[jnewk]

Well, I have an appointment with a neuro at the Cleveland Clinic here in Las Vegas. I haven't seen a neurologist in over 5 years...since I went to a guy in Baltimore years ago when I lived in Delaware.

I am nervous. I have had MS for a long time and I became very discouraged several years ago... in addition to losing my supplemental ins policy until last year when I could (thank you ACA) finally afford it. So I didn't go to the dr. only minimal visits with my primary dr and my cardiologist ... bad idea to ignore the cardio guy lol so I had to go to that one.

So I am digging up old MRI films, labs etc. I'm not sure what records to take? I have films from an MRI in 2003 or 2004 maybe... I had a spinal tap positive for O-bands (I have that paper somewhere....ugh), and I had optic neuritis about 13 yrs ago but I don't have that dr report.

Do you guys typically take routine lab reports (i.e., thyroid, etc....)? I just moved of course and who knows where all this crap is and my appt. is Monday the 19th.

But this new Brain Center here in Vegas is supposedly the best and they have the best doctors (so they say lol) so I will hope for that in this experience. they were nice enough to get my insurance company to cover my visit with them (they are not contracted with Aetna) ... anyway we will see.

At this point, I believe I have crossed from RR to SP....of course, I'm not a doctor but I don't know really what they can do for me...I was on Copaxone for only about 1 1/2 years in 2003 and hated it. Then I had heart sugery and a bunch of health problems so the MS kind of took a back seat and I haven't been on any meds other than my pain meds (just 2 or 3 vicodan a day), occasionally Xanax for anxiety at night and a ton of cardio meds.

So I'm trying to get back to better self care and see if any of the new meds would be helpful...not just the DMD but the symptom manager meds as well.

Keep your fingers crossed! thanks for listening to my ramble.