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Posted 11/22/2007 8:24 AM (GMT 0)

I was here a while ago and hoping to be an active participant in the forums but everyday life got in the way plus family problems.

Well, today I am back here again and wanted to say hi :) I am going for my first visit with the neurologist on Dec 6th and looking forward to being able to discuss all of the things that are happening to me.

The 'hug' I was experiencing went away and my numbness was about 50% of what it had been when I first came here but it has got really cold over the last few days and now my legs are incredibly stiff and I am experiencing the foot drop again. I was quite numb from my waist to my toes (and in some of my fingers) throughout the summer and early fall and was so pleased that had improved tons but.... here we go again. I did have a bad bout of stiffness after going in a hot tub a couple of weekends ago, I remembered afterwards that heat can make symptoms worse and I guess for me, over the last few days it seems the cold can do the same. I am so looking forward to the possiblilty of finding answers soon.

Best wishes to all of you. I hope all of you folks in the U.S have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Posted 11/24/2007 9:46 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Calicorosie,

It is good to hear from you again.  I am sorry some of your improved symptoms are back and bothering you.  The heat and the cold can really cause problems for a lot of us.  Make sure you take the time to write down all of your sypmtoms and the dates they started.  You may want them in order from most bothersome to least.  Bring this list with you to the neurologist appointment.  You may want to bring a friend or family member with you as well.  It is great to have another set of ears to get everyword that the doc says.  My husband goes to all of mine and we find it very helpful.  Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Love and prayers,

Posted 11/24/2007 11:22 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks so much Gretchen. I think my husband is going to come with me to the appointment which I am thankful for. He will think of things to ask that I probably won't.

We have been making a list of symptoms I have been having and I will print the most up-to-date list on that day.

My legs feel like they can barely move right now. I have to go away for a few days tomorrow with our youngest son and I just hope that I will be ok. I am going to try my best to keep myself at a fairly even temperature (fingers crossed) so that I am comfortable. Mostly it is cold right now so I am pulling out the gloves and hats :)

Thanks again for the advice Gretchen

Best wishes

Posted 11/25/2007 12:48 AM (GMT 0)

Hey calicorosie,

I am glad to hear that your husband is going.  My neurologist is so used to my husband being there that she really includes him on all parts of my exam.  She always asks him about my long and short term memory and mood swings and such.  He very much feels like part of my management team. 

Do you have a cane or other mobility device you can bring with you?  If not, you may want to consider it.  Your plan to keep a constant body temp. is a good one.  I am sensitive to both heat and cold.  I hope this a fun trip you are planning.  Enjoy time with your son.

Love and prayers,

 

Posted 11/25/2007 2:40 AM (GMT 0)

Hi again Gretchen :-)

I don't have a cane or anything like that right now but I may have to consider it soon. I didn't realise til a few days ago that I am also sensitive to the cold like I am to the heat, such a learning process all of this.

Thanks again, I'll check in again when we get back. We're looking forward to this trip, more when we return home :)

Best wishes

Posted 12/1/2007 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
I'm back from our short trip and I have to say, I felt a little better whilst I was away. My legs weren't as stiff and I found the numbness was pretty much located below the knee. Now I am home and it has returned higher up. Odd!

Well, Thursday is my neuro appt so I can talk to him about that.
Posted 12/1/2007 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Calicorosie

Best wishes on that appt Thurs! I'm so glad the trip went well, but be sure to give all these details to u'r doc. Take care!
Posted 12/1/2007 9:14 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Calicorosie,

I am so glad that you had a good time.  That is the case for me; when I am having a good time, sometimes my symptoms are less noticable.  Good luck at your appointment and let us know what the doctor says. 

Love and prayers,

Posted 12/1/2007 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much, I'll be sure to let you know.

take care

Posted 12/7/2007 9:22 AM (GMT 0)
Well today was my first neuro appt. A very nice man and as I am always anxious about physician appts, that helped me to feel relaxed right away.

He asked a lot of questions and I read from my list that I had with me. Then he did a bunch of tests on my reflexes and sensory stuff. He was very thorough.

He wants me to have an MRI of the cervical spine and brain. I asked him outright if he thought I have a brain tumour as that has been my big concern but he said the tests that he had done on me gave him no concern at all about that and especially as these symptoms have been ongoing for over 2 years now. He also looked into my eyes as I mentioned that I thought I had ON about 18 months ago and he said he is going to schedule some sort of eye test for me and to be honest, I can't remember what he said it was called. One thing that surprised me is that he asked me if I'd had sciatica in my right leg at some point!! Huh?? How on earth did he know that? The answer was definitely yes although it was a number of years ago, about 8 or 9 actually.

So, I am glad the appt is over and maybe now I am a tiny step further towards a possible diagnosis of something. I am not looking forward to the MRI but I know it has to be done.

Thanks for your support. I will be keeping in touch here.

Take care

 

Posted 12/7/2007 2:26 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Calicorosie,

Your doctor sounds wonderful.  I am glad it went well.  It sounds like you are on your way to some answers.  I hope you are relieved to find that he does not think it is a brain tumor.  I know you are not looking forward to your MRI - it must be that you are claustrophobic.  Be sure to tell them that before the test.  They can get your doctor to let you take a valium or something similar so you can relax a bit.  Also remember you are in control at test time.  Just a word or a signal and they will take you right out.  Usually they will play music for you.  I close my eyes and just try to think of the music and concentrate on slow relaxed breathing. 

It is a very necessaary test and completely painless.  Good luck and keep us posted.

Love and prayers,

 

Posted 12/16/2007 3:41 AM (GMT 0)

I have the appt for the MRI. Feb 24th. A long wait but from what I understand, that's not as long as it can be sometimes.

I got a call to book the vision test and found out it is a Visually Evoked Potential test. I have to call them back Monday to set up a date/time. Oddly enough, this weekend I have a return of ON. Weird timing that is although in actual fact, it probably couldn't be better timing in some ways.

So, I will continue to get ready for the holidays and hope that I will have an answer before too long.

Best wishes to all and many prayers too :-)

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