Living with Multiple Sclerosis

MS…Because of the way patients present with symptoms and complaints and because of the way that MS can attack different parts of the body and brain, it is an elusive disease to diagnose. I have been actively seeking a diagnosis for more than 18 months.

I have been accused by doctors of being a hypochondriac, of creating problems where none exist and told point blank to seek mental health support or counseling.
I am not a crazy person. There’s nothing wrong with me that a psychiatrist can fix, well, maybe the depression but that’s all.

I am at a standstill at this time.
Spinning my wheels.
My doctor agreed to maintain me on the meds I am currently taking for neuropathy [neurontin and elavil]. he agreed to see me every 2 months and even agreed to repeat the brain MRI in a year.
But he says there isn’t anything he can actually DO for me because all my tests show NOTHING.
My MRI was normal.
Nerve conduction tests were normal.
My reflexes are good…
they just don’t know where to look next, so they aren’t looking anymore.

I have an eye exam coming up with an opthalmologist because I have optic neuritis, vertigo nystagmus, blurred vision and double vision.
Maybe the eye doctor will see something that others could not see…maybe he will see nothing at all.
Being thrown back to square one, time after time, is so frustrating, I actually questioned my own sanity when the neurologist suggested seeking professional help.
But I know I’m not CRAZY.
I feel so sympathetic to the people with MS or ‘probable’ diagnosis of MS…some have waited and fought for 10 years to get a diagnosis.
My wish is that researchers will be able to come up with a definitive test that will prove a patient has MS.