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Tania B

New and not fully diagnosed

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Tania B

I'll report back after I've seen the MS nurse later today. At the moment I seem to be getting new symptoms cropping up and feel tired, grotty and scared. I don't suppose letting stress get to me is helping. The more I've been reading the less optimistic I feel. Any tips on what to ask the nurse?

 

I was hoping to take my mind off it all for a short while as a friend from work was going to come over with her 2 children for a walk by the sea where I live. Unfortunately, she took her little daughter to the doctor's this morning and she has shingles. The good news though is that she hopes to try again on Friday bringing just her son as her husband can look after her daughter for a couple of hours. It wasn't long ago that she had an MRI scan to eliminate MS herself. Her diagnosis is now ME from 2 different specialists.

 

Tomorrow I shall be volunteering at a local charity book shop, which I normally do on Saturday mornings. To put my concerns into perspective, the charity is for a children's hospice.

 

Waffling again.

 

Wishing you well.

 

Tania

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Dianni

You aren't waffling hunni :dunno:

As for what to ask the MS nurse, I find writing things down helps. You could try listing all the things you are worried about, starting with a dx. She may not be able to GIVE you a dx, but she might be able to explain why you have a referral to her if MS is not suspected. Also list the things that are affecting you. You will probably find that a lot of it comes out in general converation with her. I'm sure she will be very used to meeting people in a very similar situation to yourself.

 

Try not to worry about the meeting. Put the kettle on and just chat.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Thinking about you

 

Hugs

Di

xxxx

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Tania B

Di,

 

Thank you for your friendly advice. However, the nurse didn't come and she hasn't phoned me. I know she said that she may be a bit late, but it's too late now. I imagine she was trying to fit me in at the end of her day. I'm hoping she'll be able to call me tomorrow as I do not have a contact number for her.

 

These things are sent to try us I suppose.

 

All best wishes

 

Tania

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Dianni

:dunno::bday3::cake: Awww Tania, how awful! All that stress and waiting! Someone could have rung to say she wasn't able to come (if she's off sick or something)

 

I would be tempted to ring the hospital switchboard and ask to be put through to the MS nurses. If nothing else, you might feel better for being proactive rather than sitting and waiting for them to ring you. I'm sure if you explain the situation ie you were expecting a visit today following her phone call on such and such a day and wondered if there was a problem or you'd got muddled up (not that I think for one moment you misunderstood) they may be able to give you a new appt.

 

Thinking about you hunni

 

Hugs

Di

xxx

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Christina

Hi Tania

 

It's a shame the nurse couldn't ring you to let you know why she wasn't able to come, rather than just leaving you sitting there waiting. Even if she is off sick she could have asked her secretary to ring you. It's no way to treat a person really, especially when you'd geared yourself up for the appt. I would echo what Di advised and ring the hospital tomorrow, ask to be put through to the MS nurses.

 

Take care of yourself.

 

Chris x


Not waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain ....

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Tania B

Well, it looks as though I must have misunderstood the nurse. I managed to get her telephone number and called it but she was in her clinic. The lady I spoke to told me that the nurse was off yesterday, took my number and said she'd ask the nurse to call me this afternoon. If I had to put money on it I'd say I'd be so lucky to hear from her today. How could it all get so confused? Could it be my very jumbled mind?

 

Tania

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Hezza

Hi Tania,

So sorry that you didn't get to see the Nurse yesterday as you thought was the plan. I hope you do get a call back from her to try and sort out what went wrong and get a new date in the diary.

 

Take care hon :lol4:

Ps. I noticed that your last post appeared twice so I've removed the duplicate.


Life is short. Eat dessert first. Jacques Torres

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Tania B

The good news is that I saw the MS nurse, yesterday evening, in the end. Long story! :doomed: She was was very calm, amicable and informative. If and when my diagnosis is confirmed I can contact her again. Apparently there is an MS therapy centre run by a charity in a fairly nearby town, which she recommends for it's positive approach. There is an MS consultant at a different hospital but in the same town too and patients with MS are usually transferred to him if diagnosed. The nurse seemed to think that my lumbar puncture would be done at that hospital and recommended that I contacted my neuro's secretary to check quite soon.

 

I must say it was good to be advised to take 'power naps' before I get tired and to pace myself. I feel as though I'm turning into a sloth.When I see somewhere to sit, I want to sit and when I see somewhere to lie down then I want to lie down.

 

So for now I'll be checking the post and plan to make a phone call next week before I return to work on Wednesday.

 

I told the nurse how much help I've been finding here. Thank you all so much once again.

 

Love

Tania

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-Kaz-

Glad you got to see the nurse at last, hopefully she will have put your mind at ease a little bit and you now know there is more on your doorstep that will be of use to you should you need it.

It is important that you take naps when needed and pace yourself, though i know from personal experience it's easier said than done learning the art of self-discipline. icon2.gif

Overdoing things only means you pay the price and you end up needing more rest than ever! If i am out and about and there is a chair available when i am waiting, say in a queue, then i use it. It saves me energy for doing more important things later so don't feel bad about taking a seat!!! :doomed:


Keep smiling :-)

 

Kaz

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Tania B

Kaz,

 

I shall be looking out for chairs now, definitely. I won't feel so bad when I take a nap now but I think it will be diificult when I'm back to work next week after the summer break.

 

When I checked my profile today I realised I was showing up as a male. I'm a female. How daft am I? If anyone noticed they must have thought that my name was odd.

:doomed:

 

Tania

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Tania B

Hello again. This is an update on my progress. I now have an appointment for a MRI scan with the high resolution dye, which will be on Sunday. I'm still chasing my LP and finally managed to speak someone today on the phone. The LP will be at another hospital. The woman I spoke to told me that she'd speak to my neuro's secretary as no referral had been received. When I spoke to the secretary earlier this week she told me the referral had been made and to call the other hospital. I'm still waiting to hear from the LP hospital. I was given the impression I'd get a phone call today. I was told I'd need blood test before the LP and she'd need to check if those I've had were the right ones. When this is all sorted I'm led to believe the LP could be done fairly soon.

 

I wonder why it's all so complicated.

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Michelle

God knows!!! I never needed any blood tests before my L.P. I guess each hospital etc has their own way of doing things. At least it's all a step closer.

 

Keep us informed,as we do think about everybody.

 

 

Regards

 

Michelle :hearts_circle:

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Tania B

Thanks Michelle.

 

Unfortunately, there was no call back so I still don't know what's happening. I may have to call my neuro's secretary again. She'll probably get fed up with me.

 

Tania

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Dianni

Hi hunni. Just to let you know I'm still thinking about you and I hope you get some answers soon. Like Michelle, I never had a blood test before the lP but each hospital has their own way of doing things I guess. Good luck on Sunday and hopefully it wont take ages to get the results.

 

Hugs

Di

xxx

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Christina

Hi Tania

 

Don't feel bad about calling the secretary again - if the referral hasn't been received by the other hospital then she needs to know that, otherwise you'll never be on the waiting list for an LP. I can't fathom the blood tests stuff either - well the bit about needing them prior to the procedure anyway.

 

Hope you get this sorted soon.

 

Chris xx


Not waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain ....

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Scully

Hi Tania,

 

Not sure if I have welcomed you, if not, WELCOME!

 

It is awful waiting for these tests and results isn't it? But, sometimes you have to keep pushing, which is also difficult. But, the secretary, will take your call, and help you so don't feel bad.

 

I had blood taken at the same time as the LP. I think (and I'm not sure) that the nurse said, that they test them both, to see if there are inflammatory markers in both CSF and blood, makes a difference to the diagnosis if you have one without the other. So blood tests at LP seems to be par for the course

 

Scully


They are not brain lesions..........they are just bright ideas

 

"The truth is out there"

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Christina

There you go Scully, that explains the blood test bit.

 

 

Chris x


Not waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain ....

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Dianni

Do you know Scully, now you've said about the blood test, I seem to remember I had bloods done before I had my LP but I didn't ask why! I was too busy worrying about the LP :cheerleader:

 

Hugs

Di

xxx

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Tania B

Hello. :cheerleader: The good news is that I have now been able to arrange my LP for 24th September and that the blood tests I had taken last month are the right ones. It's good to know what the blood tests were likely to be for. I have a feeling some of them were also to rule out types of anaemia.

 

My persistence has paid off and I'm really grateful for all the support you have all given me here. So, I may get the tests done earlier than I imagined, but will have to wait until 26th November to see my neuro and find out the results.

 

Tania

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Michelle

My memory is not so good these days,so I asked my OH Andrew about bloods being taken before LP,and he said Yes! they did take my blood.

 

So there we go :lol4: Goes to prove how bad my memory is.

 

Best Wishes

 

Michelle :hearts_circle:

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Tania B

Michelle,

 

It's hard to remember everything, especially when there's a lot going on.

 

Tania :hearts_circle:

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Tania B

Tania here again. My LP is tomorrow at 10am so I'm feeling a bit hyperactive and anxious at the moment. My moods continue to change.

 

Whilst I'm at the hospital I shall be missing the funeral of a very special person, Michele, who worked where I do and she was so loved that I've heard the place/section will be closed so everyone can attend.

 

What to say?

 

Tania

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Hezza

Hi Tania - hope the LP goes as well, and as painlessly, as possible today. Please remember to rest, rest, rest afterwards.

So sorry to hear about your friend and that you will be missing the funeral - I'm sure she would understand and when you have recovered from the LP you can say your goodbyes privately and in your own special way. That's a lovely gesture from your employers to allow people to attend.

:hearts_circle:


Life is short. Eat dessert first. Jacques Torres

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Christina

Thinking of you today Tania :hearts_circle:

 

Best wishes

Chris xxx


Not waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain ....

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Dianni

Hope everything went well hunni :hearts_circle:

 

Hugs

Di

xxxx

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