[Raynaadi]

I'm a little nervous but mostly glad to finally see this doc. I just hope they don't give me heck about money. Send up the prayers for good news and a good battle plan. I'll update when I get back.

[Monty_girl]

I'm glad you got in so fast. It took me months to see mine and I have to go over a 100 miles.

Let us know how it goes.

Lisa

[mrb020377]

good luck!!!!!!!

[walkswithspiritbear]

Hugs to you and prayers that you have a good neuro which is so very important.. I have had my share of the bad and they just managed to screw me up so I pray and pray that yours is like the one I have now... who is so good

[Raynaadi]

Copied from email to my family:

The appointment went great. The neuro is sooo cool! He tells it like it is, cuts to the chase, even gave me a copy of the report on my MRI. I see him again next week and he's hoping to have the films to show me. Here's some of the report:

Multifocal T2 signal abnormality seen in the cerebral white matter and left middle cerebeller peduncle consistant with demyelinating disease such as multiple sclerosis. No associated enhancing lesions were seen.

Enhancement in the right optic nerve suspicious for right optic neuritis. However, no definite associated T2 signal abnormalities seen.

Findings: negative for midline shift, mass effect, or abnormal extraaxial fluid collections.

So it's not a tumor hahhaa. I don't know what all that means, but it's cool to have. He gave me an overview of the disease and said if he had seen me back when I was having all those issues with numbess that I saw the cardiologist for before, that he would have dx'd me with MS even without an MRI. He said it sounds like they were treating me for anxiety and that often happens before MS can be dx'd.

He's giving me a week to mull over treatment options. The two that he highly recommends are interferon treatments, I'd do injections at home. He's not partial to either one of them, it's just that one is cheaper, and it's injections every other day, the other is more expensive and it's injections M, W, F so you get weekends off. I think I'll go the less expensive route. I asked him if he knew with one AHCCCS will cover and he's not sure, but he'll make sure I get the treatment no matter what. I have a phone interview tomorrow to get the AHCCCS rolling.

He checked my reflexes and had me walk and said it all looks good. He said I still have another 2 months before he'll be concerned that the vision won't return.

I cannot tell you how much I love this doctor. He tells it to me straight and wants me to be involved in everything from treatment to even looking at the scans. He said he likes a smart patient. When I told him I'm a recovering alcoholic he laughed and said he had to tell me what he thinks about alcoholics. I was like uh oh.....then he said the most loyal and trustworthy people are recovering alcoholics and their families!

He thinks the pain in my arm is not MS. He said aches and pains in MS patients are associated mostly with depression. Which I definetly have been. Muscles get really tight and then sleeping on it wrong can cause injury. He said his MS patients are the glummest lot around. I don't want to fall into that class. I already feel better after seeing him. I told him I have a friend who's a massage therapist and he thinks she can fix me. So I'm meeting with her tomorrow before she goes to work. Free of charge. He said being healthy physically and mentally are the best things for MS aside from treatment. He said most patients have a rough go for a few months after DX, learning to cope etc, starting treatment and stuff, and then most of them join the work force again and are good to go until the next flair up.

So...I feel much better. I only waited maybe 5 minutes in the lobby, and then he was right in after vitals. Here's what his card says, Harvey W. "Bill" Buchsbaum, M.D. Clinical Professor of Neurology. He's freakin awesome. Next appt is next Thurs at 12:45pm.

Oh he said to go ahead and stay on the Mylan that doc prescribed. He said it's good for pain and mild depression.

Back to the land of living I hope to go soon!

[mrb020377]

WOW I am glad that your appointment went so well..

[bebop]

my sister in law has MS. hers is pretty bad but she has been diagnosed for like 4 yrs now and still works. she has some really bad episodes and then has to do the iv therapy on the weekends. other than that she is doing pretty good. good luck hon

[jennie]

(((((huggs)))))

[Danialla]

I am so happy that your appointment went so well!!!

The diagnosis stinks to be sure, but having a great doc that can trust and are comfortable with it wonderful...........and what a reliefl!!!!

Plus......the research and treatment's for MS are just beginning to take shape. The future looks good for new and even better treatments for all........

Take care and keep us posted..............please!

[bipolar_bear]

I am so glad your appointment went well. It sounds like you have a great doc.

[(JD)]

Good to hear you found a great doc!!! WoW. Please call or go online to the NMSS.org website... there is so much info on the meds available, and in a local support group, there are ppl who have tried them all! It's a must, imo.

((((hugs))))

[walkswithspiritbear]

I couldn't be more thrilled for you. To find a great neuro and one that talks and explains things and also gives you medication options is the best. That is how mine is 90% of the time... I truly am happy for you. Sending gentle hugs to you take care, Linda

[Raynaadi]

Thanks everyone!! The depression was the worst....it started when I was reading the MS support forum. I started projecting what they were going through onto myself and seeing horrible images of my future. As far as treatment goes, I'm only going to discuss that with my neuro. I've seen so many arguments started in the MS support forum about which meds are better and what not....even here IRL with my friends. So I'm just gonna keep that between my docs and myself.

Getting my arm worked on shortly, so hopefully I won't feel pain there soon! Yay!

[walkswithspiritbear]

My very best to you Raynaadi, these decisions are never easy and it certainly doesn't help when everyone adds there two cents... me I won't go into my medical routine which is too much for now.. let me know how you do on your drug of choice because I also will have to go on it soon. Don't think he will let me make my choice now to not go on something... I have had ms for going on 17 years I would say, though they diagnosed me only two years ago as a certain.. in one way you are lucky I guess to have found out so readily. Don't let others scare you, this disease is so different for everyone that I can see why doctors have such a hard time. Take care and i hope I didn't say too much about it to you but if you ever wish to talk let me know alright? I do have one good shoulder and my ears are alright so far, my brain well it comes and goes, lol, but I am here if you need.. take care, linda

[(JD)]

Yes Rayna... the meds decisions are up to the neuro as to which ones to try first... but with the MS support groups, you will at least have a gauge on the side effects, normal and not It is scary. I hope your progression is slow or even unnoticed!

[January]

(((((((((( Stepfordsister )))))))))

I am so glad you like your Dr!! He sounds fantastic!

Listen hon, which of the treatments is the best? Not which is cheaper, which is best?

Love and hugs,

Jan