Diagnosed officially today

[ksrn19]

Just coming by to introduce myself. After 4 lesions in my brain and one "possible" on the spine, I got the call today with a definitive diagnosis of MS d/t 12 o bands, elevated IgG and WBC's in CSF and the neuro wanted to see me today to talk about treatment options. I'm just looking for a good forum to go to and people to talk to! I'm staying positive and had my initial freak out after the MRI results, so I was already prepared for this.

I'm an ICU nurse (25 yo female) and I pretty much knew that this is where it was heading. My plan of attack is complimentary therapies (vegan diet especially concentrating on fats/sat fats, yoga, chiropractor, aromatherapy etc.) along with whatever medication they put me on.

I have an appointment with another neurologist next week that I made after my initial ER visit (where I got the initial brain and c spine MRI that showed probable MS) and now, 2.5 weeks later I'm officially diagnosed. I actually feel really lucky that it's happened so quickly so I can move ahead with treatment. I'm glad I kept that appointment, because now I'm looking for someone that I can stay with I guess pretty much for life, and this guy is younger. Plus I don't really like the one I'm going to.

Anyways, nice to "meet" you guys!

** Moderator's note - Post broken into paragraphs for easier reading. Many people with MS have visual difficulties that prevent them from reading large blocks of print. **

[KitOP]

Welcome to MSWorld.

Here you will find friends to support you and answer your questions as they may pop up. Our members are great at sharing, we "get it" having gone through what you are going through right now.

We also have a forum for Health Care Professionals, I know that there are several more nurses out there that have been diagnosed.

Keep up the positive attitude! Hope the Dr appt goes well. Sounds like you are on the right track to treat the MS.

[22cyclist]

Hi and welcome to MS World ksrn19! I am a disabled PICU RN. I know where you are coming from. It seems like a lot of info, and not so much all at the same time when you think about what your patients are going through. Do give yourself some time to soak it in, rather than just say, OK well I have this what do we do next (as is our tendency to do).

Make sure you read up on the medications and the efficacy for each one so you don't waste time on any that may be just a try out. I did that and I regret it. However, I was diagnosed before the pills came out.

I too was diagnosed quickly as my MRI was screaming MS. I hope you do well on whatever med you choose.

As far as a doc, if you are at a University Hospital, hang around, they will change. The Attending usually stays the same, so make sure you like him/her. University Hospitals are the way to go as they have all the specialists at their disposal and all within the system.

Good luck and let us know how it goes, OK?

Take care
Lisa

[ksrn19]

Thanks for your responses. The neuro that I visited with today gave me a basic run down of all of the meds and side effects (which I had already read through most of them before going today) I decided to start with copaxone and see how it goes.

It's nice to meet a fellow RN! I will definitely check out the healthcare professionals area. I work in CVICU right now but I have only worked ICU and ER areas and was thinking hard about CRNA school and travel nursing before all of this. Now I'm planning on just staying put until I figure out how this is all going to play out.

I feel like I let it "sink in" for the last 2 weeks, but I do understand what you mean about being nurses and loving the "intervention" portion of taking care of people. We like to do things and see results.

[Alicious]

I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis, but happy that you have one so you know what is going on, and what you can do about it.

Welcome!

[Laurie Oetzel]

Fellow nurse

Hello! I am also a nurse who has found herself recently diagnosed with MS. You are very fortunate to have been diagnosed so quickly. I had symptoms for almost a year before being diagnosed, all because of my first neurologist sending me for an open MRI, nothing showed up, so of course being a nurse, I thought it was all in my head, and didn't do what the new neurologist told me to do which was to go to a closed facility and repeat the films.

I waited until I had another flare up and then did what I was told, and sure enough, I had many lesions all over my central nervous system. I'm glad you received your diagnosis so quickly. I feel like the limbo for 10 months was worse than that dreaded day that I was diagnosed, Feb 14, 2014. I will say though, please give yourself a break if you do experience grief with this diagnosis. I have been positive one minute and then I burst out crying the next. I think that it is very normal to go through mood swings related to this diagnosis. Good luck with Copaxone.

I started on Rebif almost 4 weeks ago and its been quite a struggle. I have had severe headaches and severe fatigue during times where we ramp up the dose. I am trying desperately to not let this affect my career, but have given in a few times and left work early or called out sick. But, I feel like maybe I'm on the up side of all this. Take care and I truly hope you have a smooth transition on this side of your diagnosis!

[22cyclist]

Laurie: I had a really severe reaction to Rebif, but also just had a hard time with it in general. You may want to ask your neuro about changing to one of the other injectables like Copaxone since it doesn't mess with your blood levels like Rebif does.

Also, you don't have to wait to get an MRI until you are in a flare. A closed MRI will pick up lesions at any point. Contrast will pick up those that are active (whether you feel it or not). You don't need active lesions to be diagnosed.

Anyway, I am happy you were diagnosed and got treatment, but want you to feel better, so please have a conversation with your neurologist about that.

Take care
Lisa