Multiple Sclerosis - This battle finally has a name.

Well, we finally got it. This past Friday as a matter of fact. We heard the words we've waited for for almost 3 years. "Let's get you some treatment for MS.".............  (See explanation posts here & here)

~~Deep Breath~~

Friday morning was Dominic's appointment with a Neurologist. We didn't go into that appointment very hopeful. We had a fair idea of how it was going to play out. The doctor would listen to Dominic's growing laundry list of symptoms, read the report from the nearly 3 year old MRI, and would order another one. No diagnosis, no treatment plan. 'Let's run a few more tests and see' kinda thing. Definitely not our ideal, but at least we'd be on the right track for progress. Getting somewhere slowly is certainly better than not going anywhere at all.

(not Dominic's - my puter won't read his disc)

Well, we were pleasantly wrong. :)

After listening to all of Dominic's symptoms, looking at the disc of his last MRI, and doing a brief physical exam, the doctor said that he wanted to get Dominic started on a course of IV steroids to hopefully help relieve some of his most major current symptoms immediately. As in, that day (or maybe the next depending on availability).

Enter our near euphoria..... Shock, joy, hope, relief, excitement......

                                                             

We were incredibly surprised, but thrilled.
Dominic's symptoms have seemed to increase every few days or so. A new one has either been added or an existing symptom has changed somehow. Not for the better either. And now this doc is talking about starting treatment immediately to help try to relieve what he's going through now?? Wow!

So the plan was set. Start IV steroids as soon as Home Health can come get him set up. 3 day course then on to a 12 day course of oral steroids. Schedule another set of MRI's (cervical spine and head, but just the c-spine if insurance is gonna be stingy) and see him back in a couple of weeks so that he can evaluate how well he responded to the steroids and how his MRI compares and discuss a treatment plan from there.

There were multiple lesions seen on the previous MRI, the largest of which was on the brain stem. The doctor definitely wanted to see how that's changed in all this time especially with the increase in symptoms.

So. I'm not sure that the doc has officially given the true diagnosis of MS, given that everything I've read says that a spinal tap (or LP [lumbar puncture]) is needed for confirmed diagnosis, but he's definitely running with it since it's supported by all other evidence. And since that means that Dominic is getting some help for right now, that's groovy with me!!

                                                          

So that's what Friday brought us. Really really good stuff.
Dominic's MRI is scheduled for this Thursday and then we go back to the doc on the 29th to follow up from all the 'roids and the scan.. ;)

I'll be posting updates and info as it comes, as well as sharing with you all our new dedication to "The Cause".

Hoping that you have a wonderful week,

Mo