of ten or twenty practicing here and there. It was quite a day.

Dave
J: