Do I have it yet?

[TJP]

What is the average amount of time from onset of symptoms to a definitive diagnosis of MS?

[SNOOPY]

There is no average time frame for a definitive diagnosis, regardless of symptoms. Some people get diagnosed quickly, for others it can take longer.

There is a criteria for diagnosing MS --- The McDonald Criteria. It is not very common to recieve a diagnosis without meeting the criteria. Symptoms alone will not give you a diagnosis of MS, testing is required.

Other conditions/illnesses need to be ruled out before MS can be ruled in or consider. There are many other conditions/illneses which can cause the same type of symptoms as MS.

[fishead]

Additionally, many of us discover (in hind-sight) that we had symptoms many years before the symptoms which lead to our diagnosis.

[lemstar]

anywhere from a couple of hours to a lifetime....

[LancZen]

Symptoms --> Diagnosis

I suddenly (progressively, over the course of a day) lost my vision in my left eye. I had no idea what was going on!! My vision was 20/400 in my eye. I found that out after going to the eye doctor in the mall near my former place of employment.

That doctor sent me to the hospital for a CT scan to make sure I didn't have a tumor or was having a stroke. The ER doc sent me to a specialist (he was actually a pediatric eye specialist as it was Good Friday when this all happened and practically everyone was on vacation).

That doc suggested that I have MS due to my age and sudden onset. He sent me back to the hospital and the same ER doc (he was similar to George Clooney in ER, actually, haha) ran some blood tests and sent me for an MRI.

By that night, around 12.30 am, I had met a neurologist who had sent me for a head and spine MRI. I was put on IV steroids also that night. The following day I went for a spinal tap. After 5 days in the hospital and appointments with 3 different doctors over the next week and still blind, I was diagnosed with MS, pending test results.

It wasn't until almost 4 months later that it was made official and another 2 months after that till I was put on medicine for MS.

My vision is back and I had regular visits with a neurologist, PCP, and neuro-ophthalmologist, until I moved to Europe, 2.5 years after my diagnosis. It's almost my 3 year anniversary of unofficially being diagnosed with this disease. My vision is back and I have my first neurologist appointment in my new country in about a month.

Sometimes it takes time for test results, insurance, appointments, etc to determine how long it will take for you to know your diagnosis.

My prognosis is very good. I hope yours is too.

[Tawanda]

Not to oversimplify, but what is YOUR body telling you?? I just knew. My M.S. was textbook. At least I didn't freak out that much when the medical community confirmed what I already totally knew!

[andreagwolford]

hey

It'd depend upon how the symptoms prevail. They could take either few months to show up clearly and get diagnosed as MS, or could take longer or even a lifetime to make things visible.