Archive for June, 2010

This is the second installment in my three part series about my diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

In January 1991, I went to check my eyes to a perspective of Benson. The optician gave me a different recipe. I thought this might solve my blurry vision when I was running problems. But the first time I jogged my right eye again, as he did in the past tarnished. And just to make me mad they did at the exact spot as before! You can use the issue as I remember this from 16 years, but the diagnosis time in my brain for the rest of my life! I was still tingling in my arm and right leg, so I went to a chiropractor and he cracked my back. He thought that my sciatic nerve was pinched and would take the tingling sensation. He lasted only one week, then the tingling sensation returned to my arm and right leg. I began to wonder what the hell was wrong with me crazy!

About this time I read or heard on television a friend told me about multiple sclerosis. I also went to Pearl Vision center in my eyes checked again. I wanted to see if the optician Benson knew what he was doing and he gave me the correct prescription. I told the man of my vision blurred pearl, when I jogged. The Pearl optician checked my eyes and said it was a good recipe, and I asked him if this could be MS. He said he could and if symptoms persist, I see an ophthalmologist (eye specialist). So I continued to jog every day and my right eye is always in the same situation I met development.

He turns to the spring in Minnesota and everyone came out. I decided to join a softball team. One night while I was at practice I was playing with another player to catch. I had a very strange place, which for me. I would not leave the ball, the hand of the other person, then on the flight from us, it’s gone. The ball would have been seconds before hitting my glove again! Wow What the hell is now! Well, it was weird and my head buzzing yet begun. A few days later I had an appointment with an ophthalmologist and confirmed repeatedly that he and Pearl Benson opticians were correct. I also asked him about multiple sclerosis and if this could be the disease. What could be the pearl Opticians he said, but I see a neurologist to do some tests and make known this story! He gave me the impression of a neurologist he knew.

Then I go to the library and decided a book about multiple sclerosis. Indeed, some of the symptoms and problems that I experienced for the past year and a half in the book. My head was spinning, I thought to myself, what would I do if I MS? I have not slept well for a week in advance of my appointment. It may seem that I put all these dates for a week but I still remember running my carpet cleaning business. I worked day and night, and I suspect would not be a part of me knowing what I wanted to be thought of bad news! So I scheduled an appointment with the neurologist and I went in and explained what happened to me. He then scheduled for some tests.

The first test I had was what I call the test of the stroboscopic light. I pulled a cap connected lines and the neurologist put a flash lie 6-12 inches from my face and he refused. This test was my reaction to the light checked. I also think it is measured, as my optic nerve has been responding on the light. The second test was an electroencephalogram (EEG) records brain waves. Again I had headed for son related. It is used to detect the level of brain electrical activity. Your brain cells by electrical pulses and EEG actions and records these electrical impulses to communicate, to recognize something unusual.

The last test I found was a lumbar puncture. My neurologist has trouble finding the cerebrospinal fluid in my back. I think it was his first day always. There are several ways to obtain a sample of cerebrospinal fluid. The lumbar puncture, a so-called Spinal Tap is the most common method. The test is usually performed as follows:

- The patient is lying on its side, with knees folded against his chest, and hid his chin down. Sometimes the test is done with the person sitting down, but leaned forward.
- At the back is cleaned, the service of a local anesthetic (anesthetic) is injected into the lower back.
- A spinal needle is inserted, usually in the lower back.
- Once the needle is properly positioned, spinal fluid is measured, and the liquid collected.
- The needle is removed, the area is cleaned and placed a bandage over the site of the needle. The patient is often asked to lie down for a short period after the test. I was told in a hospital bed was more than four hours and stay at home.

The doctor tried twice to find the cerebrospinal fluid and was ready to send me to see x-ray, when I told him to try again. At the third attempt, he found the cerebrospinal fluid, and can extract what he needed. Then I had the hospital bed for four hours was. If you sit too quickly, you get a severe headache. The neurologist gave me some painkillers and sent me home, where I stay for the rest of the day! A lumbar puncture was 99 9% correct in general, if a person has MS or not. Guess what? I wish I had the tap test the spine can not, I looked at the MS!

You must remember that I was not married and I had no girlfriend, when I go through all this! I lived on my own and had no support system that I could talk about these things! If I remember correctly, my parents drove up to see me while I was lying on its side. remain, even after four hours at the hospital, I was laying down for the rest of the day. My mind wandered many expected the worst and make plans for my life if the results proved to be MS. I am not a weak person, but I think it is natural for your mind to think the worst. At least me!

Unlike my parents, I did not, someone next to me on all things happening to my body, were to speak. My head was thinking about all the bad things that could happen. With hindsight, I remember every new or tingling that I had brought on more questions. This eventually led me to the path of anxiety and panic attacks. I suffered with most of the 90′s and still regularly suffer from it now! The only difference is now I know what it is and how to play! I could write another e-book on fear, because I have so much to say about that.