Newly diagnosed
Good morning,
I was diagnosed last week after experiencing my first symptoms (slurring my words and off balance) which landed me a 7 day hospital stay. I am home now and feeling more like myself. I haven’t been able to schedule a follow up with the hospital neurologist (they have no appointments available I’m on a cancellation list). I am very stressed out that I have no system in place to do anything to get DMT in place and I have no idea if I’m looking a RRMS, PPMS or anything in between. It feels like everyday my body is a ticking time bomb and I just want answers. How curious how long did it take to get on DMT once diagnosed and did you have repeat flair-ups in that time?
I guess I was one of the lucky ones,I went to my primary in September 2003 after some unusual occurrences at work. He did the usual eye hand coordination tests, walking straight lines and standing on on foot. After seeing how I did he called his neurologist friend and they made an appointment the next week. Then once seeing neurologist first week in October, they set me up for spinal tap. Got results of that, had my follow up 3rd week of October when he put me on DMT.Happened all to guick for me,but looking back I was lucky that my primary was that smart to get in with a neurologist that quickly, and the neurologist was that quick to do spiral and get me on DMT. I don't know how I would be today 23 years later if it weren't for those to doctors.
It took about a month from when I was in the hospital to a complete diagnosis. If you take a look at the criteria it helps explain the wait time. The MRIs have to show evidence over “space and time” so it takes more the one. In between there were steroids used to reduce inflammation and vitamin shots. It’s a nerve wracking process and it’s ok to ask questions.