The diagnosis

So, now we're in June of 2012. I'd been sent post haste to Neurology. Needless to say, I did not get better or get back to work and was put on FMLA through the end of June - I was SURE I'd be back by then.

After thousands of dollars worth of blood tests, MRI's that showed NO LESIONS, and a Lumbar Puncture (that's Spinal Tap - and not the rock band - for those my age) showing elevated proteins, high iGf and O-banding (I am trying to obtain a copy of this so I have the specifics) - I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis on June 21, 2012.

That appt went something like this - I need to have another damned paper filled out for the insurance (it was explained to me that on June 30, my FMLA needed to be rolled over to post-FMLA short term disability). I made an emergency appt to get the paper filled out and sent in on time. This neurologist refused to ever do a form without an app

ointment, explaining he wanted to 'stick it to the insurance company.' I hardly think that's the case since I am the one having to get in there for an appointment and pay the copay, but okay - whatever I have to do to be able to keep my house and health insurance a little longer.

In the midst of completing this form, he says to me - oh, your LP came back with elevated blah blah (the things I don't remember entirely and need for the copy), which is positive for MS. I'm saying, the insurance company wants you to include your tests and findings here. He writes seven medications on a script and hands it to me - says, this one costs this much, this one that much, blah blah. Pick one.

I ask if I can research these first. He says I can certainly have the week. I'm not a person who takes medication very often. I am a traditional herbalist and treat basic illness with herbs. The antibiotic I took for pneumonia was the first allopathic medication I'd taken in likely 10 years.

It wasn't until my darling husband and I were walking back to the car that I even realized he had diagnosed me with MS. I cried all the way to the car.

I spent the next week learning that the list was comprised of drugs for primary MS, and for secondary MS - doesn't he even know what I have? He didn't tell me (and never has) is it RRMS? PPMS? SPMS? What do I have?

On June 28, I had another form, and an appointment. While he filled out the form, I completed the Copaxone application. He informed me it would take 3-9 months for the Copaxone to 'work' and I should follow up with him in 3 months. I didn't even know what 'working' was, since all the research I'd done basically said it wasn't going to help me with symptoms, but might delay the next relapse/attack.

I'd waited 2 and a half hours in the waiting room and patient room to see my neurologist on this day. He was so hurried through the appointment, I never even got to ask what kind of MS do I have? When I got to the check out desk, they told me his schedule is locked and they cannot make appointments for him. They said they would call me.