Hi regigirl,
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for joining in. Nice to meet you.

Artiemouse I love your dog. Beautiful.

Hi again kristen 8283. Anything new going on with you"

Anyway, it's a common problem many people face like you and artiemouse have found out. If all the ducks are not in a row, then it must be something else, they say. Or they make you think it's all in your head.

Many times friends and family, including the spouse, may not believe it either. They rather not talk about illness. They don't want you to be sick so they don't want to hear about it.

I still have people in my family that don't want to hear about my MS 29+ years later. They may call me and never ask how are you feeling? If I mention I have this or that today, they change the subject. People can be strange. If you look well, take care of yourself, and dress nice, then they think you are okay.

They don't know how you are feeling, and probably don't want to know. If the dr confirms no MS (at this time) then they think you are making it up.

I was diagnosed after being in a hospital for a week getting all kinds of tests. No MRIs back then. I was diagnosed by clinical exam, LP, and VEP. Many other rule out tests all week and Grand Rounds for odd tremors.

Years later I had my first MRI when they came out, in an open machine, with very low strength to the machine (the Telsa) and no GAD dye. It showed nothing, no lesions so they said the brain is clear and the spine looked good. Still I had my diagnosis, with a clear MRI at that time. I didn't know they would not show up in an open one.

My MS Specialist ordered new MRI's. In a closed machine with a higher Telsa with /and without GAD. I had many lesions that showed in my brain and in the right places. I had to get this test to be put on the DMD's or my ins company would not pay for the Injectables.

So in my case I was dx'd with MS without any MRI at all.