Don't know which way to turn
I need help and don't know which way to turn. I've actually been having strange symptoms for 10 yrs, but hate going to doctors, so I'd only go when absolutely at my wits' end. Which is where I am now: I finally broke down and made an appt with a neurologist that was highly recommended. I went, hoping for answers/help - something, but got nothing. I had had 2 mri's in October, with and w/out contrast, so had those and what little medical records I had from my Health Dept dr.
Got to appt, she was about 30 min late coming in, and she told me she had -just- tried opening the disc from radiology, but couldn't. She asked me my 'problem', so I repeated what I had already told nurse (and she entered into computer). I had been taking/keeping notes, so I referred to them: starting in 2005 with vertigo, nausea, lasting at least 3 days, about 2mos apart, with confusion, inability to understand what people are saying to me or to respond, falling down, falling out of my chairs, too, electrical pulses in my head, vibrations in my head, involuntary eye movements back and forth, mouth/jaw pain (went to dentist 3x-nothing wrong).
Have a couple periods of time with no symptoms only to have them return worse, last episode lasting 3 weeks with throwing up, falling, severe vertigo, weekness, severe electrical jolts in my head, an episode of my field of vision going up, then crashing down (looking and feeling like an earthquake), periods of severe leg cramps lasting 1+ weeks, and 2x of 'whole body cramp', blanking out at work/driving/cooking and unable to understand where I am or what I was doing, and....periods of loss of bladder and bowel control. That was the last straw.
The dr was typing in the computer the whole time, punched a button, and said "Basilar Type Migraine." I asked, does that make my upper spine hurt, too? (last 8 mos) She said, 'ummm, maybe. Come with me." So I follow her...up to Receptionist desk, and she turns around and leaves. I looked at the nurse, 'what just happened??' The nurse gave me the paper the dr gave her: a 'headache diary'. But I seldom have headaches...the nurse said, 'I don't know' and the receptionist said 'Come for a follow up on May 7th'. A follow up for what???
Nothing. No explanation of how she came to this, what it is, what to do about it, nothing. Before this appt, I've had 2 nurses and 1 Physical Therapist ask me if anyone in my family has MS. (No) My symptoms are getting worse, more often, and scarier. (the blanking out especially, and not crazy about the bowel/bladder control) Does any of this sound familiar to you guys?? How do you find a good doctor? One who would at least LOOK at the MRIs you brought? Any help is appreciated.
** 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. **
Got to appt, she was about 30 min late coming in, and she told me she had -just- tried opening the disc from radiology, but couldn't. She asked me my 'problem', so I repeated what I had already told nurse (and she entered into computer). I had been taking/keeping notes, so I referred to them: starting in 2005 with vertigo, nausea, lasting at least 3 days, about 2mos apart, with confusion, inability to understand what people are saying to me or to respond, falling down, falling out of my chairs, too, electrical pulses in my head, vibrations in my head, involuntary eye movements back and forth, mouth/jaw pain (went to dentist 3x-nothing wrong).
Have a couple periods of time with no symptoms only to have them return worse, last episode lasting 3 weeks with throwing up, falling, severe vertigo, weekness, severe electrical jolts in my head, an episode of my field of vision going up, then crashing down (looking and feeling like an earthquake), periods of severe leg cramps lasting 1+ weeks, and 2x of 'whole body cramp', blanking out at work/driving/cooking and unable to understand where I am or what I was doing, and....periods of loss of bladder and bowel control. That was the last straw.
The dr was typing in the computer the whole time, punched a button, and said "Basilar Type Migraine." I asked, does that make my upper spine hurt, too? (last 8 mos) She said, 'ummm, maybe. Come with me." So I follow her...up to Receptionist desk, and she turns around and leaves. I looked at the nurse, 'what just happened??' The nurse gave me the paper the dr gave her: a 'headache diary'. But I seldom have headaches...the nurse said, 'I don't know' and the receptionist said 'Come for a follow up on May 7th'. A follow up for what???
Nothing. No explanation of how she came to this, what it is, what to do about it, nothing. Before this appt, I've had 2 nurses and 1 Physical Therapist ask me if anyone in my family has MS. (No) My symptoms are getting worse, more often, and scarier. (the blanking out especially, and not crazy about the bowel/bladder control) Does any of this sound familiar to you guys?? How do you find a good doctor? One who would at least LOOK at the MRIs you brought? Any help is appreciated.
** 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. **
Some of them sound similar to mine. I'm really sorry to hear about your last neuro. Sure not someone I'd be interested in having a follow-up appointment with! Even with a thorough neurologist, some people still spends years in limbo waiting for a correct diagnosis to be revealed. That's frustrating enough! I hope in the end you have something curable, not MS.
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