Status Update #2

I saw the doctor today. The quick and simple is this: she can't officially diagnose me with MS yet and I have another MRI scheduled for mid-August. In the meantime, I'll start a medication to help with the tremor in my right arm and weakness in my right leg, and it should make me drowsy, which will help with my sleep issues.

As for the long version...my follow-up exam showed improvement in my balance and reflexes. The steroids improved my headaches, vertigo, dizziness, and fatigue, and I could continue to see a benefit from them for up to a year. My big issue right now is the stuff with my arm and leg, not feeling quite "right" or like myself (I have been making stupid mistakes lately, been forgetful, had trouble focusing/concentrating/gathering my thoughts, and even got into two super minor accidents - I tapped another car with the work vehicle and scratched Tim's truck on the mailbox O_O), and occasional other symptoms. The doctor said that I may not feel like myself for another month or so.

She believes that I have MS or will develop MS. I do have demyelination, but doctors are not permitted to diagnosis MS based on an isolated occurence. They must have more proof--basically something needs to get better with treatment or something new will need to appear. The next MRI may help with this. She expects to see the big spot of inflammation decreased in size and will be looking for additional leisions.

The result of the next MRI will also determine the course of treatment. As I already said, I am starting a medication to help with my right side. That was at my request and is not a treatment for MS. It will hopefully just alleviate my discomfort and pain. The MS medication will depend on what she sees in the MRI results, but all of the medications are given in shot form. If the MRI shows no change, she will have to treat this as an isolated incident until something new happens and there is only one medication approved for that. It is a daily shot. If there are changes, then that opens up options of other shots (although which one will also depend on my insurance coverage) - one is a weekly intermuscular and the others vary from daily to every other day. She gave me a handbook to read that describes each medication and pamphlet about MS. Once I start the shots, I'm pretty much on them for life.

She said that the big spot of inflammation cannot explain all of my symptoms and that there's got to be something else going on that they haven't seen. There may be leisons in my brain that didn't show up on the first MRI, new leisons may have developed since then, or I may have leisons in my spine. She hasn't ordered a spinal MRI yet. That may be an option if nothing has changed on the next brain MRI. She had also mentioned before that the inflammation could be aggravating my migraines and that some people have weakness/numbness on one half of their body with migraines. So there is always the possiblity that the problems I am currently having with my right side is more migraine related than MS related. This isn't something that we discussed today, so we'll just have to wait and see.

The only other thing is that I was looking into getting a cane to assist with my right leg issues. I discussed this with her and she advised against it right now, stating that my balance was still pretty good. If my leg gives out, I have a good shot at catching myself. On days when my leg is feeling weaker than others, I'll just have to reach out and hold onto something - which I do now, sometimes just touching the wall to steady myself or using a nearby object like furniture or a shelf at a store or something - but if it gets to the point where I really need a cane, she'll send me to physical therapy. At this point, if I fell with a cane, I could just get tangled up in it...which certainly wouldn't help things, right? ^_-

As far as activity goes, I can do whatever I feel like. If I'm feeling particularly tired, then I should take it easy. If I'm feeling like I want to get out and do stuff, then I should get out and do stuff. I don't have to prop my legs or anything like that. Right now I'm moving a bit slower than usual, but my energy levels are definately higher than they were a few months ago. My body will tell me what it needs.

So...we are still in a holding pattern, more or less. It looks like MS, but we can't call it that yet. I am still really thankful for everyone's thoughts and prayers. I am also very thankful for my doctor's one-day-at-a-time approach to all this, because everything just seems to get a little bit worse with each new bit of news. I mean, first came the initial possibility of MS, which led to some labwork. Those results led to the spinal tap and more bloodwork. And now I'm here...another MRI and shots for the rest of my life. I can't imagine hearing all that back in that very first appointment...it would have been so overwhelming. Taking it one step at a time, in small batches, has really helped both of us cope with what we're being told. As I said in a previous post, this has been life altering, but as my doctor pointed out, things will get better. These episodes can take months to get past, but they do pass. I will start to feel better; it is just going to take time. I'll do another offical status update after my MRI and appt on August 12. Until then, thanks again for everyone's support, thoughts, and prayers. They are greatly appreciated. Now...I want a cookie, so...I'm going to go get a cookie. ^_^