MS Maze

I received my official diagnosis of multiple sclerosis via email. No, I’m not kidding.

I had spent months going round and round with a neurologist who performed countless tests and evaluations, but declared there was nothing wrong with me. Despite my inability to drive, walk, lift my kittens or work, he sent me on my way, MRI films in hand. He told me I definitely do not have MS, and I should call him next time symptoms appear and we would start the tests over again. It was a dark day.

All my own research made me suspect MS and my general physician agreed. Upon my request, he made a call to a well-respected teaching hospital a few hours away.

Two months later, my then fiance (now husband) and I walked in with those MRI films from the first doctor and I was examined by two top-notch neurologists. They left the room with the films and returned only moments later. “Have you looked at these films?” one of them asked. Yes, we had. The other doctor said, “All those white spots…that’s MS…however, we’re going to have to do some tests to rule out other possibilities.” In the meantime, we were given an armload of information regarding MS medications and told we would need to make a decision regarding which one to try first.

A couple of weeks later, after a myriad of tests indicating the presence of no other diseases, I received an email from one of the doctors asking if I’d made a decision regarding the medication. I replied by asking if this meant they were giving me a definitive diagnosis of MS. The reply was affirmative and my chosen medication was prescribed.

MS by email. Not how one envisions receiving such news.

How did you learn you had MS? Share your story with MS Maze. Comment below or email Mandy at: mandycane@comcast.net