Seeking diagnosis
I haven’t been officially diagnosed yet. I had a couple of doctors tell me I was pre MS. But I just dismissed it, especially when I started feeling better for over 20 years. This was in the 60’s but I also had major migraines and several intestinal surgeries and breast cancer surgery and radiation treatments. I am having breast pain and will see my doctor this Monday.
A year ago one said I had MS, then the following visit denied he ever said it. He said “I never told you that”. My daughter was with me and she remembered him saying that and it made her cry. I just don’t understand why he did that. I have insurance so I am covered, the first doctor that said he thought it was MS said he didn’t want to make it hard to get covered. He has since died and we moved.
Also, I am afraid of getting the Spinal Tap to find out for sure, but I am changing my mind and want to have that done in order to finally get diagnosed one way or another. Has anyone else had this problem?
Wow- I'm truly sorry to hear about the confusion and challenges you've been facing with your health journey. It's understandable that you're feeling frustrated and anxious about the inconsistencies in your diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Physicians use a battery of diagnostic tools to diagnose MS. You can read about them here -- https://multiplesclerosis.net/diagnosis/tools-your-doctor-will-use-to-make-a-diagnosis/. There is more to the diagnosis than the spinal tap so it usually takes more than a spinal tap alone to diagnose MS, mostly because positive results could be MS but could also be a sign of a number of other issues as well. Here is an article that goes over this- https://multiplesclerosis.net/living-with-ms/joy-getting-spinal-tap/. Lastly, it's essential to have a clear and open line of communication with your healthcare providers. If you feel that a doctor has given conflicting information or has not been transparent about your diagnosis, it may be beneficial to seek a second opinion or consider changing healthcare providers. A trustworthy and supportive medical team is crucial in managing any health condition, especially one as complex as potential MS. I truly hope you get the medical help and support you need to get down a path of relief. All the best, Latoya (Team Member)
