Hi All,

I was wondering who did your RNS? At the Mayo, I had mine done by a very young (20?) year old who was being trained and clearly was very much a beginner. Hearing other's stories it occurred to me that mostly people have had this done by their doctors. Is that true? Or am I getting that mixed up with EMG's?

The muscles they tested were mostly my leg and my fingermuscles and I was thinking that if an mg doc did it he or she would know which muscles to concentrate on. Even so, after the test the tech came back in and said some of the tests had been "borderline" so they need to do some other muscles but I find no reference to that on the report.

Anyway, just curious . . .

Thanks!

Ally

Ally,
Mine were done by the docs themselves, with the exception of one that was done by that docs technician that works from his office.

On the RNS 2 docs did the wrist area, the shoulder and the face on me, although it is my legs that are the worst weakness wise. One doc did legs, shoulder and face, and one doc did legs only. The worst decrements were shoulder and face.

Hope this helps.

Becky

My RNS was done at the MDA clinic hospital by the neurologist who does almost all the RNS and SFEMG tests. He's had years of experience and was trained at Duke University.

SAHM

Hi everyone,
My RNS was done by a youngish neurologist - not my neuro. My neuro said the other guy had more experience with the test. However, I'm from a very small area and there were only a few cases of MG. They tested my facial muscles, neck and fingers. He found (like you said) only borderline results - espeically from my fingers. BUT the tests were done early in the morning (so no fatigue built up) and I had taken Mestinon beforehand. This resulted in my neuro saying yes I had MG but it was a very mild case and I would likely be okay with just the occasional Mestinon. SOOOOO NOT TRUE! I let myself deteriorate until I could not walk or wash my hair before I went back to say something wasn't right. Now I have a new neurologist and am getting all the support I need.

Hope everyone has a happy easter!
~Kathy

I had to go without my Mestinon for 24 hours first. I was told going without was the best way to achieve an accurate test.

Granted, he is the BEST (in my opinion - cuz' he saved my life) - but my neuro did all of my testing in his office.....

How are you doing today? Are you OK?

You've found neurotalk! It is such a great site! There are so many wonderful caring people here! You are going to love it!

Big hugs!
Erin

Ally,
DOH!!!
I'm such an air head sometimes! I almost sent this with the same info I already gave you on your "struggling to keep eyes open" thread! But as a reminder,

Some more helpful hints to get a more accurate test. AnnieB3 dug up some links on the effects of caffein and the nightshade family (tobacco being the strongest of those, but it includes potatoes, peppers and others), to which Mrsd added more links.

To see that thread I referred to, you can go to the top of the page here, click on the SEARCH link in the blue bar, then type in AnnieB3 and choose the "show threads" button. Then just look for the thread that warns about caffein and nightshade family.

One thing I want to add is that a neighbor of mine was dx'd with MG. He went due to eye problems, not even having noticed any leg weakness. They told him after the EMG that he had decrement there, so you don't necessarily have to feel it in a muscle to have it show on the test. In his case I think being retired he was more sedintary and I know he loves to read, so his eyes are what he fatigued and used enough to realize the problem.
Just a little bit of info for you.

Becky