been waiting nearly three months to see Neuroligist, and been off my work since January, at first they thought i had heart problems, which took months to find out not problem, i had originaly went to doc,after my left arm kept locking, and numbness, also my liver has been swolen, any way now have numb feet ,legs, hands, arms , no balance, and have had periods of double vision, doc keeps telling me its stress, what can i expect from neuroligigy apointment, and how can i get docs to see that what is causing me stress is fact i am so unwell, and am just so tired all the time.
The best advice I can give you about the neurology appointment is to write down what is happening to you in simple to read bullet points, and to go through them with the neurologist.
I think you can probably expect the neuro to order more tests… MRIs of brain and spine, maybe lumbar puncture and lots of blood tests.
Dont think you will get an answer at your first appointment as you probably wont.
A first appointment with a neuro is basically a fact finding mission for them. Your job is to provide the information; their job is to work out what it all means.
As Paula said, take along a simple bullet point list of your symptoms and how they’ve progressed/changed. Have a think back over your life too - is there anything weird that’s happened before? The neuro will no doubt ask you this. It’s also worthwhile checking with your family to see if there is any history of neurological symptoms/conditions - a lot of neuros don’t ask this, but it’s better to know just in case. Also take someone with you if you can - and extra pair of eyes and ears can be very helpful.
The neuro will start by asking questions, then will do a “clinical examination” which basically means testing your reflexes, getting you to stand and walk, looking in your eyes, and other stuff like that. The info from this will let him/her form a “working diagnosis” - his/her best guess about what’s happening to you. Then they will order any appropriate tests (e.g. MRI) and tell you when you should see them again. And that’s about it. Nothing too arduous! Try and be prepared (appointments are not terribly long usually so you want to make the best use of the time), tell the truth (don’t play things down and don’t exaggerate) and let the neuro do his/her job. Hopefully you’ll soon get some answers!
went just as you said! allthough it was two hours late,and it was on one of my “bad” days wich i feel helped,been fine the last couple of days bar tiredness . today back to being numb ho hum, next problem not fit to go back to work and they wont reduce hours, and wont pay me off ether, so will hunt for something less demanding, but means i wont get any thing from employer,been there twenty years, phone call MRI in a couple of weeks so at last close to answers
Im pretty sure that your employer has to have a meeting with you and make any reasonable adjustments under the disabilty act…i would hang in there until you have your diagnosis…they cant dismiss you for having ms…and im not sure but there may be some sort of medical redundancy/pension they should offer you, take your time and get advice before you make a move, these acts are in place to protect you. I think you can get advice on most websites and directgov.co.uk a diagnosis either way would help you come to the right decision…hope it works out and let us know how you get on x
catcatcat’s spot on - DO NOT LEAVE!!! Hang in there. If you are diagnosed with MS, you are automatically covered by the Equality Act which means that your employer has to make reasonable adjustments to allow you to stay in work. If you aren’t diagnosed, you may still be covered. Why not phone Access to Work? They might be able to help. Kx
Hiya - just wanted to agree with the others - you MUST NOT leave your employment. You say you’ve been there 20 years, so you have lots of rights and they have certain responsibilities to you. You say they won’t reduce your hours and I’m wondering how you asked for this. Was it in an informal chat? In writing? Have they given you a written response to your request? Are you signed off work sick by the doc at the mo? If so, you should be receiving SSP (even if they won’t pay company sick pay). Have a look at the Citizen Advice Bureau website - www.adviceguide.org.uk - which contains lots of useful stuff. I’m not an expert, but I’ve got a reasonable level of experience in dealing with this sort of stuff, so if I can be of help please PM me. I’m undiagnosed at the mo - and struggling with keeping going at work, sometimes more than others! My doc did sign me off for a couple of weeks at the end of May with ‘neurological fatigue’ - which was really helpful - I sooo needed that! Maybe your doc would be able to do something similar for you. But whatever happens - DON’T resign.
My diagnosis took over a year back in 2006/7 and at one point my neuro thought I didn’t have ms because I could grip his fingers tight enough to make a crack noise. How wrong he was, although my PPMS symptoms are mild at the moment,but slowly getting worse. I attended the neuro unit at the Suffering ( Southern) General in Glasgow, where I got blood,spinal fluid and some sort of eye to brain reaction time tests.
Re. your job, if it is ms it’s not your fault . It’s not like being too fat,drinking,doing drugs or smoking, which all can be self-inflicted.
Thanks folks, i work in construction, never know from one week to next where in the country i will be, the usual is ten hour shifts but mostly 12 and then traveling time, and as a Digger driver i go where the machine goes,and work to the hours of who ever has hired machine, thus why they wont come and go…as far as they are concererd it up to me to get fit,or stay sick,though as you know Attos will pas fit for work . yup time to get advice