Mainly I am seeking a second opinion because I have found a specialist. In the military, while I love the neuro I am seeing, she doesn't specialize in ms, just nuero in general. I have questions I want to ask him regarding prognosis, treatment options, homeopathy and things of the sort.

I find myself hoping he'll say I don't have MS. But, realistically, I kinda know that he won't.

My onset was 2000. I had double/blurred vision, blacked out a few times, severe weakness, loss of balance and coordination. Could not swallow, slurred speech. They hospitalized me for TIAs. Ruled that out, then wanted me to follow up for testing for MS. That scared me into remission..LOL

I never followed up. Fast forward to February. Following the flu with a 103 fever, I became almost paralyzed on the left side. Severe weakness, speech problems, loss of coordination, balance issues, falling out of no where.

DH made me go to do. MRI showed 4 lesions of varying age, and areas. Having a spinal tap on the 21rst, but already dx'd with MS.

Is there a chance, in the slightest, I could hear it is not ms? Should I get my hopes up only to have the shock again? If not MS, could it be something worse? Better? Nothing, all in my head (well, it kinda is...lol).

Ack, just thinking out loud. Trying to hope, but not hurt. Denial is my middle name depending on the time.

Denial - such a wonderful place, I still go there at times

Is it possible to be told you don't have MS? Yes.

Should you get your hopes up? No.

Beauty, you will get many replys soon. Most here are out on Sat afternoon, but will return and be there for you.

This is a hard subject for any one to answer. But, bottom line is no hopes up - u have the DX. I'm sorry but someone got my hope up and it hurt like )))))) so no. You have MS and you need meds asap. I know nothing about you but I know this crap can move fast. Make your choice and get on a med. Then if u wish, get a second. They are always good to have.

Do I think it can be worse than MS - I understand there are things worse but I have yet to see one. That all depends on how much you are willing to give up. There are many w/MS gratefull to be alive. There are those who think cancer is worse. I don't - I don't want an MS life. Not a bad one. But, we need to know where the lession placement is. You may well be fine for 30 yrs with MS depending on placement, treatment... you may well have a GREAT life.

I did view your myspace and think it is great. I have a page too, my invite will be on it's way soon. I thought I had the best MS song till I heard yours. I love it. All members should visit.

I'm sorry~Sheena~

Things could be worse.

My uncle just died yesterday. A little over six months since he was diagnosed with some sort of cancer. He was fine last summer, and now, BAM! He's gone. So, I dont feel so bad now about having MS...I've seen worse. (two uncles died from bad hearts, one from cancer, grandmother had Alzheimers and cancer, grandfather had pancreatic cancer, other grandmother tripped over a footstool, broke her hip, and during her recovery time got sick with Pulmonary Fibrosis and basically her body smothered her to death...and a childhood friend had Cystic Fibrosis....so I do think there are worse things than MS. Doesnt make me like having MS any better, just makes me realize that things could be worse for me.

Supposedly MS doesnt really change your life expectancy much.

As for a prognosis, MS is a fickle creature...I dont think there is any way to guess-ti-mate an MS prognosis until years later and your doctors have a nice thick file of all your neurological weirdness before they can say "well, we think your MS is going to this..."

Even tho I'm diagnosed and have pretty much accepted that I have MS, I actually keep hoping that it's Lyme disease and that someday I'll find a doctor who will confirm it and treat me for Lyme, but even with Lyme, I'm sure a lot of the neurological stuff can be permanent and wont always go away even after treatment. So, for now, I'm going to believe that it's MS, since at least they have treatments for MS now, and I can do one of those and hope that it does something to help

Let's bump this thread up for Beauty. Hope this wks

By all means go for the second opinion. Two heads may be better than one, but as tempting as it might be, try not to expect miracles.

If it was me I'd probably front up thinking the worst. If he confirmed my diagnosis or prognosis then I'd not come away disappointed, but if on the other hand he was convinced my symptoms were not MS, then WOW!! What a pleasant surprise.

What's that saying? Nothing ventured, nothing gained?

Good luck beautytransforming. I wish you well.

How do you get to your my space?

Erin, I am sorry about your uncle. You and your family are in my thougts. As far as that is concerned, I know things COULD be worse. I could be in an accident and become an invalid. A friend got me a card, on the outside showed a cat with its head thrown back, saying "Stupid dog fell in the toilet, BWAHAHAHAHAHA." When you opened the card, it says, "Take comfort that someone is having a worse day that you." It was funny, and I needed it at the time to get me out of the pity me phase =) Oh, and the CF... I dated 2 guys when I was 15 and 18 with CF. It was sad then thinking, "If this is my lifemate, I could be a widower when I am 30." They are both gone now.

I wish you the best with all you are going through. This is never an easy time!

to you and your family.

Connie

Thanks. That is what I keep telling DH. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. I hate having to look at planning the rest of my life like that, but this disease does not leave for anything else

Thanks for the well wishes! Nice to "meet" you.

It is in my signature. You can go HERE.