I follow another forum (not to do with MS). A poster on there has stated that he has been diagnosed with MS but that this was done by a consultant cardiologist following long term tests to diagnose a medical condition. He says he has never seen a neurologist. I don’t think that he is lying but I do think that he has not understood what has been said to him and he is generally very, very confused. Before I start laying down a “that would NEVER happen” line to him can I just check if anybody here has ever been formally diagnosed by a doctor who was not a neurologist?
Just to say that, if what he says about his treatment is in any way true, he has been treated shockingly. I have already told him to get copies of his relevant medical records (this has been going on for 3 years)so he can see what has happened in black and white rather than relying on his memory. He is based in England.
On the strength of my having m.s. my daughter’s g.p told her she too had m.s. when she went to him with a number of ‘classic’ m.s. symptoms.
She was then referred to a neuro who confirmed things and she was started on DMD’s.
the poster you refer to should have been referred to a neuro somewhere along the line - by his g.p.?
I believe that only a neurologist can diagnose MS, I think if a cardiologist suspected ms then they would refer them to a neurologist.
I was diagnosed with MS by a GP. The GP said she felt ‘put out’ in doing this and it should of been the responsibility of the hospital to give me diagnosis. I do agree with that GP. I was experiencing a very severe relapse at the time and could of done with seeing a consultant neurologist.
I know a lot more now about MS and I was extremely naive at the time.
Thanks. This guy says that he has been diagnosed (with PPMS but he is not sure and certainly doesn’t understand what PPMS is) and that the Cardiologist referred him back to himself in 12 months. No referral to a neuro. No MS nurse. No discussion of DMDS or symptom treatment medication. His GP wouldn’t refer him to a neurologist initially because he “didn’t need one” but now has done so after talk of a complaint. Like I said, if this is true, this is outrageously bad.
But had you been seen by a neurology team at the hospital who had just back-heeled the responsibility of giving you the bad news? Some consultants are cowards.
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I saw a neurology registrar a few days before at the hospital and he said I might have a ‘swelling on the brain’. I had double vision at the time and he requested an MRI scan a few days later. He advised me by telephone a few days after the MRI scan to go to my GP surgery and get a prescription for steroids.
It was then I was delivered the news by the GP about having MS.
Me
I was diagnosed by a hospital consultant geriatrician (I was 57)!
Had been to GP with numbness, who referred me to a Neuro - but said if things got worse before that appointment came through I was to go A&E.
Things got worse fast and a week later I went to A & E, they admitted me and I was put on a ward. Consultant on duty was the geriatric consultant. He ordered MRI and LP and gave me the dx of RRMS. Went on 5 days IV steroids and was discharged with a referral to MS Neuro at a different hospital. 6 months later I actually got to see him.
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MrsJ is absolutely right; any other doctor can suspect MS but only a Neurologist has the expert knowledge. It’s like asking a minor to ballet dance; everyone to their own.
George
NICE guidelines do state those suspected of having MS need to be seen by a consultant neurologist. I do wish I had seen a consultant neurologist much sooner. I saw my first consultant neurologist six months after my MS diagnosis.
My doctor admits to not knowing the broad spectrum of MS, & relies on my neurologist to convey info about my treatment & drugs & pain control, so although a doctor can suspect MS, like George said, only a neurologist can confirm definite diagnosis. GP means general practitioner, neurologists are specialists that have gone on to specialise in that field Tracey
I had an MRI scan in January 2001 after my first attack (not counting optic neuritis 10 years earlier). I was given the results by a junior doctor at the hospital, which wasn’t good practice even then. I was told that I had a relapsing-remitting condition. MS wasn’t mentioned by name. I wasn’t referred to a neurologist or advised to see my GP for a follow-up. Three years later I had another significant relapse and went to my GP. He told me that the diagnosis from the MRI scan had been “probable MS”, and that my relapse seemed to confirm it. He managed to get me an appointment that day with a local neurologist who gave a definite confirmation that I had RRMS. So the initial diagnosis came from a scan, confirmed by my GP and then by a neurologist. I should say that I was lucky enough to be seeing a GP who had a number of patients with MS, so he was familiar with the condition.
I have to say that I wouldn’t be happy with a diagnosis of any kind of MS without either an MRI scan or a lumbar puncture. I’d also want to see a neurologist for confirmation. I know that doctors need to be aware of conditions outside their areas of expertise, but I’m not sure I’d take a cardiologist’s word for it on a diagnosis of this kind.
You could look at it like this:
When you get a Dx of MS, you MUST report this to the DVLA.
So what if the Dx comes from someone who is not formally qualified to give it?
My example is that I can recognise when someone is"bi-polar" (otherwise “manic-depressive”), but I am not a Clinical Psychologist, and am not therefore able to issue a formal diagnosis,
Thus, a GP with some neurology experience may be able to recognise MS (or Parkinsons, etc) but cannot legally make a formal diagnosis.
Geoff
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In my case the neurology registrar sent a letter to the GP stating the MS and the GP delivered the bad news to me. So the GP was the messenger of the diagnosis.
And, of course, under the NHS Constitution you should have had a copy of the hospital letter.
Some neurology departments are good, others less so …
Geoff
A non-specialist clinician (or a specialist in a discipline other than neurology) can be as sure that you have MS as she is sure that the Pope wears a big hat, but it takes a consultant neurologist (or someone acting under his/her auspices) to make the formal diagnosis.
Alison
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