Today is my son's consultation with the neurologist for possible MS. We have kept a journal of all his symptoms. I know we won't find out anything today but maybe he will be able to shed some light on things..I hope anyway. He has been really having a difficult time walking lately, this is a newer symptom and he get's so aggravated, I feel so sorry for him because he wants to be normal again and hang out with his friends, he is only 20 and he can't do some of the things they all do.

I really hope this neurologist is good. I went to him back several months ago for my EMG/Nerve tests and he seemed good to me. But we are going to him for 2 totally different things.

Does anyone else live in MI? Just wondering what doctor's you all see here in MI.

Damn that's harsh. It really tears me up to read about young people having to deal with this. I want to be normal again too but at least I had twenty good years. All I can use as a comparison is my buddy who got shot in the head at 19 and put in a wheelchair. We rallied around him (his mom came to us and explained how important it was) and made sure we included him in things we did. It was a pita at times (for us and him as well) but worth it in the long run. 25 years later he's still one of my good buddies.

Consider talking to his friends, he won't like it but maybe this is a time when being sneaky is in order, they'll respond with more compassion than you'd think young guys in their twenties could have. Good luck to the both of you.

The appointment went pretty good, I feel very comfortable with this doctor, he is putting Jacob through alot of tests, he said don't worry we will get to the bottom of whatever is causing this. He said yes, he has all the symptoms of MS but we aren't going to jump to conclusions because it can be several other things also.

He goes on the 21st for EEG/Raep/Vep.
He wants a huge list of blood work done
He also wants an MRI brain/LS Spine to R/O MS.

I took my son out to eat after the appointment and he said Mom, I'm not worried and I don't want you to worry...what a sweetie he is..I said well sorry but that's what Mom's do...

He then told Jacob to come back in 6 weeks..we made the appointment but I told Jacob when we got to the car, it doesn't take 6 weeks to get these tests results, we will call and make another appointment about 2 weeks after each of the tests. I can't wait 6 weeks for answers...

dear D,

i'm very sorry about your son's being worked up for MS.
this dr does sound very good and he's ordering tests to cover all the bases.
your ds sounds like he has a great attitude. i know your family will get thru this.

when i have had tests the hardest thing isn't the test but to wait for the results. remember as you go to ask for copies of results, documentation and a copy of the mri. ask when you go to get it done. they will burn a cd for you.
that way you can start a medical file on him. it may be very helpful if he sees others drs in the future.

you are doing everything right.
my prayers are with your son and your family.
please keep us updated.

I too, am sorry to hear about your son's sx's. It's so hard when our children are in pain and we know that there's something wrong, but don't know just what it is. Waiting is so hard, but sounds like your Neuro is taking the right approach to finding out.

Sending prayers your way for your DS and you, too!.

Sending prayers for your son and for you. I'm so sorry to hear he 's ( and you) having to go through this.

Thank you everyone, it has been a really rough 3 years, I have had 3 cervical spine surgeries, the last 2 were done after I was in a serious car accident 5 months after my first surgery, I am going through surgery #4 on the 27th of this month...I am still being shuffled around to different doctor's to see if I have TOS (thoracic outlet syndrome)..so we have had alot on our plate. I also have almost all of the same symptom's my son has, I begin to wonder if whatever he has I have..but he is my main concern right now.

Jacob is a good kid and I know that he is worried about me, I told him not to worry about me, I am becoming at pro at this spine surgery stuff... My main concentration is on him right now, that is why I put off my surgery thinking we would know something by then.

Then on top of all of that, my husband will probably be out of a job the end of this month..

But we keep our chins up and go through the storms of life....

My husband is a very healthy person and only goes to the doctor once a year for his yearly physical, so he is having a hard time dealing with the "Wait" on tests...I told him, the doctor can not give us a diagnosis until he does all the tests...that would be stupid of him to say it is this or that and not have anything to back up his diagnosis..I know he is worried about our son, so am I but we just have to be patient.

He is going today at noon for the Brain and spine MRI. I have had more than my share of MRI's so I know to be sure and get copies, I also request them to send me a copy of the actual report once it is written out by the radiologist. I scan everything and put it into my computer on an external hard drive.

I will keep you all posted when we know something...

Sounds like you know exactly what to do. I hope everything turns out okay for you, your DH and your son.....you've had a lot on your plate. I truly hope it's not MS but something that can be corrected. I'm a Mom just like you and I know the feeling of waiting for test results for one of your children. I'd rather have the condition myself and deal with it myself than have one of my children have to go through it. I guess all Mom's feel that way, huh? I had all the blood tests, MRI's and VEP/EEG done, too. It doesn't take six weeks to get the results back so you're smart to make another appointment sooner....there's no reason to wait.

You're all in my prayers.

Thank you Kitty...my husband just called and he talked to a guy at work, his wife has had MS for over 30 years, the first question he asked my husband is how if Jacob's eyesight, Dave told him about the color fade grey look when he see's out of his right eye, he said I don't want to worry you, but that does sound like MS..but just wait to get all the test results. So now my husband is thinking MS also. He then said Diane I am concerned about you because you have all the same symptoms except the color fade, I have blurred vision and really bad twitching.

I have had 3 surgeries so far on my neck and the 4th one is coming up on the 27th. After each surgery I ended up having an infection due to reaction to the sutures, my incision would open up..is it possible since my surgeries are so close to my spinal cord that my imune system is compromised and could cause me to have MS??? I'm just wondering because of all the symptoms I have..My surgeon wants me to go back to the neurologist once I am healed from this next surgery for further workup.

Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry you all are going through so much.

You are one smart woman to document everything, including keeping a journal. I also think it's smart not to wait the six weeks that was suggested by the doctor. They do like to push, and you have to push right back.

I don't know the answers to your questions about infection in the suture area, but maybe someone else will come along who knows about that. Could it be you're allergic to the suture material? Just a guess.

Hang in there and don't forget to take care of yourself, too.

If you ever want to talk, feel free to PM me. Take care.