First off was the HEAP of bloodwork taken at an area medical training hospital [up to and including West Nile Virus? As it was 'hot' around that time] THAT was about 6-8 big and small vials of blood....I don't like this part? So, I was just amazed at the 'vials rattleing'! About 3-4 weeks later those results came back and then the round of MRI's w/&w/o contrast, X-rays, Cat Scans to my local neuro.... results and conclusions from all the tests prescribed by the hospital were forwarded to the local who then proceeded [about 6-7 weeks after the the initial tests] to schedule me for the Spinal and even MORE bloodwork at a nearby local hospital. He'd done the spinal in his office and HAD ME tote it to the hospital who sent it and another seeming 'quart' of blood off to points beyond. Some of the spinal and blood work was done at Mayo and other work was sent to Athena. Lemme tell you FUN [NOT!] working out the insurance glitches?
I didn't KNOW at that time? That I should have gone rite to bed after the spinal and not have sat around the hospital waiting for blood work to be done! Luckily I have some common sense and went home to SLEEP as I was exhausted from both the THOUGHT and effort needed to DO the tests.
One year and One month after onset I got the ALL-CLEAR by my neuro's office to start IVIG and they'd done all the pre-clearance w/the insurance company! I had onset in Mid April of one year? Hospitalized a month later w/a full 'attack'. And by Mid June the following year I was being 'infused'!
I'd quit the first neuro in Oct of the 'onset' year, saw my new and still current local neuro in Nov. The Teaching hospital in Feb the year following and was tested for 4 months before results were in and that following month started treatment.
I hope that's all clear? For most who've immune diseases such as mine? That's FAST! Sad to say. Keep in mind, that I'd been able to get test appointments 'locally' meaning not at the hospital [which was an expedition for me that took me 2 days to recover from] and all results were sent to the hospital. And my current neuro to boot! I was going to 2-3 tests each week in-between. I figgured I better do it all while I still COULD? - I'd felt I better do it NOW or regret it later.
But I learned from the folks here only AFTER I'd followed my instincts and found from others here that the instincts were RIGHT on target! [Also how to use the 'puter and internet]
The lumbar puncture part of it? That's easy once you know what to expect and GET an EXPERT to do it! The other stuff? Just heaps and heaps of tests ... May you KNOW what you all are dealing with! 's to all! - j