Back to my visit, I liked Dr Greenberg. He reminded me of a younger Doug Rhea. So kind, compassionate, listener, passionate about his work. I know he has given the same illustrations hundreds of times, but he sounded like it was his first. Very informative. One of my biggest questions was "How can you be certain I have MS?" The answer is you can't. I have had demylelinazation, because I had the numbness and temperature sensitivity on one side. I have had it in more than one location, by the white plaque spots on my brain and spine. But I have not had more than one episode. So they can only be 80%-90% sure I have MS. I could do a lumbar puncture. But it would not reduce the percentage. If it came back positive it would increase the percentage. The results would not change my options, to take medicine or not. If I chose not to do the daily injections I would come in for periodic MRI's. If another spot showed up, then they would be able to definitively tell me I had MS. Depending on the location of the spot, it could be asymptomatic or it could cause lots of problems. There is no way of knowing. So, for me, I have chosen to continue on my drug regiment of daily injections. He did show me my scans. He said my spots were small. He sees scans of people with golf ball sized spots. He said we would do a MRI yearly and they would compare them to my baseline MRI and see if any of my spots have grown in size (and if there are any new spots). This doctor is very numbers driven. He is active in research. He is currently trying to develop a blood test to diagnose MS, and he said they are close. He gives all the information so I can make the best choice for me. He talks to you. He is concerned about your emotional well being as well as the physical. At one point he was asking me how my injections were going, my response was I think they are going better than they are for Mandi or my cousin so I do not want to complain. His response, this is the place to complain. I like him, I like the clinic ( eventhough I am sure I will see people in wheelchairs everytime I come in). He did ease my fears about not being able to take care of my children, not being about to get out of bed one morning or being in a wheelchair. He said he was not concerned about any of those for me. Until 18 years ago, there was no treatment for people who were diagnosed with MS. But now there are several, all of which are good at preventing further damage, especially when you diagnosis it early. Eight weeks ago they came out with a pill, music to many ears. (All current medicines are injections). My doctor said the medicine I am on is good. There is 14 years worth of data, all good and no damage to my other vital organs. He said the pill is better, but since it is so new they do not have the long term data about its effects on the rest of your body. 250(worldwide) people have been on the pill for 6 years, and 6000 have been on it for 2 years. He said within the next two years I will be able to throw away my needles. That is gives me hope. And they are coming out with 6 more MS drugs in the near future, several of which are pills.
While I am not happy I still have MS, I do feel better knowing they caught it early. Early detection gives me the best hope for preventing the progression. The medicine deals with the prevention, it does not deal with the symptoms that are a result of the damage already done. But I feel lucky that so far those are mild in comparison to other people I have talked to that have MS. Right now, I can deal with this. But I do continue to pray for God's strength and peace. I pray that I will trust in Him fully, even when I am fearful. The doctor said that depression is a part of this disease. At some point, lots of MS patients deal with depression, not just "I received some bad news and a bit blue" depression, but real depression. Right now I am fine, but I pray that God will spare me of that in the future.
I am going to stay with this doctor. I had blood work done. I will go back in 6 months.
