Bob,

As background to understand my past, imagine what you are experiencing happeneing when you are 18 years old, subjecy to analysis by DoD physicians who do not yet know much about MS, only to be rapidly diagnosed by a private specialist. That is how it happened for me. Without the private specialist I would still be in limbo.

Here is what I suggest that you do:
(1) Find an MS-Specialist in your area who has proven to be valuable with other patients. Pay for the exams out of your own pocket.

(2) When you get the results, give them to your DoD physican.

The one drawback is that you may be forced into an MOS that you do not like, or be asked to retire. If you have been in long enough and you have a clean DD-214, then retirement will prove to be great.

Another drawback, unless you take care of this before you have the private analysis, is the cost of life insurance (to protect your family). Add a little more to your policy or get a new one (Term life is best, avoid at all costs any other type being offered. Shoot for a 30yr level term policy.) Now this is not to scare you into thinking that MS is terminal, because it is not. it is not like cancer, ALS or anything of that sort, but insurance copanies still do not reailize that fact and thus charge a ton if you provide them test results that could justify large premiums. So take care of this before your private specialist evaluation.

It takes a while to accept the fact that you have MS for most people, but just realize that it is nothing more than a personal daily challenge that folks without MS will never understand. Overcome the obstacles created by MS in a slow and methodical fashion.

My time with the DoD has taught me enough to be cutious about what I say and to whom I say it. After 27 years with MS things are still working, as they will for you.

The key is to accept that it is just another thing that you have to deal with in life, and as a soldier, I can assure you that you have had to deal with worse and you survived. As an FSO assigned to work with the Corps that is one critical lesson that I learned. We just overcome and press onword, as will you.

The great news is that nobody is shooting at you and you are not living in the dust bowl (I remind myself of that all of the time, even when things are going well with MS).

Hang tough, you will do fine.

-Vic

Thanks for the advice Victor. Fortunately, they immediately referred me to a local civilian specialist and I am waiting until I get a diagnosis from him before I decide what to do next. I will, most likely, seek a 2nd opinion.

As for the Life Insurance advice, thanks but I was an agent for 10 years and disagree with term being the only viable option. Just like anything else, there is NEVER a perfect fit for everyone regardless of their situation. But that's a discussion for a different forum.

I will keep you all posted.

Got it...thanks.

Hi Sgt Bob,

I was diagnosed at age 44 after five months of tests, doctors and stress. I had similar symptoms to yours that caught my attention. When it affected my mobility it got my attention. I hope it isn't MS but something less but even if it is, it isn't all that bad in most cases. We have treatments now and it can be very manageable.

I'm 53 now and still walking and working full time. I can't do as much as I used to, but eventually I learned to cope. I learned that getting enough rest, keeping stress levels under control and a healthy lifestyle are very important.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Sarge is a hunk. Too bad he's my son's age..LOL

Sally......you tart!

Watch out, Sarge......Sally will be recruiting you to do remodel work on her house!

And he'll love every minute of it.

Okay, Sarge.......you can't say you haven't been warned!

As an Air Force wife of 20 years, I too went through the military process to try and get a diagnosis. Hind sight being 20/20 ....... I had numerous symptoms and would call to make an appointment only to get a different doctor each time. Consistency is key here.
Hopefully the health system keeps you with a Neurologist.
I had military friends who were diagnosed with M.S. using the military health system.......the hard part is getting all the criteria for a diagnosis to hit at the same time. Your doc my suspect M.S., so that is the path he/she is trying to take to get a diagnosis. There are only so many things they can test. Evoked Potentials would tell if you are failing some key things that you may not really even notice! These tests can be helpful, but only certain positive tests can give a confirmed diagnosis.....one of those being a positive MRI consistent with M.S. The others are: symptoms that reoccur over different time frames.
Disc problems can cause some real havoc. I had some issues I blamed on MS for years that were actually coming from cervical neck issues.

Bottom line....don't get freaked out. Many things mimic M.S. If you are 45 you must be at the tale end of your enlistment? If so, think about life insurance etc BEFORE there are any diagnosis made such as M.S. Are you close enough to retire or would they put you into disability retirement? Insurers won't want you with a chronic disease. Thats just something to think about.
For 12 years (during the military years) I had a clean MRI so no diagnosis. Symptoms came and went and a couple distressing ones stuck around....Boo.
I think the Military Docs tried, but all the ducks were just not in a row yet. And with that in mind we all have to wait. No one ever told me that I "may have M.S." However; after getting my military records for a civilian to review, they had made notes about a suspicion. I guess I'm glad they never mentioned it so I would not worry. The other side of the coin is....there is a relief when a diagnosis is made so that you can confirm your sanity!
Note: I was diagnosed in 2002 and I still do most things and have slowed down on somethings I probably would have slowed on anyway due to age (53). I take the meds and my disease is stable. Your anxiety is normal at this stage of the game and we have all traveled that road. (Once for a week I locked myself in the bathroom for a couple hours and took a jet bath and cried my eyes out). That was before I knew for sure and not knowing is worse.

I won't ramble on anymore.....peace be with you and hey; THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

LOL, I'm flattered. Thanks.