Neurologist Advice
Hey guys. I'm Nate, 18 years old.
On the 19th I have my first neurologist appointment, after my GP and the rheumatologist both thought it was probably MS (along with maybe Marfan Syndrome but I've got to wait until July about that). I was just wondering what you guys' experience was at your first appointment? We're going privately as the waiting time for NHS is about 6 months where I live and we really need this sorted by the time I go to university.
I've also got my PIP Face to Face Assessment on the 26th for 'undiagnosed physical disability' and autism so that should be fun as well(!)
@nathaniel_mcshane , Hi Nate. I'm sorry that you're having to deal with this at your age. That is unfair, but if it is MS and it's caught early enough, you can benefit from early treatment. The, hopefully, you can get on with your life. The following is the probable route to a diagnosis :- https://www.mstrust.org.uk/about-ms/what-ms/how-ms-diagnosed The important part, which requires your preparation, is making a list of any suspicious and unexplained medical issues. This will aid the Neurologist in understanding your medical history. It's a good idea to have a private consultation, if finances permit, to expedite a diagnosis. You can then switch back to the NHS list.
Hello @nathaniel_mcshane, glad that you’ve found Shift. Sadly, getting started privately is the best way if you can bypass the NHS wait. . I did that too, and it’s great for MRIs and other tests. I believe that for the diagnosis stage, then people are generally urged to go back into NHS. So, initiate an NHS referral as well at the same time. Do you already have an autism diagnosis? I’ve spent 20 years working in schools with autistic pupils, it’s my whole world. Good luck, keep us posted 😊