[dancingpoodle]

Hi, I've been lurking and reading posts for a couple of days now, so I figured I should introduce myself. I'm still waiting for a DX on what is going on with me, so I'm not really sure what group to keep in contact with. I'm a dog trainer, but have had to give up my work because of my mobility and eye problems. I still advise people through a weekly article I write for a local paper and e-mails, but that doesn't pay the bills. It's frustrating, but I handle things fairly well on a day-to-day basis. I keep busy with training my own dogs, one in particular to be a service dog. I would like a name for what is going on, but at the same time, am happy that a label with no cure hasn't been given to it all.

I have tingling/numbness in my right shoulder blade and hand and foot, a shuffling/stiff gait, fatigue, balance problems, shaky hands, headaches, and double vision. There's a few other things that come and go. I went to the doc in Sept. 06 thinking I had an inner ear infection due to the balance problems, and thought the tingling was from back problems. Neither has proven to be the answer. MRIs and bloodwork have come up negative. Muscle and nerve conduction tests showed some muscle problems (muscles were too active when they should be quiet?). I'm waiting for an appoint. with movement specialist at UVA.

The scary part is everything has progressed so rapidly. I walked into the doctor's office in September unassisted, and now I'm using a walker or a wheelchair. Everyone I've read about seems to have progressed much slower. I can pinpoint some earlier symptoms that I didn't connect together until all this started, but the mobility part has just hit me so quickly, my head is spinning (literally).

I don't expect to get a lot of answers from this board, but thought it would be helpful to read what others are going through. If nothing else, perhaps I can contribute to the pets and service dog area!

[april 1]

Hi Dancingpoodle, I am also new to this fourm and dont really know anyone yet.I read your post and WOW! I sure do hope they find some answers for you soon. I,ve just recently been dx. with ms, and from what I understand I was pretty lucky. my dx. came 3 weeks after my first doc. appt. I have to say it is still "CRAZY" just not knowing what to expect day by day. I hope something shows up soon and your doctors can help you. I sure there are a lot of people here that can give you some good advice.

will be thinking of you.
GOOD LUCK!
april.

[Jomar]

Welcome,
So sorry things seem to progressing so quickly for you - i hope you can get some good answers from the movement specialist soon.

[Darlene]

dancingpoodle,

It is great to meet you. I sure hope the doctor and medical staff can help you. Here you will find a lot of people will to help and confort you as they can.

Hope to see you in here more.

Darlene

[april 1]

Hi dancyingpoodle,

To answer your question, and thank you for asking,
my boy's seem to be handling my dx. well. I've been a single mom since they were very little and they have always been a big help to me. I think once they knew that it wasnt something I would die from they felt a lot better. I will tell you though, they are teenagers and there are days they dont even want people to know they have a mom (LOL). but I know that has nothing to do with my ms. well good luck and I hope you get the help you need and diserve soon. keep me posted.

have a great day!
april.

[Idealist]

It's very nice to meet you! I had to drop in and say hello since I'm from VA also. And just like you, I have a condition which has not yet been diagnosed even after five years. I really hope that you have a lot more luck than I have, but the truth is that I waited six months once for an appointment at MCV/UVA, hoping that since it was a medical university they would take an interest in my unusual case. Instead I got to talk to one doctor for fifteen minutes, and was then shown the way out the door. Some of the other specialists I have been seeing have told me that right now MCV/UVA is in a real mess. I have no idea whether that is true or not, but I thought I would pass it on. In the meantime I wish you the very best, and hope you find out what is wrong with you very soon!

Idealist

[dancingpoodle]

Thanks for the welcome, Idealist. I'm not a big fan of UVA hosptial right now either. I was admitted for a stroke-like incident that thankfully was not a stroke (I'm 45 years old), but was released after four days with them saying it was all in my head. My entire right side stopped working, and I couldn't talk, but all they could come up with was that it was all in my head. It didn't instill a great deal of confidence in UVA, but I'm holding out hope that the Movement Specialist will have more for me. I'm also seeing a Neuro-Opthamologist who I'm hopeful will spend more than 15 minutes since my regular Opthamologist has been in close contact with them (they are friends). My family physician and the Opthamologist have been wonderful and very supportive. Both were angry at how I was treated when I was in the hospital as they know me well and would never think this is psychosomatic--I'm too upbeat.

I haven't waited six months as you did, but it seems like forever. I sure hope I don't have to go five years without a diagnosis, but I realize a lot of people never really find out what's wrong. I had to quit my job, and I can't drive. I've gone from a very active person, to one who is stuck in the house most of the time. Fortunately, I can still write my weekly column for the local paper, and now have time to work on the book I've been wanting to write, but neither of those are paying the bills right now!

Not sure where to post messages, as I don't really have a diagnosis to fit anywhere, but I've been lurking and reading in a variety of areas. Hope you were out today enjoying the beautiful sunshine here in Virginia. I love days like this and getting outside with the dogs. I just had a ramp installed so I can use the wheelchair or walker to get out in the fresh air a bit more. Since the poodle and I aren't dancing at the moment, I've been teaching him some new tricks to help me out.

We're supposed to have another nice day tomorrow in good 'ol VA, so enjoy!