Went to the neurologist today (12/9/11) because the MRI done after my sudden hearing loss showed a few abnormal spots. Turns out those spots could be related to smoking or drug use but since I don't have that excuse then the next connection is MS. Now, I don't have MS because there are not enough spots but it does make them wonder so I am going in for a lumbar puncture (a.k.a spinal tap) and blood draw on the 22nd to see if there is a certain marker in my spinal fluid. If so, that still doesn't mean I have MS but it means I am a candidate and we should do something about it. If I don't have the marker then they will do another MRI in a year and see if anything has changed (hopefully nothing will have). If I do have the marker then I will start some medicine (which I hear is not cheap) to keep from ever developing MS. The stats are: 80% of the folks who have the marker and do nothing develop MS - 80% of the folks who have the marker but go on this medicine do not develop MS. So the decision is pretty clear on what to do if I have the marker. Let's hope I don't.
Got the results back yesterday (12/28/12) and I don't have the MS marker, so good news.
2 comments:
Absolutely good news. MS is not a good disease to have. Hope all goes well in the next year and the spots disappear completely.
Wow, that's a ton to take in! I have a couple friends who have MS - and I am quite certain if they could have done anything to prevent it, they would have... Here's to hoping it's nothing. Keep us posted.
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