[Snoopy]

Hello gruvingal,

There is a diagnostic criteria for diagnosing MS, The McDonald Criteria:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/For...osing-Criteria

There is no single test, by it's self, which can rule in/out MS. However, the McDonald Criteria relies heavily on the MRI.

Why will they not listen to me?

Your Drs. are listening that's why they have given you a referral to the U of WA for more testing. Many conditions/disease as well as vitamin deficiencies and some medications can cause symptoms similar to MS.

If you are taking any medications you may want to do some research into the side effects. If upon doing research into your medications, if you take any, and find some or all of your symptoms could also be side effects of any medication(s) you are on then please discuss your symptoms with the prescribing Dr.

Medline is a good resource for researching medications and their side effects:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/

[ChristiS]

Hi, I’m Christi, 41, and do not yet have a diagnosis yet, but have some neurological symptoms that come and go. I have one lesion on my brain, have had a clear LP and clear VEP almost 2 years ago. I have just had a 3rd brain MRI with no new lesions. Hope to get to know y'all soon!

[SallyC]

Hi Christi and welcome to the club. I hope if you turn out to have MS,
you have a mild and, a slooooow to advance, case.

[ChristiS]

Thanks, Sally! I'm ready for any kind of answer!

[jenng]

Hi everyone. I usually post in the peripheral neuropathy forum. My symptoms are progressing--more numbness, tingling, muscle soreness & cramps. Legs that feel like jelly. Tight feeling in abdomen that comes and goes. Brain fog that is new for me. My last head MRI was 2 1/2 yrs ago, and entire spine within last 4 yrs. Crystal clear, all of them. I've never had an LP, but my neuro is finally doing it. He says my progressing symptoms are very suspicious for MS. It's been over 12 yrs of symptoms for me, and I just don't know how to feel about it. Thanks for listening

[SallyC]

Hi Jenng and Welcome to the MS forum of NeuroTalk.. So sorry for your increase
in and progression of your SX. I hope that you and your Neuro can get to the bottom
of it and figure it all out. It's the not knowing that is so stressful.

Please let us know how the LP and other tests go and stay as calm as you can. The
stress only makes all your sx worse. Be kind to yourself.

[jenng]

My brain MRI was 2 weeks ago and LP one week ago. Yesterday I called my neuro's office since no one had called with any news. Surprisingly, he called himself late in the day and left a voicemail (sooo mad I didn't hear the phone ring...grrrr...) He said he would have his assistant make time for me this week for a follow up appointment. This sounds foreboding to me. If everything was fine, I'm thinking he would've just said so on voicemail. I'm trying to just not think about what if's. But honestly, my anxiety is through the roof.