The Latest

After over a year of speculation and testing, and finally me coming out and asking my neurologist, hey doc, what do you think I got, he came out and told me and the Mrs that its Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (See Primary Progressive Definition).

This was actually discovered sort of accidentally, when I went to my PCP with severe back pain. He then referred me to a physiatrist for follow up. During his exam he noticed that my balance was way off, and when he hit my right knee with his hammer thingy, it would not stop shaking, also he notice the same thing with my right arm. He ordered a full CT scan which show nothing out of the ordinary (and despite the objections of my wife, the CT scan did show that I did in fact have a brain, the doctors are however debating its functionality ), he then referred me to a neurologist, who ordered further test, which were inconclusive, after awhile with him, he suggested that I see a MS specialist at Jefferson Hospital here in the city, again without saying that I had MS.

The Jeff doctor, is the director of the MS center, and one of the foremost guys in the area, so was at the right place. He ordered more tests, and started me on medication, which helped somewhat.

Over the last four months, I had experienced more pronounced symptoms and increase in falls, and numbness and tingling in my feet., etc. My wife and I both knew something wasn't right.

Our office visit yesterday was a scheduled one, so I was very blunt in telling him about what has been going on, and expressing my and our concerns with the incidents. He suggested that I started a monthly routine of steroid, to be given at home via a visiting nurse which takes about an hour, I agreed.

As we were getting ready to leave I decided to come right out and ask him, as stated above. While I wasn't surprised, I was kind of relieved that he finally came out and said it. It was what I was expecting all along.

The Mrs and I went down grabbed a couple of soda's and talked for about 45 minutes about what we just heard, and then she took me back to my office.

I grabbed my bosses and told them what I found out, and asked them if I could have today off, as I need to think about things. I wanted to stay the rest of the day, just to clear some last minute things up.

One thing the doctor told me that I NEED to do, is cut back on all the overtime I have been working...close to 60 hours a week. The bosses were on board with that, and were even willing to allow me to work from home for part of the day if need be...little did they know that I already had been for awhile

I told my wife yesterday that I can't wait to turn 40, as my 30's (at least the mid-late portion) have not been so kind to me health wise.

While this is all still sinking in too me, I have a good support network setup, but most of all a loving family, which I thank God for everyday.

--gfo