Lots of symptoms

I am unsure if I do have MS? I have plenty of symptoms that suggest MS but does anyone have any advice on my way forward? My recent ENT MRI head scan was ‘normal’ & I believe that they are suggesting I need to go back to my doctor to decide what next? Is that right or is there a better/quicker way?

Hi @aghine

I don’t think there are any quicker ways I’m afraid.

The only thing I could think of is to book an appointment to see a neurologist privately, but I can’t see that they will say anything different to the NHS one if your scan does not show any lesions characteristic of MS.

I hope you find a way forward that you are happy with.

Best wishes

PS was it a brain MRI or an MRI of a different part of your head?

If it was not a brain MRI then perhaps having one of those would be helpful

This was from the ENT consultants’ secretary who ordered the head MRI scan:-

MS is not an ENT specialty, this would be something you will need to see your GP about to get the appropriate referral/treatment

It was a head MRI scan booked by an ENT consultant. I think his secretary said that he wasn’t qualified to diagnose MS?

I had a head MRI scan booked by an ENT consultant who apparently wasn’t qualified to diagnose MS. He was looking for a benign tumour behind my inner ear?

As @lnp8acr says unless you can afford to go down the private/ paid route it look very much as if is you need to get back to your GP to discuss. Best to do that soon.

1 Like

In that case it sounds like you need to ask your GP to refer you to a neurologist. It’s neurologists that specialise in and diagnose MS.

Waiting times vary massively around the country, so it’s worth looking into what the waiting times are in the hospital trust you fall under and others near to you (if you can get to them).

You can ask to be referred to another trust through NHS Right to Choose. A quick google will explain this scheme if you haven’t heard of it before.

Often the first neurology referral will send you to a general neurology clinic, rather than to an MS clinic with an MS specialist neurologist. Then if the general neurologist suspected MS they might send you to see the MS specialist neurologist.

If you ask the GP and if you are lucky, you may get referred to an MS specialist neurologist straight away.

Good luck with it all

1 Like

Thank you! Doctors appointment next week.

1 Like

Oh crikey, I’m not sure? I will find out & heed your advice, thanks.

1 Like

You’re welcome. Keep us posted with how you get on, if you want to :slight_smile:

I am waiting for an MS neurologist referral which could be 17weeks!

In the meantime I had another ENT appointment last week & the consultant (who was horrible!) said I didn’t have MS as he had seen the MRI scan & there was nothing there?

When I queried what I did have then(?), he said I don’t know, I’m only an ENT doctor??? So I am very confused!!

That does sound very confusing!