Re: recently kinda sorta diagnosed

Hi Steve,
I was diagonised 2 years ago, with RRMS and 6 years before that with
Systemic Lupus Erythamatosis. These are both auto-immune diseases and
both attack various bits of your body and brain, but I look at it as
being just one big nasty autoimmune disease, rather than 2, and my
symptoms just happens to fall into the 2 boxes marked MS and SLE that
have been creatred by doctors over the years.

I had a spinal tap after having an MRI that showed 8 lesions, compared
to 2 lesions 2 years prior. I had obviously had mini MS attacks before
this one as I went semi blind 4 years ago (big white blobs floating in
line of site), had an MRI but this was diagnosed then as Pars Planitis.
No MS diagnosis probably warranted at this time although I did have
lesions on my brain that no one thought necessary to tell me about.
Before that I was having serious pain in my joints and lethargy and had
bloods after bloods and then after 5 years of bloods, was given the
crown for "SLE", and traded in my "hypochondriac" tiara.

Then 2 years ago started falling over, and had no strength in my right
side. Had another MRI and had 8 lesions.
Rheumatologist wanted a spinal tap to confirm, as Neurologists
apparently do not disgnose MS unless you have 9 lesions + all the
symptoms. Mmmm...
I told my neurologist that I was having memory issues, and he said that
was age! And he was serious!
I was 32!!!

Spinal tap was no bother for me - if you are like me, pain is not
something you cannot deal with!
After all, pregnant women do it all the time during childbirth, no
questions asked, right?
Yes there are risks, but isn't it better to have the line drawn in the
sand? From what I have been told by my Neuro, he/she should be able to
diagnose you without a spinal tap, but the results from a ST might be
what you need to strighten out acceptance.

Given the choice again, I would not bother as the neurologist said he
diagnosed before the results came back any way.

1st week of December 2005 the WORST BIGGEST MS attack SO FAR and I lost

the right hand side of my body and was in hospital on massive doses of
steriods.
That was fun, fun, fun - the side effect of psychotic behaviour
manifested iteself in the form of massive ebay shopping where I spent 2
weeks of my hard working husbangs sallary in 2 days after I got out of
hospital!

Now I am taking injections every 2 days, as well as daily Epilepsy
drugs for nerve pain, Parkinson Disease drugs for tiredness (does not
work by the way!), steriods and NSAIDS for the arthritic pain and
antidepressents because who the hell wouldn't be depresed, double dose
as the MS drugs prevent the anti depressent from being very effective.

Personally, I have decided no more medication unless it helps or makes
me feel better right now, and who cares about the long term effects.
Quality of life while you are young enough to enjoy it is imperitave.

NB My opinions are very rarely those of others!

cheers

lindy

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