Nervous

[Jnkey3]

Hello!! First time posting. I am awaiting Dr appt on Monday. Have been having symptoms for over 4 years. MRI done 1 month ago showed several lesions on brain and possibly c3 area in spinal cord. New MRI will be done with a better machine with and without contrast on Monday before my appointment to either confirm or rule out MS. I feel like I'm going crazy waiting, wondering... Anyone have any suggestions on how things will go if it is confirmed?
Thanks!!

[22cyclist]

Hello!! First time posting. I am awaiting Dr appt on Monday. Have been having symptoms for over 4 years. MRI done 1 month ago showed several lesions on brain and possibly c3 area in spinal cord. New MRI will be done with a better machine with and without contrast on Monday before my appointment to either confirm or rule out MS. I feel like I'm going crazy waiting, wondering... Anyone have any suggestions on how things will go if it is confirmed?
Thanks!!

If your MRIs confirm the diagnosis alone, you will have some bloodwork done. After that, the physician will explain the diagnosis to you, answer any of your questions (bring some), and then go on to discuss possible medication choices.

The medications he/she will explain will not erase the symptoms you already have as this is from damage that has already happened in your brain, but can hopefully cut down on further damage and symptoms in the future (exacerbations).

If you have active lesions at the time of your MRI, you may be given a course of IV solu-medrol to try and quiet those lesions and reduce the inflammation.

You may want spend your nervous energy reading up on the various medications used to treat MS called DMDs (disease modifying drugs), before you go in to your appointment, jut to be prepared to make an informed decision, if you don't need it, the worst that will happen is that you are more informed about the disease.

If you are diagnosed, you will be given information about the disease depending on how good your neurologist is. Otherwise, you can contact the NMMS, and they will send you a newly diagnosed packet with all of the needed information about the disease, drugs, and support groups in your area.

Maybe you will not need it, but if you do, it is best to be prepared. The good news/bad news in this is, you have lesions. Meaning you are not on the fence. You can be diagnosed without a whole bunch of other testing if the lesions look like MS on the higher resolution MRI.

Wishing you the best!

Let us know how it goes.

[JerryD]

22cyclist covered the subject pretty well. The only thing I would add is that you should get a complete blood work-up. This includes, IMO, levels for vitamin D, vitamin B-12, cholesterol, triglycerides and various hormone levels. If you don't remind your doctor about these tests, they probably won't be tested. And you need to know these levels to correct them.
Please don't be afraid of the MS diagnosis. We are all in this together. Good luck

[Seasha]

Welcome to MSWorld, Jnkey3!! Being nervous and anxious is very normal for those of us awaiting a diagnose and most of us have been in your shoes. You have come to the right place and we all understand what this process entails. Please let us know the outcome and never be shy about asking questions. We all can offer our stories, friendship and experiences.

Take deep breaths and know that all will be well~~

[Jnkey3]

Thanks for tips!! Im not sure what all bloodwork has been done already. My GP checked several of my levels. I know b12 and potassium, but not sure what else. The neurologist took 8 vials on my first visit. I received a letter from them stating everything was in normal range, but he did not tell me anything that he was checking and I failed to ask. I was a little upset at this point because he did several stength tests and I hadn't realized how much strength I had lost on my left side. Also When I had the first MRI done, I was told by the radiologist it was normal.... When the neurologist read it he told me of the lesions... Maybe I will be more prepared on Monday. Thanks again! All advice welcome

[gowiththeflow]

Thanks for tips!! Im not sure what all bloodwork has been done already. My GP checked several of my levels. I know b12 and potassium, but not sure what else. The neurologist took 8 vials on my first visit. I received a letter from them stating everything was in normal range, but he did not tell me anything that he was checking and I failed to ask. I was a little upset at this point because he did several stength tests and I hadn't realized how much strength I had lost on my left side. Also When I had the first MRI done, I was told by the radiologist it was normal.... When the neurologist read it he told me of the lesions... Maybe I will be more prepared on Monday. Thanks again! All advice welcome

Jnky3 welcome, I am a fairly new member and fell very blessed to have landed here at msworld as i am in limbo ad like ly to remain there.

as far as mri's go, what reeeeport is made on it depends 1- on the skilll of the person reading it, and 2. what they are looking for. often if one is ordered to rule out 1 particular thing, others can be missed, as i have learned the tough way.

something i have learned to do is to ask for a self playing copy of my testings and or images, and always a printed out copy of any bloodwork or culture etc done. i have a folder at home i keep them in, and if you can get a fast appointment in with a specialist, you can take it along, let them make copies, insisting your original is handed back. by law, you have the right to all of this information. also ask for copies of write up reports of what was found when tests read.

lastly, I am learning there is much we can do to help orselves - eating what our bodies really need, cutting out what makes symptoms worse, and exercising as able. Rest as needed, learning stress reduction techniques like meditation, and learning to say no to other people's expectations needs or demands without guilt when we need to look out for ourselves.

wrote you a book! hands working right now so that's my excuse and am sticking to it.

wishing you success in finding your way to a better wellness.
~ Flow