Hi all. It’s nice to be here 
I have had symptoms on and off for several years but never been able to get an answer to what was going on. MS was proposed as a possibility a couple of times, but after two clear brain scans (ie no visible lesions), one several years ago and another early last year, MS was dismissed and it was all put down to being a bit of a mystery and would probably sort itself out in time.
About 10 days ago my left leg started losing sensation. I saw a new GP who thoroughly checked me over and said hopefully if would right itself. She told me, however, that if I developed any rectal or genital numbness or incontinence I should let her know.
5 days later my right leg also went numb and then a day later I got the symptoms she had warned me about (except the incontinence)
I called the surgery and the doc saw me later that afternoon. She feared cauda equine syndrome (a compressed nerve condition which requires urgent surgery) and sent me to the hospital with a letter.
After many hours going through the A&E system I was seen by a very nice doctor who admitted me overnight and arranged an MRI for the following morning.
The MRI was done and I was told I’d get the results late afternoon.
Luckily throughout all this I was still walking (a little shakily) and had not become incontinent but was visiting the bathroom regularly as could.not feel enough to be sure of no accidents.
As promised later that afternoon the consultant came back with a smile on his face and announced that my MRI was completely fine. Phew! No surgery!! And he was able to discharge me with a neuro outpatient follow up in case my symptoms didn’t resolve.
Highly relieved I was delighted to finally be allowed something to eat and drink, having been nil by mouth since midnight just in case, and eagerly awaited my discharge.
15 minutes later the consultant returned to my bed looking rather less chipper, and sat down.
He told me he had spoken to the chief neuro consultant to confirm his decision. During the course of their conversation he reviewed my patient profile and mentioned that I had had optic neuritis early last year.
Anyway the long and the short of it was, I was told that my most likely diagnosis is MS.
I was somewhat taken aback as the only bad news I had been expecting that day was that would need surgery.
To be honest though, after the initial shock wore off, I wasn’t that surprised. In fact I felt a strange kind of relief that finally I had an answer to years if questions.
He said he thought I was taking the news very well, at which I laughed and then promptly burst into tears. He held my hand and just sat with me.
I realised he must have felt pretty bad about having given me the all clear and then having to drop this little bombshell on me.
I also realised, from past experience of hospital doctors, that he would not be giving me this news unless they were pretty sure about the diagnosis.
I was sent home with a five day course of methylprednisolone and the gentle warning that if my symptoms worsened I would need to be readmitted. I will be taking my third dose today, so far no change (apart from possibly a slight return of sensation to my pelvic area), but certainly no worse.
I wad wondering what further diagnostic testing I can look forward to (!) when I see neuro? I am hoping they will not be relying purely on a brain MRI, as even after my optic neuritis that came back clear.
Having thought back over my previous symptoms, I have had numbness/tingling in my arms and or legs, fairly frequent episodes of facial numbness, ongoing problems with constipation, occasional slurring of speech, often using a wrong word mid sentence, and more recently problems with short term memory. More than usual clumsiness, and tripping. Oh and the optic neuritis of course.
I’m not sure how many of these are relevant to MS.
Anyway, that’s pretty much me with regard to my current experience. If anyone has any comments they will be gratefully received
Kaz xxx
But I have a brilliant partner and amazing stepdaughter to help out, so I’ll get there.