Diagnostic Tests - Which Did You Have

[toby]

Cazanne "the Amazing Human Pin Cushion"

 

poor you!

 

 

 

toby x

[Sunshine girl]

Well I first saw the Dr with a dodgy left leg and arm and double vision when looking to the right, he did the standard tests then sent me to a neurologist who sent me for an MRI - very noisy and no music, then waited for ages for results. Result was ... surprise surprise MS . Sent to hospital for further tests and steroids, tests were: Lumber Puncture - first time lucky so not that big a problem, Visual Evoked Potentials - very unfunny ... electrodes all over the head (very attractive look), patch over one eye and trying desperately to focus on a red dot in the middle of the screen while the background was a moving checker board ... sounds real easy doesn't it? It wasn't ... as soon as the checker board moved I could no longer see the dot. So not painful just really really frustrating but then On the up side no more tests since

[sylvia]

Hi to all,

 

I had 1x LP, 2x evoked pot., and 6x MRI scans within a year...

[Tania B]

I had an MRI scan of the head, in January 2008, arranged by an ENT consultant investigating my light-headedness and imbalance. The first scan, I was told much later, showed some significant change believed probably to be vascular in origin. I had vestibular tests in October 2008 including gaze tests, following moving lights, and caloric tests using warm and cold air in my ears. I was told by the ENT consultant that these tests revealed that I had damage to the balance organ in my right ear, nothing could be done and a virus may have caused it when I pressed him.

 

This that was followed by an MRI scan without and with a high contrast due (gadolinium) on 13 September 2009 and a lumbar punctureon 24 September 2009. Blood tests were taken on 13 August when I first saw a neurologist, which I now believe was to help rule out other conditions. I was referred to the neurologist by a balance specialist or neuro-otologist who did not tell me why he was refering me, but I think now that there were some strong clues when he first examined me in April 2009. The balance doctor gave me an anti-migraine trigger diet to follow and indicated that he thought my imbalance was complex.

 

To summarise, my diagnosis I think was mainly made when oligoclonal bands showed up when the spinal fluid taken from the LP was tested and a not entirely normal MRI brain. scan. I want to ask the the next neurologist I see who specialises in MS. I came away from being told that I had MS on 26 November not being entirely clear. I think that I recall that he said the LP result made him 99% sure.

 

Tania

[Bernadette]

MRI, lumbar puncture, and VEP.

 

Shortly after, I was sort of diagnosed, tentatively, as having "probable MS", nearly 12 years ago now.

[ptlike]

Hi What are evoked potentials? I had lumbar pucture x rays and something placed on my head that looked like it should have been on dr who I was diagnosed in the eighties so long time ago

 

Peter

[pheonix]

I was in hospital for over a week after my serious attack and they gave me everything, I was even given IV steriods before I had any tests Im pretty sure.

 

Had brain MRI, Lumbar puncture, Spinal MRI, and blood tests to beat the band!

and daily exams to see my 'miraculous' improvements neuro actually called me Lazarus! after one-two days on the IV, and opted for 7(5?) instead of the normal 3 days cause I responded so well!

Edited 10 Jun 2010, 3:15 am by pheonix

[magsy12]

I've had all three tests done to determine M.S

Maggie

[Andy H]

I had MRI and Lumbar puncture in one day.

 

Why dont they tell you that lumbar punctures give you a monster headache.

[keira74]

LP and MRI

[Wenders]

I had blood tests, visual evoked responses and MRI with dye to head and spine.

 

W

[mustard]

All the above during first attack as inpatient. Second Mri 5 months later, new lesions found, so dx made.

[Huri]

I had an MRI first then a lumbar puncture to confirm.

[Frecks]

Had all 3 when I first had symptoms

[pheonix]

after the MRI's they were 95% sure, but had a lumbar puncture too while in hospital also which when the results came back weeks later made the diagnosis of 'it confirmed what we thought' and they thought MS so..

[LynnWilliams]

This is weird, because I have the evoked potential test, but i had no electrodes on my head but had reflex testing, had blood tests, and i was diagnosed there and then with ms. I have just had an mri scan waiting on results.Hmmm

[sammyj]

i had an MRI which gave my provisional diagnosis and then evoked potentials and lumbar puncture confirmed it. would not like a lumbar puncture again as was quite ill afterwards but all in the past now. moving on with a diagnosis and low level relapses. fingers crossed it stays this way

[Drewee]

lost sight in left eye, optic neurosis! scary but carried on with sight return.... lots of bits of problems then some years later legs and hands did not respond very well in the above mentioned Sent to neuro con diagnosed with MS... no MRI scan requested by con.... know being asked by health professionals why not??? I am not the afore mentioned but I did believe diagnosis... waiting to see if my diagnosis is under ..robust..before i forgo and take an MRI as proof seems to be more needed than I need!

[Dewi1jack]

I had the lumbar puncture, winding the Dr who did it up, by refusing to stay in bed when he finished- went walk about to get a brew, hate hospitals!

They also did a CT scan on the brain and a full body MRI.

 

That worried me, I get very claustrophobic even looking at small enclosed spaces. I zoned out and fell asleep in there, through fear or just panic, not sure.

 

Because of the grief my skin was giving me, a sort of pins and needles down both legs, one arm and back, extremely sensitive, they decided it wouldnt be fair to try the electric shock test onme. Think I would have left someone in a heap if they had. They were pulling me off the roof and walls, when they kept doing stroke tests and sensitivity tests onme.

 

Think some of the lady Drs' were getting a bit of revenge because their bloke hadforgotten their anniversary or something. Nearly as evil as physios

 

I don't mean it. Think they all do a good job.

 

 

 

When they are working with someone else!

[john2104]

i had a mri scan which showed up the ms but the hosp had to do a lp to confirm it.

[amanda86]

I had a few MRI scans and one lumbar puncture.. I'm not sure what an evoked potential test is.

[Ruby Red]

Apparently I had a very fast diagnoses when I've explained to people over the year. Short story, had various problems for two years after first son, had son number two, 3 months after went to doctors for pins and needles, collapsed in doctors, CT Tuesday Night, MRI Wednesday Morning, Wednesday afternoon told I had MS, Thursday afternoon in wheelchair Friday I was told my MS would just get worse and worse, with no remissions. What fun times I've had :[

[jonwat]

3 MRI scans, 1 CT scan, 2 lumbar punctures, 2 VER tests, numerous blood tests (both fasting and non-fasting), 3 GPs and 2 neurologists..

My diagnosis took two-and-a-half years!

[StevieJaye]

Had MRI of brain which showed a few plaques. Then lumbar puncture (horrid things they are!) which showed o bands in spinal fluid and another MRI which had more plaques on brain and one on spinal cord,

[SpinDizzy]

One MRI scan, within 3 days of first symptoms. DX at neuro meeting 1 week later.

 

The scan took 3 hours 20 minutes ... noisy & hot! The doctor had written "110% scan - the works - high resolution top-to-toe" on the 'order form' !

 

A few brain lesions found - and one large cervical spinal lesion which was causing all the problems.

Edited 24 Nov 2012, 9:39 pm by SpinDizzy