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Sunday, June 28, 2009 Scott asks

Q: Not sure what to do about seeing a specialist again?

Nine years ago I experianced fatigue for several months. I had terrible bladder urgency sometime losing bladder control while driving my vehical and not able to make it to a rest room fast enough. I would get so tired I would have to sit down or stop and lay down for awhile during the day. My legs felt very heavy. My family doctor ran some blood tests and could not find any problems so he sent me to a specialist. They did and MRI and did a test in there office where they hooked wires to my scalp had me come tired and wanted me to sleep during the test. I did not sleep during the test they also did blood test and when all was done I was told that I had aging lessions and I was getting over Mono. Over the many years I have been getting more fatigued I have had bouts of urinary urgency and muscle weakness. I went to a sleep doctor to check for Sleep Apnea about five years ago. I was told I did not have it. The last two years have gotten worse. I use to love the heat I could work in it all day. But the last couple of years I find it very difficult I become so exhausted it makes me very weak and feel like passing out. I went back to my doctor last year he sent me to a heart doctor they did several test and said my heart was fine. He wanted me to go back to the sleep clinic I was very reluctant but went in despreation of finding help. This time they diagnosed me with Sleep Apnea. However a couple of months ago I started to feeling body aches the bladder urgency came back. Even when I made it to the toilet my body would shake before I started. The fatigue was worse even with the CPAP Machine my balance was terriable my calfs would ache at night when I would lay down to sleep. I would stop talking during a conversion I wanted to say the words but they would not come out. My left hand became very weak and my two little fingers would contract and spasam mostly after standing up or when I would wash my hair etc. My balance was off I felt like my left side was not wanting to move. I am self employed and have several employees my wife if is disable and is mostly bed ridden. I do have a fair amount of stress and my business involes physical work. I own a remodeling business. My family doctor wants me to wait and go back in the fall to the same doctor who tested me for MS nine years ago. Not sure what to do? I have a very high deductable and don't know what to do? Also have tests changed from nine years ago?
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Answers (1)
Lisa Emrich, Health Guide
6/29/09 1:57pm

Hi Scott,

 

You certainly have much going on.  Lots of responsibilities, lots of stress, and lots of symptoms.  The advice about see the same neurologist as many years ago sounds good, unless you know that you want to see somebody who is more of a specialist still.

 

The diagnostic criteria HAS changed in the past nine years.  So it is a bit easier to collect the evidence and make an MS diagnosis now.  The testing itself will likely be the same:  MRI of brain/cervical spine with and without contrast injected, neurological exam, Evoked Potentials testing, lumbar puncture, etc.  See Beginner's Guide to MS: Do I have MS? What does it take to get diagnosed with MS? for links to more information.

 

The process can be long and difficult.  But I do wish you the best of luck.

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By Scott— Last Modified: 12/26/10, First Published: 06/28/09