Curious ? For Those of You Who Are DX

[slightlybroken]

I'm curious about how long it took for all of you wonderful guys and gals to get a DX of MS (from the start of your symptoms to the actual DX). How did you meet the criteria (through MRI, VEP,BAER, etc..)?

[monotreme]

Craig started having health problems in 2004, with severe fatigue.  Then leg weakness in 2006.   Brain MRI changes in 2007.  Doctors called him a psychiatric case from 2006 till finally diagnosed in August 2008.

So, four years total.  But the last two, were especially difficult.

Elaine

[mae1]

Like Sllowe it was pretty quick for me as well. I had been sick for abut a year but didn't realize I was haveing symptoms, just thought I was run down. from the time I went to my GP for a check up to three weeks later when I was sitting in a neuro's office getting my dx. Mri showed lesions on brain and neuro exam was consistent for ms. spinal came back neg.
april  

[AnyaD]

One day I noticed that my thigh was numb. I went to a neurologist who ordered an MRI that showed old lesions. I was diagnosed just like that though spinal tap was negative. I haven't had any symptoms since then and for a year now and new MRIs didn't show anything new but I am officially diagnosed with MS. It took 2 days to get this diagnosis. I am not on any drugs either. That's my story.  

[Deb61]

It's hard to pinpoint when the MS symptoms started, because I have other problems (like hypothyroidism) that caused neurological symptoms.  I've been sick with neurological symptoms since 1997.  I thought I had lupus, so I went to the rheumatologist (who, by the way, never suggested seeing a neurologist).  

I first went to a neurologist May 2007 who wouldn't order the tests I needed to rule out MS, which I thought was a strong possibility because my sister was diagnosed MS (we shared many symptoms).  He looked at an MRI that was done a couple of years ago to rule out brain tumors that was read as negative.  The MRI machine was the open kind which was weak and I did not have contrast.  He told me that there was no way, at my age, that I would have MS.  

In June 2007 I went to a different neurologist (my sister's) who ordered an MRI (the MRI showed about 3-4 lesions and the doctor felt that the location of lesions indicated that I had a demyelinating disease, but the doctor was unsure if it was MS).  I had an LP in July 2007 (I don't know the results).  

In February 2008, I had another MRI (same neuro) which showed several other lesions and an increase in size of the lesions from my last MRI.  I was diagnosed in February 2008.

So, I'm unsure of when the MS started.  I possibly had MS for 11 years before being diagnosed, but the symptoms I had that long ago were probably due to something else.  

[sllowe]

Morning,

Wasn't long for me.  Had an attack in March of 07, MRIs showed lesions, passed EVPs, not sure if I passed my office exam - Dr. never said.  LP was positive for O-bands.  Dr. said definite MS.  2nd opinion Dr. confirmed MS in June or July.  Started DMDs in September 07.

From attack to dx, was approx 3-4 months.