What to expect at 1st appt. and LONG :) - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

SkeochGirl · 02-22-2005, 12:44 PM

In a week my husband will be going to his first neuro appt., looking into a possible MS diagnosis. I was curious as to what is typically done at these appointments as far as tests (imaging, blood or otherwise).

He has had two episodes of ON. The first happened coincidentally when given a few medications that had cause ON as a side effect. At that time he was suffering from severe allergies. He was sent to a neuro-opth who ran an MRI (negative), ran blood tests (CBC/Diff, Lymes, ANA, CPR, Syphilis, Wegeners Granuloma to name a few) and put him on a 4 day drip of SoluMedrol. Fifteen months later, a month after a car accident he developed ON again. The neuro-opth ran another MRI and showed one lesion on his brain. At this time he did not run another series of blood tests and since the ON was not as severe he did not do a SoluMedrol drip.

Before these ON episodes he was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy by an oral surgeon. Having known a few people with Bell's Palsy I do not think that is what the hubby had. He did develop numbness on one side of his face but not the droop. It also only lasted a few weeks. In December, within 24 hours of raking leaves for 5 hours straight he developed numbness in his pinky and ring fingers with sometimes numbness running up his forearm. He will have brief occurrances of this during sleep when he is bending his elbow. This is typical of Cubital Tunnel and I assume it is, given the time it happened.

While I am going to listen to what the neuro has to say I am skeptical of MS. I do know that ON is usually an EARLY sign of impending MS but so far he doesn't have problems anywhere else. What he does have is a lot of head symptoms and chronic sinusitis. I am totally convinced that his problems, because of when he developed ON symptoms are from other causes. I had read where you can develop lesions on the brain after accidents, making me think since he had head and neck injuries when he developed the second case of ON that is related to the accident. On his first case of ON he had severe allergies and a tooth infection on the same side. He has a history of sinus issues but still has to get to an ENT for evaluation.

I don't know if what he has is enough for a diagnosis of MS or not (from what I read probably not) but I will be armed (much to my husband's chagrin) with a list of questions and suggestions. I don't want him having to go through the hell I go through with doctors if he doesn't have to. I have my own health issues with RA and usually have to fight to get a proper diagnosis. Unfortunately, I have not had experience with neurologists. I think they are one of the few specialists I have not been to yet.

Thanks for any advice or insight you can give.
Shandi

Arraicha · 02-22-2005, 01:03 PM

It's good to consider all the possibilities, which is probably why he is getting tested for MS. Plus, if your hubby's problems stem from neurological sources (which they seem to), the neurologist can consider other possibilities that different doctors didn't think of.

At his first neurological appointment, he is likely to recieve a neurological exam which includes testing reflexes, balance, feeling, strength and movement. Then he will tell you what he thinks and answer all your questions.

You seem to know your way around doctors and neurologists are no different from other types of specialists. It's good to be prepared with questions and to be ready to fight. Also, like any other type of doctor, there are wonderful neurologists and horrible neurologists. Sometimes you find the right one on your first try, sometimes you have to shop around. (Like other specialists, a trick to finding a good neurologist is to ask a trusted family doctor for their recommendations, that's how I found mine after seeing several incompetant ones)

Good luck with everything!

cactus46 · 02-23-2005, 01:19 AM

Hi SkeochGirl!

Sorry if this is a stupid question but I'm not totally up on all the lingo. You said your husband has had 2 episodes of "ON". What does "ON" stand for?

Sheepishly, Julie

SkeochGirl · 02-23-2005, 07:12 AM

I wish I didn't know the lingo Julie!

ON stands for Optic Neuritis. Hubby had 2 episodes. The first he went totally blind in one eye and has the pallor (I believe that is the term) in the back of his eye when they photographed it. The second episode was less severe and just went dark in the other eye. The second episode did not seem to damage his eye based on photographs. If I remember correctly he has 20/40 (don't know which way the numbers go) in one eye and 20/30 in the other. He is 35 and all his family has had glasses by now so I don't think that is too bad. Just a matter of getting those episodes to stop.

Shandi

cactus46 · 02-25-2005, 09:40 PM

Thanks for the info, Shandi.

I had a vision problem a couple of years ago that lasted a couple of months. I would see white, lightening shapes in my periphial vision areas. It was very weird. They were very sharp, clear and defined. Recently I have had some days when my vision has seemed a little blury. I'm still waiting for a dx. I see a neurologist and a rheumatologist next week.

I hope your hubby's ON episodes stop.

Julie