I am thrilled that you have an appointment with an MS doctor. I hope they can find some answers for you. While you are probably scared, and worried, as we all were when chasing that diagnosis, I hope you are able to find ways to take a breath, and focus. it does feel like your body is betraying or attacking you, and that can be quite scary, but it sounds like you have a wait ahead of you. (why is it taking a year to get to see a specialist?)

That being said. To diagnose MS is a process of ruling out other things first. There are more than 100 diseases that can mimic or imitate MS. The MDs normally start with the easy ones to rule out, such as Vit D or B12 def. Lyme and Lupus markers can be ruled out on the same blood test. Sjoghrens takes more effort, but is also on the plate. Devics, and so forth will also be in the pile. Normally an MS center will ask for an MRI with contrast. It will cause any active lesions to light up. They will normally ask for a spinal tap to see if you have what are called Obands. dont panic if you dont. Many who have MS only show them during a flare up or a relapse. They will do neuro exams, like dragging things across your feet to check for babinski reflex issues, and so forth. It is not something that happens quickly, even if you got an appointment next week. While truly scary and emotional, many MDs dont view MS as an emergency type of disease unlike Guianne Barre, or Devics which can come on devestatingly quick and dramatic.

Do you have MS? its hard to tell even if you were sitting on an exam table right in front of us. There would be differing opinions, and I think all of us would advise to wait for the rounds of blood tests, and MRIs and spinal taps, but you have come to right place. Many of us here took years to get a diagnosis, and some here are still waiting for theirs. There are several really good places to be in a holding pattern, and this is one of them.

Please visit NMSS.org (national MS society) and view all the wonderful tools and advice they have there as well.

I have been in those shoes, and am so sorry for what you are going through. its scary, and sometimes it helps just to have folks to talk to. Pull up a chair, we are listening.