UPDATE - 22-12-2020 - With the help of my neurologist’s secretary, I was able to secure a phone consultation to get the answers and finally a diagnosis instead of having to wait till the end of January. He called me yesterday and sadly the answer is, YES, I do have RRMS. 
He said that in an ideal world he would have me in straight away to start intravenous steroids but because of Covid, he will be sending me out a prescription instead, he did say though that he advised I start them after Christmas, so that I don’t spoil the holiday by feeling unwell!
He also said he would be sending me an appointment to see the MS nurse and also him again too in the new year.
So, that’s it, I have MS. I am feeling a little bit numb feelings wise, I had a feeling it would be this based on what the MRI report said, but still a bit shocked as this is all new to me this year, before the episode in May which I now know to be a relapse, I had never ever had any indication that my health issues could be MS. So it’s all slowly sinking in. The only advise I can give anyone else newly diagnosed like me, is to STOP DOOMSCROLLING MS! It just makes you sad and scared.
I’m going to let the news sink in over the holidays and try to find some positivity for the New Year.
Thank you to all of you and I wish you all the very best. xx
Hello,
Can someone help put me out of my misery?
My journey to this point started in lockdown in May, I had tingling and numbness in my left arm and leg that after 10 days joined up down my body and into my groin and became worse when I moved my head. After a phone call with my doctor I was sent for a full spine MRI at the end of June, by which time the symptoms had stopped, as suddenly as they started, it lasted for nearly 6 weeks. Based on the MRI results my Dr referred me to a neurologist, at this time MS hadn’t been mentioned.
The MRI said:
Satisfactory alignment of spine.
Minor degenerative changes.
Posterior not compressing disc protrusion at C5-6.
Noncompressive posterior disc bulge at T6-7.
Progressive posterior disc protrusion at L4-5.
Best seen in STIR, there are multiple faint signal hyperintensities in cervical and thoracic spinal
cord, for example at C4-5, T1-2, T2-3.
No significant spinal canal stenosis.
No cord or nerve root compression.
CONCLUSION:
Subtle lesions in cervical and thoracic spinal cord.
Possibility of demyelinating plaques cannot be excluded.
Differential diagnosis includes other infiltrates changes.
After a long wait I got to see a neurologist in early October. Whereby, after some history taking, balance and other tests, he told me that he suspected I have MS and have probably had it for a long time, 20-30 years! He said he was sending me for some urgent blood tests and another MRI with contrast as he had to be certain before he could say for sure. He said he was worried about weakness in my left leg (it has been giving way often). I received my blood tests and MRI within 3 weeks and also an appointment to follow up with my neurologist that should have been today. I was so happy that I would finally be getting answers and would know before the year was out. But it was not to be as 4 weeks ago I got a letter telling me the appointment was cancelled and was rearranged for late January. I rang and begged to be given a phone appointment instead if that would allow me to know sooner and start treatment, to no avail. So I sent off for my medical records instead and they landed on my doorstep today.
My neurologist had written to my Dr saying "I suspect we are dealing with a longstanding history of demyelinating desease, MS. I need to urgently address the diagnosis by performing MRI with GAD of the brain and cervical spine to see if there is any disease activity and consider long term management. He also said on clinical examination, I note left leg pyramidal weakness with mute plantars, and also on his hand written notes on my medical records he has given a 3.5 EDSS.
The urgent MRI report says this:
MRI BRAIN & CERVICAL CORD: Pre-and post IV contrast enhanced images has been obtained.
Comparison with MRI spine dated 30/06/2020. No previous MR brain imaging available for
comparison.
MRI CERVICAL SPINE: Normal appearance of the craniocervical junction. Previously documented
small discophytic bar at C5-6 level is unchanged in its appearance. Following IV contrast
administration there is subtle enhancement of spinal cord from C4-C6 level. This is likely to
represent an active plaque at this site. No enhancement identified at previously documented
STIR hyperintensity foci at T1-2 and T2-3 levels in the spinal cord.
MRI BRAIN: Multiple ellipsoid shaped T2 hyperintensity foci are present in the periventricular white
matter bilaterally, their shape is consistent with a demyelinating disease. No intracranial spaceoccupying
lesion, haemorrhage or midline shift is identified. No focal diffusion abnormality is
identified. No enhancing plaque is identified following IV contrast administration. Normal
appearance of sulci, gyri, ventricular system and basal cisterns.
CONCLUSION: No evidence of any active plaque in the brain. Subtle enhancement of the spinal
cord, as detailed above, does raise the possibility of an active plaque at this site.
Does it look like MS then?
The update of this on the 21st December 2020 is: YES I HAVE The neurologist wrote to my GP: "I have informed her that her MRI of the brain showed lesions compatible with multiple sclerosis. The MRI of the spinal cord showed the previous lesions and light enhancement which indicates active disease. We have a definitive diagnosis of multiple sclerosis of relapsing remitting course over the last 20 years. She would be entitled to disease modifying treatment in view of the activity in the spinal cord and we have to decide which treatment would be best for her.’
