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Old 07-14-2013, 08:22 PM
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karilann karilann is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Northern Michigan...Upper Peninsula
Posts: 625
15 yr Member
karilann karilann is offline
Member
karilann's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Northern Michigan...Upper Peninsula
Posts: 625
15 yr Member
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I want confirmation one way or the other as far as MS goes. I'm just afraid to make step and call just in case it does end up to be the ending of the rest of my life.

MS can be a tricky disease to diagnose. Its a bit of a process of elimination due to the fact that sooo many things mimic MS. But to get a MS diagnosis, you have to meet the McDonald criteria:
1: Evidence of damage in 2 or more separate areas of the CNS
(this includes the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves)
+
2: Evidence that the damage (in 2 or more places) happened 1 or more months apart
+
3: The damage (or symptoms) did not happen because of another disease
=
Diagnosis of MS

It took me about 12 years to get an MS diagnosis because my MRI's always showed up clear of lesions.

I suppose there is the possibility that you have more than one thing going on at the same time too. I'm not a doctor so it is so hard to say.
You have to be patient. Its very frustrating to go through this process only to be told that the doc's can find anything wrong. You start to wonder if you are nuts!
But most importantly, a MS diagnosis is not the end of your life. I was diagnosed in 2002, put on medication, and have not had a reassurance since.
My brother in law also has MS (men tend to have a harder time with MS) and has been taking medication 10 years longer than I..........and he is still sitting on the bench as a circuit court judge.
I still think you need the special thyroid tests just to make sure since your thyroid showed up a bit low..........and you may want to see a Rhumatologist and let them work their magic too.
A MS specialist Neuro is usually the gold standard if you have MS symptoms. Just be persistent with your questions. Keep a journal of your symptoms. When they tell you "hmmm, don't know what it is" then ask "what do we do now?"
__________________

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If you obsess about things that may happen and they don't come true...then you've wasted your time. If it does come true....then you've lived it twice.
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"Thanks for this!" says:
Erika (07-15-2013)