but mainly scared of what my life could become. I may have MS and that is really flippin me out. All the signs are apparently there except... I have NO symptoms right now. Last november I started feeling really weak at work and decided to lay down for a little while. (I had only had 4 or 4 hours of sleep so it did not seem unusual to be tired..). Then all 4 of my limbs felt numb.. Paramedics came to get me (I was at work) and they did a CT scan at the ER. They decided to keep me overnight and then the Dr. ordered an MRI. Showed some shadows on my brain and they started talking about MS. My PCP orderd an MRI W/ contrast and it revealed the same thing so i went to a neurologist. He looked and examined me and said that it could just be the way my brain is.. F/U MRI last week (5 months later) showed a new lesion so now he wants to have me start treatment (interferon or glatimer..). Blood work all came back negative for other conditions that could mimic MS. So now I will go and get a lombar puncture next thursday. I feel like this will be the nail in MY coffin... I am trying NOT to stress about all this but I am scared out of my mind. What if I can't take care of my family anymore? What if I can't play with my child? What if I can't go to work? Will we loose our condo? Can I buy life insurance now after I am almost diagnosed? can I switch to a different health insurance? Surely this will now be considered an pre-existing condition. I have SO MANY QUESTIONS!!!

hi frenchcandy

welcome to NT this is a link to our MS group

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum17.html

its a very active forum, please post your concerns there, the folks are both knowledgeable and caring

welcome

Hello, and welcome to NT! This is a great place with many friendly, caring, and helpful people.

We're so glad you found us!

fo0r the warm welcome. Happy mother's day to all of you

Just wanted to add my welcome to our community!

I've been diagnosed with MS for 5 years, symptoms as long as ten or more...still walking (use a cane outside the house, for balance), still driving, and could be still working if I'd had a different kind of job.

My Dad had MS for over 40 years (that we knew of), was still going up and down stairs under his own steam a few days before he died of emphysema at almost 80, and still as sharp as a tack.

Is it a walk in the park? No. Is everybody different? Yes. But do not despair. You'll have those moments, of course, but a diagnosis of MS is NOT a guarantee of immediate and total disability.

You'll find MUCH support here at NT! Everyone is like family here and we build our strength from each other.....

I understand your overwhelming fear of the unknown.....but try not to look at the whole picture at once.......that is WAY too intimidating..... and the stress won't do you any good.....
Stay strong in Spirit and take a day at a time........
Things have a way of working out.....one by one.....like the insurance thing, with all these new healthcare changes going on, pre-existing conditions should soon become a thing of the past.... but if you do have a health insurance plan, it would be a good idea to not change insurances just yet....

Try not to paint a future of 'doom'......you CAN stay above this.
Make each day count, rather than worry.....it will help you keep strong as you wade through the medical tests and diagnosis.......

You will be in my prayers
Truly Caring
Rae

Start out be learning what tests should be done for MS and other neuro things.... this is one:
http://www.neuroexam.com/content.php?p=2 Start at the intro and work your way thru. This gives you an idea of what docs look for when they test you.
Next is this: http://neuromuscular.wustl.edu/lab/nvworkup.htm#lab
Then check out ALL the neuro possibles? They are a lot!
http://neuromuscular.wustl.edu/alfindex.htm
This will help you keep an informed eye on what testing your doc is doing, as well. And I always make copies of the test orders, and ASK for a personal copy of the results so I can learn more about what tests were done and why-then what the results were and what they may mean.... The more you can 'check off' the lists? The better overall. From personal experiences? I've got several 'lists' and lots of overlap, making things harder to sort out. Not fun? But very interesting!

Do keep in mind? And wrack your brain here...that if you fell out of an apple tree at age 9 it 'can' show up on a brain scan ages later.... It's happened to me more than once with such tests and it can haunt you all your life, remembering all those forgotten falls and clunks can help docs zero in more efficiently on what your real problems are.

As for any immune issues? Such as MS or others, just remember, that we are all strong in surviving! We get by, and succeed inspite of these afflictions and we will keep fighting until we are better!

Have faith in yourself, learn the lingo and remember, there isn't a silly or stupid question on this stuff left to ask! So ask them and don't be shy, someone here has asked it and has an answer for sure!

Hugs and hope always! 's! - j

Just wanted to join in on the welcoming. My husband was diagnosed with MS 24 years ago...I've been with him for only nine years...I don't know all the answers but if you have questions I will do what I can to help even if that help is to listen!! Again Welcome to Neuro Talk!!

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Happy to see you have come to be with us. Just let us know if we can be of any help. There are great number of fellow members here to assist as possible. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene