@Arica_Therrien 

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Arica_Therrien

I'm so done with everything!

Well, I have my leg brace as of yesterday. I used my crutches to get into the room, then the nurse brought my brace and showed me how to put it in my shoe. I then got up and used my crutches to walk to the parallel therapy bars. I put my crutches against the wall, held onto the bars, and slowly walked with my brace on. It will definitely take time to get used to it. The nurse was watching me the whole time, especially how I was using my left leg. She asked me "Are you having weakness on your left side?" Me: "Yes, my left leg is starting to get numb as well." Nurse: "I can tell. Your leg looks weaker today than last month when I first saw you." 😔 She asked "Are you officially diagnosed, or is it still pending?" Me: "It's still pending. I'm to see a neurologist in October." Nurse: "October?! They should've gotten you in by now! How long have you been having these symptoms?" Me: "Several months, if not longer. I started having severe headaches several months ago, then started losing my balance, started falling, and everything else has been happening since. My husband took me to the ER June 6th because I couldn't walk." Nurse: "What'd they do there?" Me: "A full blood panel. They checked for ANYTHING they could think of that might be causing this, but everything came back normal. That's when the ER doctor suggested a neurological cause, and first thing he said was MS." Nurse: "What kinds of symptoms are you having?" So I told her everything. She said "I'm not a doctor, but from what you've told me, I have to agree with the ER doctor's hunch. I really believe you have MS. Your doctor needs to get you in for an MRI now, not make you wait another 2 months. In just the 2 times I've seen you in the past month, you've gotten worse." 😔 It sounds like I will soon end up in a brace on my left leg as well. She told me to stop by the doctor's office (ortho office is maybe 1/4 mile from the doctor's office, if that) and ask him to order an MRI for me right away. She said "That way, the neurologist will have the results by the time you see him in October." I agreed with her it sounded like a good idea. Before I left, the nurse said "I'm going to send the doctor my notes, especially my findings of your left side becoming weaker." I want to cry. I'm fed up with trying to walk normally making, people think there's nothing wrong with me when in reality I'm trying to keep up with everyone and everything when my body doesn't want to cooperate anymore! From now on, I go at my OWN pace, no one's else's, and if they don't like it, TOUGH SH**!!
@Vixen

Hello @arica_therrien, I’m sorry that you’re having such a hard time. Most of us have been through the same, and call this Limboland, which is pretty much worse than the diagnosis itself. So, you are in good company on this site. I mean, it may not be MS, there are other conditions that can mirror these symptoms. The one thing that usually confirms a diagnosis is a lumbar puncture, which comes after blood tests and MRIs, sometimes nerve conduct tests. So, when you do see your neuro, make sure you have a copy of blood test results and the MRI scan. See if they will let you have your own copy by email, memory stick or DVD. Most importantly, take a list of possible symptoms with a dateline, but keep it as consistent as possible. Think about what you might consider to be unlined 5i ga, like urine infections, blips with eyesight, pins and needles. Hang on in there. At least you are in the system now and we’re fortunate to have had a nurse who was on the ball. So stay strong, do what you need to get you through this time. Be extra kind to yourself and don’t feel guilty for doing so. Lots of support on this site for you, so keep us posted! X

@merfield

@arica_therrien, the ER doctor was not wrong but although the majority are diagnosed in their 30s (your other post) there are exceptions - several on here in 50s and 60s. I was 76!! But don't be despondent. You’ll get support on here from folks who know what it’s like in Limboland and beyond. We understand!!! xx