Waiting on the MRI findings

Okay, people, I need your help.  I am still waiting on the MRI results from December.  Unfortunately my neuro was out of the office for two weeks due to a family emergency.  However, I did find the copy of my MRI from April of 2006.  This is what he had to say to my family doctor.

"She had an MRI brain scan that was mildly abnormal in showing several small foci of increased signal in the subcortical white matter of both hemispheres.  Although the white matter disease was not remarkably extensive, it has progressed since the previous MRI scan of 1999 which showed only a single focus."

My question is this - is this a lesion or not?  My symptoms have gotten progressively worse with new symptoms developing.  Keep in mind that I was sick in 1999 and was pretty much fine until the latter part of 2005.  I noticed at that time I was having balance issues, double vision, tremors in my hands etc.  Then I got better during the summer of 2006 and then got very bad in late 2006.  I had to retire in Feb. of 2007 due to fatigue and the other problems.  Then I got better in the late spring and was good most of the summer until August.  It has been down hill since then.

If I do not have MS I really, really want to know what is causing all of these problems.  My neuro is still saying he is just not sure and even though I meet so many of the criteria my Evoked Potentials was normal.

Any comments would really help me.

Sandy in Michigan

Sandy

Uppitycats,
Thanks so much for your quick reply. My neuro does not want to see me for another 6 months - that is what he said in December. I forgot to tell you that when I called to find out the results of my MRI and found out that the doctor was gone the nurse had another neuro look at it and he said "no change from 2006". Since he is not my neuro and doesn't know what my symptoms are, I am still waiting on my own doctor. I see my PCP in February.

My other problem is that I am on Cobra, lived in Indiana and moved to Michigan. So I have to go down to Indiana for in network insurance. I can not get new insurance until September when my Cobra runs out. At that time I am sure that I will pay $$$$ for a policy since it will be 14 months until I get Medicare. Anyway when I get insurance up here there is a MS clinice/group of neuros that specialize in MS. At that time I will go for the second opinion. I do NOT plan on going back to the neuro in Indy as I don't think he will ever diagnose me with anything.

My own PCP in Indy told me she was sure it was MS so I know she will give me a copy of the MRI report and neuro's letter to her. She is great. I also know that she will give me appropriate meds until I am definitely diagnosed. On the other hand maybe it is good that I do NOT have a MS diagnosis until AFTER I get new insurance (as it is I am diabetic and that will make it costly).

Sorry this is so long, it is just good to be able to talk to someone as I am so exasperated! I am so depressed but my doctor has me on wellbutrin so that helps.

Sandy

Uppity,
I tried to get insurance here and was turned down due to my diabetes. So until my Cobra runs out I am not eligible for BC - which is the high risk insurance here in Michigan. They have to take me due to HIPPA with no preexisting conditions. I pay $400 for my Cobra now so I am thinking I may have to pay $1000.

My husband has been disabled for 8 years. In fact he is having surgery on Friday to replace a stent in his left renal artery and to stent his left iliac which is 90% closed. He has spinal stenosis and had 5 surgeries back in 2000. At one time he was on a ventilator and they didn't think he would make it. He has a series of health problems so he has been on Medicare for years. So that is no help insurance wise.

Yes, my PCP can treat the MS but I am not sure that I want it documented BEFORE I get the new insurance next September. Hopefully if it is not documented as MS the insurance rate will not rise even more.

So much fun with both of us having health problems.
Sandy