And I thought I was confused.

[mokibear]

I got a phone call from my family doctor's wife the other day that she had heard that I had been to the  MS clinic in Toronto and that she wanted me to have copies of all the reports my doc had gotten. As he has now passed away she was worried that I may need them. I thought it really sweet of her given her time of mourning.

Anyways of course when I got home, I had to check it out. It is interesting to see how 2 doctors can see things completely different. When I had lost the ability to speak normal in August of last year, I had gone to our local hospital first. I was concerned that I had a stroke. I was also doing my leg wonky dance at the same time. This doctor says in this report that I have some weakening in my voice but can communicate fine. He says that I would periodically stop a sentence and restart. My hubby and parents were livid when they read that as they said my speech was more than just weak, it was slurring hence them too thinking I had stroked. My stopping my sentence was because I could not think of the word I wanted and some I could not get out at all so would restart to actually come out with a new sentence to be able to use different words. He also states that I walked with an awkward gait and demonstrates right toe lag and wobbling of the left leg. She has no muscle weakness in quadriceps and calf muscles.

2 days later I went to a larger hospital as I was no better and this guy states she has marked dysarthria, weakness in right hand although odd as she is right handed,Upper limb function is normal however right leg has grade 4 to 4-1/2 in strength in the calves and thighs. There appears to be a right foot drag. So that in 2 days, definite speech issue and weakness in right leg. (oh my left leg was no longer wobbling then)

The report was also there from the neurologist I had seen about 6 weeks ago, the one who sent me now to this MS clinic and also the only one who has read my time line. He states on motor examination there was a slight left arm drift, motor strength graded 5/5 in the right upper extremity and 5-/5 in the left. In the right lower extremity 5/5 with the exception of ankle dorsiflexion at 3+/5. Left lower was normal. Gait was hemiplegic and demonstrated right foot drop. She was unable to perform a tandem maneuver.

Impression: This patient then has symptoms and findings which are consistent with multiple sclerosis. Imaging is also suggestive. I will refer her to the MS clinic as I think she will be better managed in a specialized clinic that has all the resouces available for MS patient management.

Then of course I did go to the clinic and did less than a 10 min. exam most of which she did not do as the neuro above did. Kept cutting me off saying that the symptoms I was saying were not classic. Although she is following up with another MRI and evoked potential.

I just find it interesting that some of the opinions of our symptoms can vary so much in doctors. Then we wonder why we are so confused. I also am not sure how they go about determining motor strength as all the doctors had different opinions.

Confusedly yours
Moki

[mokibear]

T, AH SO IT IS ZILLA'S FAULT FOR THE SNOW. HAHA NOW I KNOW WHO TO BLAME. HAPPY SHOVELING TO YOU TO BUT PLEASE DON'T OVER DO IT!!

SL, don't apologize for going off. I pretty much did the same. The ER doc in the larger hospital did tell me that he thought my speech problem was MS related, he said he has seen it before. I will go back to the other neuro if this MS one doesn't go anywhere with this. He did say that he wanted me to have the best care and that was why the MS clinic. It just seems strange that he thought my MRI looked suggestive of MS as well as my symptoms and in office testing, and the new one was brushing me off almost. I'm frustrated that this last neuro did not take the time that she should have with me, but at least she is going to go further with it. The problem that day was the only thing going on with me was my fatigue. Go figure.lol  I hope you are right and this is the time I get my answers.

I'm hanging in
Moki

[sllowe]

Hey Moki,

All I can say is that, That MS Specialist had PLENTY TO GO WITH!!!!!!! Durnnit!

I thought I had a stroke too, my MD said it was stress.  I stopped my sentences too, waited for it to pass, then would finish when I could.  Don't they realize that you are compensating for the problem by now, and that you've got to function somehow without everyone thinking you are drunk?  

The MRI's and the clinical eval showed different, as does yours.  They seem absolutely clueless, except the one who referred you to this new one.  I just can't understand why all the hesitation with making a diagnosis.  

I do feel you are getting closer though, for some reason. I just pray you are.  

If this new MS Dr does not make a determination, meet again with the last one, ask him for his honest opinion, and then ask him if "he" was looking for a 2nd opinion.  Also ask him why he's hesitant to make one this on his own.  I'd understand if it is for future care, because it would be in your best interest, since he doesn't specialize in MS, and maybe he feels he can't treat you, but he can still diagnosis you.

Oh my, sorry I've gone off. . .just fires me up with all that you have going on.  Your symptoms say A LOT, even though they vary from time to time.

All right, I'll stop.
Hang in there Moke,
SL

[young at heart]

I UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION.

SEE I SHARED WITH ZILLA AND SHE SHARED WITH YOU. SEE I'M BLAMING ZILLA FOR YOUR SNOW,SINCE IT SEEMED TO COME FROM THE SOUTH THEN UP NORTH.

USUALLY IT COMES FROM THE NORTH.SO THIS TIME I'M SHARING WITH YA ALL UP THAT WAY.

HANG IN THERE

HAPPY SHOVELING

T-LYNN

[mokibear]

THANKS T FOR YOU SUPPORT ONCE AGAIN. IT'S NO WONDER GETTING A DIAGNOSIS CAN BE SO DIFFICULT IF DOCTORS CAN'T AGREE ON SYMPTOMS. I JUST REALLY WANT THIS PART OF THE ROAD TO BE OVER SO I CAN GET ON WITH IT.

I'M HANGING IN, IT'S ALL I CAN DO AT THIS POINT. BUT NOT SURE FOR HOW MUCH LONGER. I'M REALLY STARTING TO GET TICKED OFF. THE FUR WILL BY FLYING SOON. LOL

OH JUST THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE THAT THE WEATHER HERE IN ONTARIO IS CRAPPY TOO. WE ALREADY HAVE 8 INCHES DUMPED ON US AND IT IS STILL SNOWING. THE WIND HAS PICKED UP NOW TO AND VISIBILITY IS ALMOST NIL AT TIMES. SEEMS LIKE THIS STORM CAME FROM YOUR WAY. LOL

MOKI

[young at heart]

YOUR DRS SURE HAD ME CONFUSED WHICH DOESN'T TAKE MUCH(LOL)

ITS LIKE ANYTHING,ITS HOW A DR PERCEIVES THINGS,WHAT ONE MIGHT FIND NORMAL,THE NEXT SLIGHTLY ABNORMAL AND THE NEXT COMPLETELY ABNORMAL.

ITS JUST LIKE WHEN DIFFERENT DRS DO REFLEXES,ITS AN INDIVIDUAL INTERPRETATION.YOU COULD HAVE 10 DRS DOING YOUR REFLEXES AND GUARENTEE 2 MAY SAY HYPER AND THE REST SAY NORMAL.

ITS BAD ENOUGH WE FEEL LIKE ****,THEN TO HAVE CONFLICTING REPORTS.

HANG IN THERE MOKI

T

[mokibear]

Glad I'm not confused alone. haha I know that symptoms can come and go and maybe some in office testing can change too but it seemed weird that in 2 days, I got really different opinions on what they perceived as going or not going on. I think neuro's are like that too. The one I saw 6 weeks ago was pretty sure I was looking at a MS diagnosis and although this new one did not say much, it seemed a little like she was not. Kind of hard to tell when she did not do a thorough in office test.

Too bad she couldn't see me now as my right foot is dragging pretty good and my left leg is shaking to beat the band. lol

Hugs
Moki

[Wobbly]

My goodness and I thought I was confused.  Reading this just make you never want to go to see another specialist or Dr...boy oh boy..
hang in there

andie

[Rena705]

Just to let you know...after those reports...I am confused too!!  What a bunch of idiots these doctors can be!  Then for the last one to say your symptoms were not classic?  Maybe if the AMA or the CMA were to allot an extra bonus for these neuro's for every positive diagnosis for MS...hmmmm...just a thought but something has GOT TO GIVE!!!

Lots of Hugs,

Rena