I'm afraid to trust my Ophthalmologist's judgement

[favabean]

Hello everyone. Okay, so this may come across as silly, and I hope I don't sound like a hypochondriac or anything.

So a couple of months ago I developed Optic Neuritis. I ended up seeing an Ophthalmologist (not a neuro-Ophthalmologist, though) who went through many eye tests and confirmed that I did indeed have optic neuritis. At the same time I started having mild numbness in the same side of my face as my eye trouble. It's not enough to change the way my face moves, and I can feel touch- it feels like it's in the muscle, and feels like your face does after being numbed at the dentist, but when it's mostly awake instead of being completely numbed- I hope that makes sense. He seemed concerned about that, and because of both things he ordered an MRI.

I just had my MRI last Monday (3T machine, FLAIR, with and without contrast, the whole shebang). I just saw my Ophthalmologist this morning, and he said my MRI was completely normal, nothing at all to worry about, just a random bought of Optic Neuritis. I brought up the numbness in my face, and he seemed very dismissive about it, and basically said it must just be a left over effect and not to worry about it because my MRI was clear.

Thing is, I can't stop worrying about it. So now I'm not sure what to do... should I call a neurologist on my own? Should I just go about my life and hope that he was right? I'm not a professional, but I'm nervous about just taking his word as gospel.

What do you all think?

[Marco]

I would personally go see a neurologist. Like we learned when we were little kids, "for important things get a 2nd opinion." Depending on your area it may take 2-3 months to get a new patient appointment. After that you'll be established and getting in will be easier should anything else happen.

With a clear MRI don't be surprised if the neurologists says, "we need to monitor" and see you in 6 or 12 months. The good news is the neurologist may add to your comfort level by also suggesting a "wait & see" approach. I hope the ophthalmologist is correct, but he'd probably have his kid at a neurologist in the same circumstances. I wish well ...

[SNOOPY]

If you would like a second opinion then, yes, see a Neurologist and under go testing.

You can have ON and not have MS and you can have MS and not have ON.

I have had MS for a very long time and have never dealt with ON as a symptom of my MS. I also see an Ophthalmologist yearly and have done so long before knowing about MS. My exams, nor any MRIs I have had, have ever indicated ON.

My sister, who does not have MS has had Optic Neuritis. Her MRI indicated she had ON. Due to my diagnosis of MS she was referred to a Neurologist and under went all testing for MS.

All of her tests came back normal and to this day she has never had any other problems or indications of MS.

Her ON cleared up on it's own in approximately 2 or 3 weeks.

[Alicious]

I agree with the others--go to a neurologist with the MRI and ophthalmologist's records and get a second opinion. I'm hoping that the neuro just wants to monitor and that you are indeed low risk, but you need an opinion that is beyond the scope of an eye specialist now, and that person is a neurologist.

Keep us posted!

[favabean]

Thank you all!

Thanks for the input everyone. I'm going to call around tomorrow and see about getting an appointment with a neurologist. I just don't want to regret waiting if it is MS.

[hsmaldo]

I just saw your post and I'm glad to see that you're going to see a neurologist as well.

I totally understand what you're talking about the the facial numbness--you described it perfectly! That is one of the symptoms I had last year as well with my INO (internuclear opthalmopligia--double vision with nystagmus)

My 4 MRIs came back clear as well. My lumbar puncture showed 5 o-bands. I'm still in limbo, but with the lumbar puncture results, my neuro suggested I go on the DMD's, so I'm now on Tecfidera.

I hope you are able to get in with neuro soon and get some answers.

I'm also not trying to scare you, as everyone's experiences are different and just because I had the numbness too, doesn't necessarily mean that you will have MS, but to rather validate your wanting to see the neuro and make sure that nothing else is wrong!

Good luck to you and please keep us posted!

[MSW1963]

I had annual eye exams with my regular Ophthalmologist for years for contacts and glasses. I know over the years I had at least a couple of bouts of ON that were un-dx'ed.

Later I developed diplopia, which I described to my regular Ophthalmologist as problems with my vision 'like being cross eyed', thinking I needed a new rx. I got my new contact lens rx, but I continued having problems with double vision. Return to Ophthalmologist explaining the new rx did't help the double vision, but again nothing out of the ordinary according to my Ophthalmologist. (in my Ophthalmologist defence, I learned years later that he was very ill with cancer during the years I was his patient).

I'd request a second opinion, neuro Ophthalmologist, and MS specialist, particularly with the bout of ON and the facial numbness.

Have you order and read your written MRI report? I waited 3yrs to get my written report. It stated that I had too many to count brain lesions. Sometimes doc's have their own agendas, or may not be at the top of their game and miss something when faced with an otherwise healthy attractive woman. Misogyny in the neuro field is not unheard of either.

I didn't intend to hijack your thread, but reading my own MRI report changed the diagnostic 'game' for me.