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FaithS · 07-04-2008, 12:15 AM

Went to Kansas City today for initial appointment with Dr. Lynch. I liked her. She was personable, and seemed thorough. She didn't find out until after 4:00 pm yesterday that my appointment was changed from July 30 until tomorrow, yet she had already read much of 6 1/2 years of my medical records from Wichita Clinic, and Mayo Clinic's records from an almost 2 week-long visit in 2002.

Her first comment was that my medical hx was interesting. Well, I don't really aspire to have doctors find me "interesting".

She is not convinced that I have MS. In 2002, Mayo Clinic was unable to give me an official dx. They did not rule out MS, but leaned more towards the dx of CNS (central nervous system) Lupus. She used this term fairly interchangeably with CNS Vasculitis.

Dr. Lynch believes that the ANA blood tests that were done at Mayo Clinic make a good case for Lupus. She also believes that my manic symptoms during flares, and my response/dependence on prednisone during flares are more consistent with Lupus than with MS.

My neurologist diagnosed me, in 2003, with MS, after my being in limbo for almost 2 years. My LP and MRI results, as well as symptoms, were what he based his dx on. However, the written medical reports that she saw in my records did not convince her that MS was more likely than CNS Lupus.

She spent over an hour with DH and I. She did some lab work to check for a bunch of things, including re-checking the ANA blood tests that were done at Mayo Clinic. She also ordered an MRI, which I scheduled to be done locally on Tuesday morning.

She plans to change my medication, regardless of whether she decides that MS or Lupus is the correct dx, because she says that my having 1-2 flares per year indicates to her that it is not effective.

She has requested that I hand carry a CD of my past and current MRI results to our next appointment, which I will make after I have my MRI.

Thanks for listening.

~ Faith