A History Lesson

Now that my back surgery is history, it's time for me to discuss MS--with or without the "adventure" my blog promises!

But before I do, let's discuss my history of diagnoses:

When Katlyn was a toddler (like 13 years ago) I had an accute pain in my butt. And it had nothing to do with bosses, spouses or kids! Seriously, the pain was right inside my butt "cheek" and sometimes hurt down my leg to my toes. I painfully dealt with it for awhile, cuz I wasn't looking forward to having a Dr. look at my butt! But I eventually gave in and went to the Dr. She initially diagnosed "sacro-illitus" which is an inflammation (arthritis like) of the bones/joint where your tailbone meets your hip bone. Apparently this is not usually diagnosed quickly or correctly, except my physician had just been diagnosed with the same thing. But to "rule out" anything else, I had blood tests done and an MRI of my spine. Lo and behold, the blood tests come back showing I have lupus and the MRI comes back showing I have a herniated disk. Many, many other tests followed. The Orthopedist decided the herniated disk wasn't touching my spinal column--so no problem there. The lupus hung over my head for awhile, until I went to a Rheumatologist who decided that the(ANA) blood test was scewed because of the S-I inflammation/arthritis. And I was treated unsuccesfully with physical therapy for the S-I joint and I learned to just live with the discomfort.

Then a little while later I go to my eye doctor for new eyeglasses and he asks me a million questions about my eyes (do they itch? Do they tear? Do they hurt? No, no and no). But apparently my corneas look damaged. (and if they are damaged, the only correction is a cornea transplant from cadaver eyes!) I get referred to a cornea specialist to have my corneas mapped. I go to that eye doctor and it's me and all the blue-haired ladies in walkers! Apparently cornea problems are common in little old ladies--which did nothing to humor me! Ultimately, it was decided my corneas are normal, they just look weird.

All of which THOROUGHLY frustrated me about doctors! I don't mind having an illness, disease, condition, whatever, if I actually have SYMPTOMS, but to get diagnoses when I don't have a problem, is hugely frustrating and put me off seeing doctors on a regular basis.

Which brings me to MS. Once AGAIN I have a diagnosis without me experiencing ANY SYMPTOMS!