August 10, 2009 – It’s been just six days since my MRI experience and only one weekend has passed since hearing the news from my neurologist. My perception of time has clearly changed – hours have turned into days and days have grown into hours. I am becoming increasingly anxious to begin some sort of treatment to relieve my symptoms but, I still need to get through one more week of tests before my doctor prescribes a therapy program for me.
The official diagnosis for multiple sclerosis is mostly made through a process of elimination. Certain tests must be conducted in order to cross off similar-acting diseases and ailments. Specifically, Lyme disease, brain tumors, pinched nerves and slipped disks, diabetic neuritis, thyroid disease, vitamin B deficiency are some of the common disorders producing similar symptoms. If there are no signs of any of these sicknesses, then a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis can generally be made…providing the patient has had at least two ms episodes (Strangely, the medical community insists on at least two attacks lasting a minimum of 24 hours before an ‘official’ multiple sclerosis diagnosis can be made).
