Hello, I have not posted here for awhile but visit quite often,
I have been running back and forth to doc for awhile, trying to find out what is wrong with me.Don't even know if I should be posting in LUPUS, but Angelica knew alot about APS.
BRIEF HISTORY:
fatigue,sore joints, muscles,SOB, tremors in hands,numbness in some extremities,some loss of bladder control, poor memory & concentration,chest pain(recently diagnosed prolasped valve),blurred vision that comes & goes,eyes twitching,occasional swollen glands,
pneumonia,painful periods with lots of large clots(SORRY), oh yeah and FATIGUE.
Doc has done blood tests, the only problem was ESR 28
echocadigram,holter monitor, lupus bld work came back negative
made MRI appt, for mid March to rule out MS.She also put me on effexxor as she worries I m depressed , and detrol for my bladder.
Now, what is freaking me out is she sent me for a CT scan and found
a "PROMENT BULGE".
So now she is sending me to a neurologist for a possible cerebral angiogram!!!!!!!!
"BULGE" what does this mean????
She says" its not tumor its a bulge,possible clot or anyereseum"
Well, the rest of the appt. is a blur, blah blah blah and then sent me home to await for a appt with the neuro.
Am I suppose to act normal, go to work(physical demanding job)
I have phoned back and talked with the receptionist to ask doc before she goes for her vacation, because I have not slept and I'm freacking out.
thanks for all your support
kelly

Kelly,
You really should be tested for antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. It's a simple bloodtest. Alot of your symptoms fall right into that category. I'd ask your dr. to test you for this asap. Be sure your neurologist doesn't throw you right into the MS category. APS mimics it like you can't believe. I am concerned that because you have a bulge, it could be a clot and you probably need to get on real aspirin or blood thinners, if that's the case. Can you call your dr? I wouldn't mess around with an aneurism, that certainly is cause for concern and immediate intervention. Keep us posted. Shari

Hi Kelly,

When are you scheduled for the Neurologist appt? If it is not soon, get your GP to send an ASAP consult NOW to get you in soon. My bet is that this is a clot- and that it could be from APS! Have they tested you for it yet? If not, in the meantime get your doctor to test you for APS!!! Please try to stay calm, it is so scary I know.. :( See what your GP thinks and see if you can get in right away!

~Luv, Angelic

Hi Kelly,

When are you scheduled for the Neurologist appt? If it is not soon, get your GP to send an ASAP consult NOW to get you in soon. My bet is that this is a clot- and that it could be from APS! Have they tested you for it yet? If not, in the meantime get your doctor to test you for APS!!! Please try to stay calm, it is so scary I know.. :( See what your GP thinks and see if you can get in right away!

~Luv, Angelic
Hello, thanks for responding Shari and Angelic

Got a hold of Doc yesterday before she went for vacation,she said just act normal, go to work,etc.(easy for her to say)
Went to work today but felt a little dizzy, had not felt like that before, wondered if it was just mind over matter.
Anyway,receptionist left a message that could not get an appt until May!!!!!!!!!
can't get a hold of her now as she said she will be in and out of the office while doc is on vacation.
kelly

Hi Kelly,

That is RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!! You need to be seen NOW! Please try and stand your ground.. perhaps you could go through the ER during the day to see if someone can read those results. Just complain of a headache and they have to consult you out because of your abnormal MRI! MAY is way too far. Sheesh!!!! That makes me so darn mad!! I think that this is a clot, and that you need the tests for Antiphospholipid Syndrome ASAP before you have something awful happen. I don't want to scare you- but you need to get fixed soon before they go "oops!". I will pray about this and everything will be revealed Kelly. I don't know if you are a person of faith- but I am and I will pray no matter what :) Take care and talk to you soon.

~Luv, Angelic

P.S. If you can't get anywhere with the secretary, find out who is the Neuro taking over your Neuro's patient care. THAT Neuro needs to follow up wiht you. If you can't get a hold of that information, get your GP to call. IF your GP wont take good care of you you need a new one. Those of us with Lupus, APS, MS etc need GOOD GP's taht are responsible and caring! Talk to you soon :)

~Angelic

P.S. If you can't get anywhere with the secretary, find out who is the Neuro taking over your Neuro's patient care. THAT Neuro needs to follow up wiht you. If you can't get a hold of that information, get your GP to call. IF your GP wont take good care of you you need a new one. Those of us with Lupus, APS, MS etc need GOOD GP's taht are responsible and caring! Talk to you soon :)

~Angelic
Found out who the neuro is a doc in Toronto,my sister works for a specialists clinic and she is going to see if she has any pull to try and get me in sooner, and I can't look for a new GP as there are none ,I'm actually one of the lucky ones that actually has a doctor at all ,in this pronvince. thanks for your prayers and all your support.
I'll try and keep you posted.
kelly

Hi Kelly,

I am Canadian too.. If you can imagine I am in the "bowels" lol Sask!!! I went to ENgland to get diagnosed because no one could do it here. 10 years of symptoms and blood work off and on and no one would diagnose me. I hope that those strings can be pulled for you hon, I am thinking abotu you :)

~Luv, Angelic (The fellow Canuck!)

Hello
Well today I got some good news, Ithink
Had an MRI last week, the radiologist phoned the next day and said they need to do another MRI with contrast, OH no, now what have they found??
Went to doc today, she said no MS, and that the "bulge" is not a concern, so she is not sending me to the neurosurgeon, but will send me to a neuroligist to find out why Im having these symptoms.
This month has been pure H#@5# as I thought, I may have a REAL problem.
I'm still a little skeptical as to the "bulge not being a concern",
I feel like I'm back to square one,with no real diagnosis.
Don't get me wrong, I not looking to be sick, but , now I back to being a hypocondriac.
My symptoms keep me thinking I have lupus.
Do neurologists diagnose lupus or is it usually a Rheumy?
I was so dumbfounded by what the doc told me today I forgot to ask her to check me for hughes(APS)
She offered to increase my dose of my antidepressant, which made me feel like she thinks it is still all in my head .

thanks,

Kelly,
I wouldn't stand for the line "the bulge is not a concern." That's b.s. Certainly sounds like it COULD be a clot, and if so, it needs immediate attention. You should also make it a point to be tested for antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, you're symptoms sound indicative of it, and....it's responsible for clot formation. A rheumy would be the one to diagnosis lupus or APS. I don't mean to alarm you but I wouldn't wait to act on that "bulge", it certainly sounds like cause for concern. And if it turns out to be nothing, all the better.

Oh my!

This sounds like typical Canadian medicine :( Sheesh Kelly!!! A bulge is a concern because if things were normal in your brain you wouldn't have one! I am concerned with a clot (same as Shari). The Rheumatologist is supposed to be the most competant when it comes to Lupus- but sometimes I am not very confident in them! Unfortunately in Canada, GP's are unable to diagnose us without a specialist backing things up- which is so dumb. Anyway- please take care and I hope that everything works out soon for you! I am still prayin!!!

~Angelic