Introducing myself

I just wanted to say hey.

I have not been diagnosed with MS, but I came here just to look at other people experiences.  I am having alot of neurological issues but I keep getting dismissed by my PCP.  He says its just because I am overweight. Or that I am over stressed, have anxiety, blah, blah, blah.

My symptoms aren't really a new occurance for me, but they seem to be getting worse.

I am not expecting a diagnosis for you, just wanted to tell you what I am feeling and see if you have ever had the same feelings.

1.  I have days that my right side of my body looses sensation.  You could literally draw a line down the middle of my body and my left side would be normal, and my right side would be less sensitive.  It also feels like I cant move it as well, because it feels heavy.

2.  I have pains behind my right eye and it hurts when I move it.  Sometimes that eye seems blurry and if I close my left eye, I have double vision in that eye.

3.  I have periods where I loose words.  I for the life of me cant remember the word I wanted to say.  Its like its on the tip of my tongue, but it just doesn't come to me. 

4.  I am totally off balance, some days not as bad as others.

5.  My fine motor skills come and go.

6.  My legs get horrible cramps and feel so tight.  It is so painful I want to cry.

7.  I have tremors.

8.  My joints swell up and hurt so bad.

I know having these symptoms does not always indicate having MS, but I do think they warrent further investigation, and not be dismissed as nothing.

Thanks for listening!

Hey MellyMell,

It is so incredibly frustrating to be suffering and to not be taken seriously by your doctor.  And add to that the humiliation of the doctor blaming it on your weight!!!!  I am so sorry.  I agree with Uppitycats, you need to keep searching for answers.  You need to make an appointment with a neurologist or a rheumatologist or both.  That search for answers can take a long time so be prepared to be persistent.  We will be here for you while you begin that search.  Good luck and take care.

Love and prayers,

Wow awesome quote in your signature!!!!!!!

Don't consider yourself a "doctor hopper". Instead, think about it as being a "doctor SHOPPER"...or informed patient. If this doctor is not willing to refer you to a specialist, then you need to find a doctor who will.

I actually interview doctors before I'll submit to being their patient...actually set up an appointment (which I usually have to pay for myself, not covered by insurance...but sometimes if I end up a patient of that doctor, it'll be covered as "an annual exam") and ask questions...like

do you have other patients with MS? How many? what meds are they on? What other things are you offering them, in terms of symptom relief?

do you ascribe to "alternative" or "complementary" medicine? (Note here: If they do...I don't use that doctor.)

how can I contact you "after hours"? (Sometimes there'll be a direct phone service to the doctor; other times there'll be a link to a nurse-practioner, or someone similar. Then I'll have to judge whether that's acceptable.)

if you're not available and I deem it "an emergency", who is your usual back-up doctor? (If they don't have one, I look elsewhere. If they do, then I need to figure out who THAT doctor is, and whether he/she is acceptable).

I use a wheelchair...do you have a means for me to get a proper exam? (I can't climb up on the usual exam table, for example; what alternatives can they offer? My current doctor has an exam table that actually lowers and raises up, so I can transfer to it from my wheelchair)

What do I have to do if I want a referral to a specialist? (Which of course is your direct concern. My doctor is quite willing to refer me, simply upon request. So far I've not had to make a request. She's a primary care physician, by the way, not a neuro.)

and other questions...but the general idea is -- I am paying dearly for her services...is she someone that I feel can provide the services I need? And if not..then I move to the next one and the next one...restricted, of course, by the doctors that will accept my health inurance, but at least I have SOME control over who is directing my health care.

Anyway. For what it's worth.