How soon should I see Neurologist?

[Anne923]

Hi!  
I am 33, mom of 2 and just got a  MRI for bilateral inner arm paresthesia.  Its a sunburnt like feeling that comes and goes and has gotten more persistant over the past few months.  I initially went to my PCP for fatigue and got a thorough work up.  So I had my MRI and the report had "a few foci of hyper intensity in bilateral parietal lobes. Not contrast enhancing.   I work next to the neuro radiology department and one of our docs said "yea, you have a few more of those than we like to see in someone your age, but maybe they have always been there"  So my PCP refered me to neuro and they scheduled my appointment for March 2014!  Do you guys think this is something that can wait for further eval or should i call and push to get seen sooner?  Honestly, the paresthesia was so low on my radar, that im kind of thrown off by the spots on the MR.  I have never had headaches or high BP or anything else, so im not sure if im getting anxious for no reason?  Looking back, I have had some troublesome lack of short term memory and have had this sunburnt feeling on other patches of skin in the past, I also saw a spine doc for ring and pinky finger numbness that comes and goes (worse when im cold)  Thoughts?  Thanks in advance.  I am a nurse, so i think i get more panicky about "spots and dots" (as the neuro rad guy said) than the average person.  
Anne

[essdipity]

Now stop with that worrying about using neuros' time!! They get paid handsomely, and you are paying insurance premiums that I'm sure are not cheap. Just be pleasantly persistent. Don't have an agenda that you have any particular disorder, or any disorder at all, for that matter, but also don't disparage yourself. No need to be apologetic for wanting to know why you've been having odd symptoms.

If you think it would help, also get a psychological evaluation if you are prone to a bit of hypochondria. Maybe that's it, maybe not. If it should be psychological, be glad, since treating that is a lot easier than treating MS or lots of other serious physical diseases. But at this point, why does it have to be one or the other? Given how long it takes even to see someone, it makes sense to do a parallel rather than serial investigation.

Okay, now, back to the question. They expect you to wait 5 or 6 months and then see an NP in the general neuro practice?? If it were me, no way. He or she will not be able to diagnose anything, since NPs don't have a diagnostic role when it comes to MS. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of NPs, and in fact the one I see now is better than any of the 8 or so regular neuros that came before. The difference is that I was already diagnosed, and now I see an NP with over 20 years experience in dealing with MS. She knows what she's doing for sure.

But if you see this more general NP, one of two things will happen: You will either be blown off completely (as often happens when it's a general neuro as well), or you will then be referred for another evaluation by a neuro, maybe not even an MS specialist. So you'll have to wait and wait again, still lacking any definitive finding. Who needs that? More months and months down the drain.

The place you're associated with may be very good, but unless you live in Outer Mongolia you should be able to see a competent neuro elsewhere who knows MS much sooner than that. If he or she can't read MRIs independently, he or she isn't competent. Amen.

Sorry to be so dogmatic, but I've been around a long time and seen lots of MS. Before I knew what I now know, my own time was wasted. Don't let yours be.

ess

[Anne923]

I looked at my appointment and it is with a NP in the general Neuro clinic.  Would it be overkill for me to request to see a MS specialist?  I feel like i don't have any clue if that will be the diagnosis so I feel silly asking.  

Can you think of anything else the spots on my brain could be??  

I guess Im just nervous to go to a MS Doc, and use their time for it to be nothing...

I do have a tenancy to convince myself I have some horrible illness, but I have never had anything but normal test results...

anne

[essdipity]

For me, it started on the insides of my knees. I kept checking to see if the skin was red or somehow or other inflamed or hot, but it wasn't. At that point I didn't do anything, as MS wasn't even on my radar.

Over the years the symptom mostly continued, sometimes let up, and I had 2 or 3 MRIs. They weren't normal, but that part was blamed on age, since I'm much older than you. Finally, in view of a lot of other stuff, I went to Hopkins, near where I live, and even then it took a good while for diagnosis.

I have quite a few other symptoms now, but I still have the burning, stinging, chapped thing. The difference is that it has spread, and is now much worse in my right leg than my left.

Hope this helps.

ess

[Anne923]

Thanks!  She did the MR to rule out MS, so I guess i need further "ruling out" I was just worried that if it did end up being MS if time before begining treatment was a factor.  I go to and work at a Major Teaching hospital so i feel like ill be in good hands.  

Where did you/do you get that chapped feeling?

[essdipity]

Hi, Anne. There shouldn't be ANY abnormalities in your MRI at your age. Radiologists can be maddening.

I know what you mean about that sunburned feeling, though I called it 'chapped.' Same idea. It is not typical for MS to present on both sides this way, though it does happen. It happened to me, and I have MS.

I certainly couldn't indicate whether or not you have MS. If you do, there's no big hurry, yet waiting to see any kind of doctor for 5 or 6 months is excessive. If your insurance allows it, see someone else, preferably a neuro who specializes in MS. There are loads of neurological diseases, and you want one who really knows what he or she is doing. Take your MRI disk with you.

Best of luck.

ess