Still undiagnosed (not so good news) I have been seeking a diagnosis of MS since the late 80s on the NHS but so far haven't gone very far
I have finally been seen by the memory clinic, where the person who saw me didn't seem to have any obvious answers for me. I don't think these memory doctors like to stray far from their script. An example of this was the question 'Have you stopped doing things you loved to do?' and my answer was that I had. Had I been less confused, I might have elaborated a bit and added that the reason I no longer work with coding, building websites and running an online retail business, is that I have forgotten how to do all these things The doctor took the answer I gave her as a pointer that I was depressed!
She sent meon to a dementia neurologist who I got to see in early December last year (sort of indifferent news as he has now passed meon to somebody else). I read the letter the neurologist has sent to the next person and it includes their findings. The current diagnosis is of cognitive and memory issues that are most likely caused by a lifetime of untreated ADHD combined with a brain injury caused by a cardiac arrest and time spent in a coma in 2016.
So.. my issues continue and I still could have a long wait to move on to the next stage in my journey. I checked online for waiting times for an NHS diagnosis of ADHD for adults in East Sussex and the average time is about 5 years.
Hi Everyone
I first asked a GP about my symptoms back in the late 80s and he told me he suspected a central nervous system disorder after doing the usual neurological tests GPs can do. He referred me to a neurologist.
The neurology appointment and consultation arrived early 1991 and he repeated the same tests the GP had done then said he was all for sending me for further investigations. He then asked me to wait in his side room while he took a look at my medical notes in case he missed something.
After 10 minutes or so he told me that after reading my notes he had decided that since all my symptoms were most likely due to mental health issues (anxiety because I was mum to 2 children with special needs),he felt further investigations weren't needed. I would no doubt get the same response now as I am currently caring for my husband who is terminally ill.
In the 30+years since, all of those symptoms have got a lot more noticeable and others have been added.My current GP knows about the new symptoms but I'm still know nearer getting a diagnosis than I was 30 years ago.
I have had friends accuse me of malingering as I have no diagnosis (dumped friends now) and when I was in a coma following a cardiac arrest four years ago, hospital staff told my husband and my son on different occasions that they thought I was a hypochondriac. I can only assume that this is on my medical records as I hadn't talked to any staff at that point.
I am currently working from home as a writer and also run a bunch of on-line stores so it's not like I am just a lazy so and so.
I'm really posting to say that acceptance without fighting for a diagnosis has simplified my life so much and I am a much calmer and happier person for doing this.
So a 2nd opinion has confirmed dx of RRMS some 18 months after the original dx. I'm still having trouble accepting it but admit I finally have to. Events and stress have exacerbated symptoms over the past few months and whilst I'm still not 100% convinced, it does seem more than coincidental that I should be feeling so unwell at possibly the worst time in my life.
I feel as though I've ground to a halt both physically and mentally right now. Have said goodbye to a job I recently started because I just can't make it into the office. Living on painkillers and alcohol, not a good combo I know, but helps me at the moment and to hell with the consequences.
I keep reading about the importance of looking after one's mental health and how it can affect / be affected by MS, but there seems very little support from an MS team point of view, ie there is no MH professional as part of the team. Has anyone else found this? It's all very well focussing on the physical aspects of MS and treatments, but not much good if the psychological side is ignored and ends up killing you first.
Probably should give the MS nurse a call but I don't want to be told it's another pseudo-relapse and made to feel as though I'm wasting her time. There's nothing they can do about it anyway. I feel very alone with this.
Despite years of attacks, multiple symptoms, MRI of brain showing lesions coming and going and involvement of the corpus callosum, I still cant get a diagnosis of MS from my neurologist - or a diagnosis of any kind! Needless to say I'm pretty frustrated. Do patients in the UK have similar problems obtaining a diagnosis? I live in a very isolated part of Ontario, Canada hundreds of miles away from a 'second opinion' so when a patient has only one neurologist serving a huge area, well....Any comment will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
It's my MS's official birthday.
8 years old today.
(Yes, I know it's a lot older.)
It's as good a reason as any for a drink at the Worcester Victorian Market this afternoon.
Paulx
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