it is VERY common for a neuro to not want to throw you into the MS pool. Many things in your life will change once that happens. You wont be able to get long term insurance, disability insurance and other such things.

Please know that being diagnosed with MS is a LOOOOONG process for most of us. We dont feel good, we dont feel believed, we are treated like we are drug seeking and instead of the MD telling us he doesnt know the answer and sending us to someone who may, he starts guessing.

Please get to an MS center. They are pro's at sorting out all of those tests. EVP, to MRI, to Spinal taps. Please know there are more than 100 diseases that can mimic MS from vitamin def, to lyme, lupus, shjoghrens, RA, TB, and so on. The MD will run a bunch of test and start to "rule out" instead of trying to guess what it is, he is trying to prove what it is not. If you see his line of thinking like that, it can make his behavior easier to understand. Once he gets to the bottom 10 of that 100 or so, these are the ones that you cannot prove someone has or doesnt have. Sometimes they diagnose MS without any of the clear signals, and then the patients turn out to have something else. That would upset me just as much.

Please think of what you would do differently if you had the diagnosis? Would you eat better? Exercise more? take measures when exercising to protect yourself during low vision? Avoid baths? Go Gluten Free? Go on the swank diet? Take vitamin D3 at 2000mg a day? Add CLA (congugted linolaic acid) add a multi vit? Avoid triggers? Well, you can do ALL of these things before, during and after diagnosis. The only thing that would change is that you would be asked to choose a disease modifying drug at 4k a month. Check your insurance and see if they cover it. Do you have a cap on your monthly expenses or will you have to pay for some out of pocket? Rest! find moments of laughter and joy. Do what you can to take great care of yourself. Keep a symptom journal. Keep a pain journal. Do yoga! learn to meditate and deep breathe.

Dont wait for some MD to give you permission to start to fix your life before the label gets here. You drive the bus! drive it to a new MD. Drive right to the MS center. Even if you only use them once for diagnosis.

Thank you so much! I started making changes to my daily life a while ago and find the best way I deal with all of this is to focus on my children and each day do the best I can to distract myself from all of these new normals. I was so upset yesterday, looking back I think he was getting defensive because I was asking questions-he kept saying 'I don't know' 'I don't know'. Just so frustrated...feeling crazy again. Will just pray that whatever I do have will not get worse.

DistractingAmada, Welcome. I love your name.

Deijibo has given you the best advice I have ever read. Advice I wish I had been given.

Make sure that your symptoms are treated- pain, vertigo- and make sure that you are taken seriously.

Whether you stay w this doc or go elsewhere, they will need to see you over time. What changes over 6-12 months or two years? That's important.

My best to you,
ANN