you've gotten some great comments.
welcome to NT,

i was dx'd without an LP altho my dr wanted it later. the test was well managed in the hospital and the pain was minimal. i did have O-bands so the dx was confirmed.

the first step is to see a neurologist and have a neuro (clinical) exam.
then the process of eliminating other illnesses takes place. then you might have an mri ordered. if it's ordered with and without contrast they will start an iv. iv's can be started after numbing the skin and doesn't hurt. ask for it.

try to take one step at a time. discuss your fears with you dr. he will help you thru the steps.

i agree that having an annual flu shot is important. i've had 1 every yrs for many yrs and was actually surprised at how small the needle was. i didn't even feel it and had no sx's (symptoms) afterward.

can i ask how old you are?
glad you found us. let us know how you are.

Fantastic answers here! B-cells show up in the spinal tap. I did not have a spinal tap because I had lesions in my brain indicative of MS and my symptoms matched those of MS. Plus I was having different problems over a period of about 12 years. They would come and go and docs never knew what was wrong. I had a couple MRIs but they came out clear. I have a new Doc now who questions why I did not have a spinal tap and I told him...cause they got a diagnosis without it and I don't want one now!

Then all of a sudden one day the doc orders an MRI and it was not clear. I had 6 lesion. (thats where the term Multiple comes from in MS)
Its important at this time you write down a sort of history and time span of your symptoms. This will at least get them in your medical records.

I take Betaseron shots just below the skin with a tiny, short needle. It doesn't really hurt, but the reaction site turns purple and red and looks really nasty. I have not had any real sickness after the shot either. I understand your anxiety over this whole process, but please don't panic! If you have MS it may take a completely different course than your father's MS. Its impossible to judge MS by how someone else has it.