[Debbie D]

My pcp's nurse called me yesterday and told me to get in earlier to see my neuro. He wasn't available, so his office set me up with his nurse practitioner.

I went in to see her this morning. Told her how the RLS was starting earlier in the day, and how my right foot wasn't walking right, that my calves/thighs/back had started twitching, and that my moods, especially depression, were much worse.

She checked my vision, reflexes, and balance. Then she said that based on all tests coming back negative except the mri's spots, which could be caused by vessel ischemia, that the sxs are probably from depression and anxiety.

In Dec., the neuro said that based on the mri and the way all the sxs dissipated when I was on oral prednisone, that he was putting me under the "borderline MS" category.

I give up. I'm going to pop the antidepressants I've been given and just give up trying to figure this out.

[NurseNancy]

debbie, please don't give up.
i know how hard it is to get conflicting medical reports and opinions.
it's also hard to have to wait for a dx to finally become evident.

i'd make another appt with the DR and have him explain why his NP said what she said.

if you're not satisfied consider getting another opinion.
take a break if you need. start the antidepressants and give it a few wks to take hold. see how you feel. but, your sx's certainly don't sound like depression.

take care and keep us posted.

[the Bird]

I agree with Nurse Nancy....

[sugarboo]

I'm sorry...

She sounds like she needs some more edu'macation!

[BBS1951]

I have yet to meet a nurse practitioner who seems as smart and well trained as a physician.

Get another opinion.

[BBS1951]

Show Tunes Changed to MS Tunes

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Mess (MS) Side Story

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The song was re-written on a thread that talked about how a member was having swallowing problems and was told it was due to "anxiety", not MS.
It reminds me of that song from West Side Story: Officer Krumpke
Here is an MS version of it:

Patient: Dear Kindly Dr. Neuro
You gotta understand
It just my lack of swallowing
That gets me out of hand

Neuro: Your mother was so crazy
Your father's hair was pink
Golly, Patient,,no wonder you cant drink.

Gee, Crazy MS Patient
You are very upset
You say you cant breathe
Or eat something thats wet
Youdo have MS but,
you're not misunderstood,
Deep down inside,you're no good.

Patient:We're no good
We're no good
We're no earthly good
The best of us are no good.

Neuro: Dear MS Patient, youre really a square
You dont need a doctor, you need an analysts care
Its just your neurosis that oughta be curbed
Deep down inside you're disturbed.

MS Patient: I'm disturbed

All MS Patients: We're disturbed we're disturbed
We're the most disturbed
Thats why we cannot swallow--
We're disturbed!

Psychiatrist: My Dear Neurologist
You've done it again
This guy don't need a head shrink
He needs a doc who can liss-en
It's just his nerve endings
that really are fried
Deep down inside
MS owns his hide.

Neuro:
Dear kindly big head shrinker
Take a better note
It's clear that the neurosis
Is closing up her throat.
It's not that she has MS,
its that she is a fake
Head shrink, shrink her
Now for goodness sake!

Patient: Gee Dr. Neurologist
What am I to do
Cuz no one wants a patient with a mental disease.

Gee Neurologist
What am I to do?
Gee Dr. Neurologist
F*** You

[Debbie D]

Thanks, all...you are all awesome!!
I have been under a lot of stress lately...helping elderly in laws with meds, shopping, driving them to many doc appts. Worrying 24/7 about them, especially since my DH and I are flying to Hawaii in a couple of days, and we had to take FIL to the ER on Monday night.
I began taking the increased dosage of the anti depressant 10 days ago. This morning I woke up with balance problems. I'm fine driving, but as soon as I plant my feet and begin walking, I'm walking weird,and I feel a bit off-kilter. I am taking decongestants in case it's from that darn cold that's going around.

Thanks again, everyone. I'm going to see how Hawaii handles everything. If I still am dealing with sxs, then I'll take action.
Again, you're an awesome bunch!