Update: Appts. and Tests - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

Peanutsmom247 · 02-08-2006, 06:09 PM

As of Monday afternoon my dizziness and headaches have subsided. I still see the pink from time to time.

I saw the eye doctor and he said that my eyes look good. The optic nerves look healthy (thank goodness). He suggested that what I went through was some type of migraine. Maybe... I've never had one before.

Went to see the neuro. today. Well, actually I saw his nurse practitioner. They're trying some new meds.; Depako and some muscle relaxer. He has also ordered some extensive blood work (to check for lupus and other diseases). Finally, I'm getting an EEG. I am pretty sure that I've read some posts in which members have talked about EEG's. Any thoughts to share on the subject?

Okay, I go for the bloodwork tomorrow and the EEG next Wednesday. I'll follow up the week after that. I didn't ask for an MRI this trip because he seemed like he had some ideas on things to try. If these turn out to be dead ends, then I'll request it.

Hope everyone is well. Thanks for letting me blab

.

StephanieAnne · 02-08-2006, 08:53 PM

Glad to hear that you are feeling better.

My neuro tried other thing too, lots of blood work, he tested me for everything, then the lumbar puncture, then another MRI. Neuros don't like to make the MS dx too fast, and sometimes I think that is a good idea, and sometimes it isn't. On one hand you don't want MS to be the diagnosis and on the other, you go thru so much before you get a dx. My neuro told me I don't think you have MS, he mentioned Transverse Myelitis, and a virus, but deep inside me I knew it was MS. But I patiently waited for the final DX.

You are doing the correct things, going to the correct doctors, the wait is difficult, but we will be here to help you thru it.

Hang in there and vent all you want
Steph

curiousforever · 02-08-2006, 09:56 PM

Is an EEG the same as a stress test?

It's really frustrating to have all this stuff going on and no real answers.

lilc · 02-09-2006, 05:04 AM

Unfortunately an MS dx involves the elimination of a bunch of other things. My neuro kept saying not MS, but she didn't close her mind to the possibility. Seemed like I was going for tests every other week most of last year, but in the end I got answers. Keep plugging away.
I THINK an EEG checks brain activity. It is non-invasive. Don't know what he might be looking for, but it shouldn't be a painful test!
Glad you are doing a little better!

Peanutsmom247 · 02-09-2006, 05:31 PM

Thank you so much to everyone. You guys always have helpful/interesting info. for me

.

I asked the neuro. about fibromyalgia, and he said it's one of those things that is diagnosed only after they can't find anything else. I guess that's similar to how MS is diagnosed; except that w/ MS there are lesions. I just feel like I've known intuitively for a year now that this is MS. However, most other people just think I'm crazy.

Yeah, I think an EEG measures electrical activity. They told me that I won't feel anything, but that they'll be gunking up my hair with lots of goo

. Oh well... Could be worse, right? I'll take that over an LP any time!

There is something else that I'm curious about (big surprise, right?). Lots of people on here say that their neuro/doctor would say that he/she was sure the patient didn't have MS. When you guys went to the doctor, did you say, "I think I have MS?" I had bad results with that a year ago. Now I'm just trying to keep my mouth shut because I don't want my neuro to think that I'm diagnosing myself.

Also, I read that an EEG can be used to diagnose MS (probably just as a secondary/back-up; not as a primary test for a dx). For those of you who have had an EEG, was it used to help in your dx? Were your results normal or abnormal?

Thanks for everything (including the kind words

).

Take care, all!