hi everyone,
i am new here and was told by my doctor that she wanted to look further into the possibility of me having ms. she sent me to a nero, but my appointment is not till may and they never told me what was going to be done during the appointment. so my question is, what are the first things that will be done to check/confirm that someone has MS? thanks in advance for your time
Hi KNWorried,
Searching for a diagnosis can be frightening. Many posts have been shared here which discuss the neurological exam and process for getting diagnosed. I'm going to give you some links. Within these posts, there are also additional links to more resources. Don't try to read it all in one sitting, but take your time.
- Beginner's Guide to MS: Do I have MS? What does it take to get diagnosed with MS?
- Diagnosing MS: Consulting a Neurologist
- The Neurological Exam: What do they do and what are they looking for?
- MS Signs and Symptoms: What is L'Hermitte's Sign?
- MS Awareness Month: Getting Diagnosed with MS
If you have more questions, please feel free to ask. May sounds like a very long time away, but hopefully it will be here sooner than you think. BTW, when you made your appointment, did they ask why you were referred? Did the office know that you were to be evaluated for MS? I don't know if that would get you an earlier appointment or not, but it is worth mentioning.
Lisa
Don't worry about making your comments too long at all!
Yes, you will need to undergo an MRI if the neurologist suspects MS. Definitely mention your anxiety and previous experience. It is likely that you could take something just that day to help calm your nerves for the testing. I know of other MS patients who also need help.
If you are claustrophic, there are "open" MRIs. But the result of the spans may not be as good which could possibly lead to the need for further MRIs.
For the MRI of the brain and cervical spine, you will be asked to lay on a bed of sorts which is slid into the machine. Your head will be cushioned in place and a facemask of sorts will be placed over your face. It is important to keep your head in the same place throughout the procedure.
When going into the machine, I find it best to cross my hands in front of my body to lift my arms up a little, and then wait until I'm all the way in the machine to relax my arms to my sides. That makes me more comfortable and I usually just keep my eyes closed during the scans because I can't see anything without my glasses anyway.
Partway through the procedure, the technician will roll you out of the machine and inject a contrast agent into your vein so that active lesions will be more visible on the MRI images. You will be rolled back into the machine and the testing will soon be over at this point.
Definitely let your neurologist know of your concerns. It's better to ask about possible help than to keep the anxiety all bottled up. The MRI technician can really make the experience easier. Also, let the tech know of your concerns so that they can help as well.
Lisa
Yes, Lisa is right on all counts. People with anxieties about MRI's should speak to their neurologist and the technician about their anxieties. Perhaps you should also let the office know you'd like to speak to the technician (even call them ahead of time and tell them to write it down in their notes on your chart.) Perhaps you can speak to your neurologist about suggestions on helping you with your anxiety.
Although open air MRI's are not as effective as closed ones, you still may opt to for this type. It's really all up to you.
Here are some tips from FunTimesGuide.com about getting an MRI. She includes suggestions on what to do while in the MRI machines to help with your anxieties. Hope it helps!
Best,
Cathy
http://health.thefuntimesguide.com/2006/04/mri_facts.php
thanks for all the advice so far.
i do plan to voice my concerns to my doctor before my appointment with the nero. thankfully i have a chance to do so soon.
i am a bit nervous and or embarrassed to tell her that i don't think i am capable of going through the mri without anything to calm my nerves... mind you, i am not one to rely on meds for anything, but in order for everything to go as smoothly as possible.. i am just going to have to put aside my stubbornness and let her know that i need something just for the day of the mri. i have heard about lemon balm for anxiety... has anyone else used it or know anything about how safe lemon balm is or if it works? anyway thanks again.
I have never used Lemon Balm.
There is no reason in the world why you should feel embarrassed about discussing something with your doctor. There are many - MANY - people who feel uncomfortable in closed spaces. You should always feel comfortable enough to tell your doctor anything. You are not alone in your anxiety, so please speak up. You are important and valued, and you deserve the best healthcare possible.
Best,
Cathy
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to answer your question lisa, no they did not ask why i was being seen. i told them the name of the doctor that sent me over, they asked for my name and birth date, typed it in and said that the only opening was for may 10th. i signed a couple papers and i was out the door. my main fear is not knowing if i am going to have to have an MRI. is that something standard with this situation?
it would really help me to know, because due to a previous issue involving an mri.. i have severe anxiety to the point of shaking and crying and being unable to catch my breath. i would like to know if i need to look into something to help calm me down during the mri. i plan to talk to my doctor in april about it, but i'm loosing sleep over the what if. sorry for rambling on and on.. i will work on making my comments shorter next time. thanks for reading
always kayce