Infectious Diseas Specialist

[Ovieloverinla]

What has been anyones experience with this type of doc?

After waiting for months I finally went to my appointment yesterday and did not know what to make of it.  He was very  informative and asked lots of quesitons, he believes that I never had MS (he said that my first neuro disagnoses everyone with MS), but instead have chronic fatigue syndrome.  He also said that the lesions on my MRI were not consistant with MS, but with something viral.  I was also given a Neurontin perscription.

I dont know what to make of this, the left side of the body is getting significantly weaker and he noticed that my left foot drags.  He said that this is due to the nerves being damaged by the unidentified "virus".  He did tell me to follow up with the neuro.

I thought I would get some answers, but I feel so lost!!!  Dont know if I should go ahead and accept the diagnosis or seek another opinion.  I have already been to two different neuroglists and after an inital MS dignosis, all I got was an "I dont know" and a referal to this specialist!

[Sparkysarah]

Hi Ovie

It does not fill one with a great deal of confidence when one doctor criticises and disagrees with another - VERY UNPROFESSIONAL even if he does disagree.

For you to have been given the dx of MS by the first neuro, you must have met certain criteria and gone through the usual testing and the radiographer must have examined the MRI scans and written the report.  I am not sure how long ago you were given this dx and why you were not put on some DMD treatment at that point. At the end of the day you need to know what is going on and if this was me alarm bells would be ringing and I would not be satisfied with this new doctor's waffly "unexplained virus" explanation. I am not a dr, scientific or otherwise but this is not good enough.

I would personally summon up the strength to find yet another MS specialist and request to have repeat MRI scans done to see if there has been further evidence of demyelinating activity.

Best wishes

Sarah

PS If you have got MS then it will not be helping you if you have been given a misdiagnosis of "stange virus" and you are unable to access appropriate DMD treatment for MS.

[sllowe]

Hi there,

Adding on a welcome to you! I too think you should see an MS specialist. They are use to getting patients that are not classic and it would definitely be in your best interest to know for sure what's going on.

Please let us know how you are doing and hope you enjoy the support, advice and info you'll receive here!

-Shell

[rendean]

Hi Ovie,

I don't think we've "met" so welcome. I personally would seek another opinion and it would be with an MS neurologist. Infectious Disease docs should be able to identify the "virus" and not brush you off so quickly.

Let us know how things work out. If you have unusual symptoms you might seek an MS specialist at an academic (teaching) hospital or at an MS Center.

Ren