TiaJoy said...
This is the first one, and hopefully the last. Uppity, thank you for your explaination. my eng showed likely that my problems where coming from the central nerve system, mri showed "several lesions" and evoked potential were boderline(borederline what?) Nueroligist said its not likely that it can be anything else. He does NOT think its lyme or a stroke,those were the only two things he said it could be, he is pretty sure its ms.
okay, my other question is- its agreed that lps neither comfirms or uncomfirms ms. In my situation I dont know why I'm getting it done, when I asked the dr that he basicaly said that its the last piece of the puzzle.
I'll be the good patient and listen to the dr and get it done(on potest- lol) Does any one know if insurance companies require the lp for a dx?
A result of "borderline" on the evoked potentials would suggest that there is something wrong..not right..about
the signals received in the body. Something wrong indicates a problem with the central nervous system. It wasn't absolutely positive..but near enough, that -- combined with the other test results -- it points to MS. You're getting the lp done precisely BECAUSE the other test results are coming back "borderline", or not exactly definitive. If the o-bands show up there, all the "borderline" results, combined with "several lesions", would be the clincher that the doctor is right, you have MS.
Some insurance companies require the lpb for a diagnosis, particularly when other results are not definitive (which appears to be the situation in your case).
I'm wondering why you're waiting until after the holidays to start one of the drugs? 3 months can be a long time. While the side effects can be challenging for some, for many of us it simply means a bit of a headache and lethargic feeling the next day. I was working full-time when I started Betaseron (every other day injection, so every-other day side effects) and never missed any work because of them. So have others.
Indeed, MS can be a very disabling disease, for some. And the problem is that you'll not know if you'll be one of the more fortunate ones and have a relatively mild course...or if you'll have a serious exacerbation tomorrow that leaves you significantly disabled. I wasn't willing to take that chance, and got on the drug at the first opportunity. Unfortunately by then I was already significantly disabled, though.... But I'm convinced that, in my situation, it dramatically slowed down the course (progression) of the disease, and I'm able to function pretty well now, even though I use a wheelchair full time. I don't think I'd be nearly as competent now, had I not been able to get on the drugs when I did (about 14 years ago.)
Good luck with whatever decisions you make.