Oh, and I always loathed going to the doctor, especially since my mom was dx schizophrenic. I probably had MS going back to the 70's, but I ignored a lot of symptoms because I did not want to get labeled.

However, when you are at the point of 4 objective lesions in your spine, and a classic presentation of spinal lesion activity, they do not doubt you. For me that occurred in 1991, years after my first symptoms.

Bipolar can be as a result of MS (over time), and/or some people present first with bipolar and eventually the REAL MonSter (MS) makes itself blatantly obvious. They are quite used to running into this.

I don't know anything about Grave's disease though . . .

Cherie

Neither do I, but I met a man this last winter in the hospital ER waiting room who shared his diagnosis story, involving Grave's disease. His sounded like a complete nightmare getting a diagnosis compared with MS.

How ya doin kiddo? As for the testing.... I've been reading the replies you have here and it seems like most are indicating at some point all the poking and prodding stops. Hmmm....

I'm seen at the local V.A.. I was diagnosed Jan 2 of 96 and they have yet to stop doing that. It's like some fetish or something. Some times the numb areas progress, but then most times they never change, and even if they do, so?

As for the MRI, I finally stepped in and took control of when they do those. They cost about $1500 a pop. That, for me, is payed by the taxpayer, you and I don't like wasting your hard earned money.

I figure the first one showed leisions confirming MS. Any new ones are going to show the same thing, so why do them every 6 months? I figure every couple of years is good enough, unless there is a major change or something like that.

Good call on the heated blankets, I forgot about those. I didn't know about the CD thing and shall bring one the next time I have to go in.

Bottom line on the tests.... They are now a part of your life, so might as well get used to them. MS is progressive as we all know. The docs are just trying to monitor the progression as best they can. Physical testing, and listening to what and how you say what you do, are the only ways they will know.

MSDave

i'm sorry you're having to go thru all this leggz.
but at least your drs are looking for answers and to find the best tx for you.

please hang in there. it sounds like you've had a lot of test already done so hopefully you will be done soon and hearing about results instead.

So we did the spinal tap yesterday. It wasn't was bad as I expected it to be but the needle kept hitting a nerve that went to my hip that felt like lightening shooting my right side. Oddly enough it hurts today between my shoulderblades, you know about 2 ft above where the puncture is.

Stiff as usual. Feels like my joints just don't want to move. We start the steroids tomorrow afternoon. They better work. The left side decided the right side was having way too much fun so now both legs are numb, and my stomach, and my back, and my left arm, but it's just the skin that is numb. I can feel pressure, well, except for my feet.. which makes driving beyond frustrating. I'm told this attack will go away I am waiting ..... This "episode" has been kicking my ***** since August, seems the harder I fight it the harder it hits back.