Multiple Sclerosis MFP's

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Hi from Italy

rachelroma
rachelroma Posts: 22 Member
in Social Groups
I thought I'd introduce myself. I'm not CDMS, but possible MS and have been for awhile now. Double vision sent me to the doctor in 2011 after years of weird symptoms, and they eliminated everything but MS and told me that if MS were a clinical dx I'd have it, but they need 9 MRI lesions or something and I have no idea what they saw in there. Then in August 2012 I got TN which just got diagnosed in January.

Anyway, I've been overweight for years, but the meds caused me to gain even more weight which I find it more urgent than ever to lose. I've got foot drop and dropping some of this weight would hopefully help, right? I don't know anyone with MS or with my problems and have joined a few forums related to MS hoping to make MSer friends and learn how you deal with these issues.

Replies

  • squeakyfish
    squeakyfish Posts: 109 Member
    Ciao!
    I'm not sure what criteria your doctor is using for diagnosis, but it's not anything being used currently. The McDonald criteria is what is primarily used right now. If you've got a lesion or two and at least one or two clinically definite exacerbations, you would be considered clinically definite for MS. Wikipedia has a great outline of the McDonald criteria. If you are interested in pursuing a diagnosis because you want to be on a medication, then it would smart to be proactive. Ask how many lesions you have, ask to see your MRIs. Find out what criteria they are using and why they are not using the McDonald criteria. Ask when your next MRI will be. Keep pushing. If you don't care about medicine, then you can also just let it be. It is what it is and an official name for it, won't actually change anything.

    I'm overweight too. I quit smoking several years back because I was worried about it worsening my MS. Now I'm concerned about the extra weight and that it's increasing inflammation in my body and could be making the MS worse. Well that, and I got tired of being fat ;) I just joined in January and I'm down 8 pounds so far. There are some great braces out there for foot drop. Maybe a physio could help you find something that would work for you.

    I lived in Italy for 3 years (near Napoli). It's been almost 2 years that I've been back and I miss it every day. Ti auguro tutto il bene.
  • rachelroma
    rachelroma Posts: 22 Member
    Thanks for your reply. You're definitely right about them using a strange method for diagnosing. I thought I could wait it out while they worked it out until I got TN. That's when I started to get a little crazy about getting some help. I actually gave up on my neuro and went to see my GP who wanted to put me on Tegretol, but sent me also to a new neuro who ordered a new MRI which I'll get in April. I decided that if MS can cause that kind of pain, I need to be slowing it down. The new neuro I saw seems good, even if I don't think he uses a different dx criteria than his colleagues. At least he's the first one to offer me any kind of symptom management. (Yay!) We'll see. I also sent everything to a neuro in Chicago and hopefully he will know how to help me.

    Were you here with military? I've heard that it's nice down near naples, but I've never been south of Latina on the mainland. I lived in Sicily and Rome before here up north. Living in Italy has its moments, but overall I love it! Thanks for the well wishes. All the best to you as well.

    Ciao!

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