Lab Order Arrived

Got my lab order!

NMO IgG, Copper level, Anti-Ro, Anti-La, Anticardiolipin antibody, ANA w/ reflex, Beta-2-glycoprotein, Lupus anticoagulant assay w/ reflex

So he is checking NMO and copper as he said, as well as Sjogren's and Lupus. Well, I would be surprised if I have Sjogren's, as I do not have the classic symptoms of dry mucous membranes. And I would be surprised if I have Lupus as I have no skin symptoms and my symptom profile is quite neurological. It would be an atypical presentation, but I suppose it is possible.

However, the ICD9 code he put on the order was 340, which I looked up... Multiple Sclerosis.

So I will get my blood drawn tomorrow and hopefully get back all negative results. While I do not want to have MS (I was thinking about starting the clinical trial and almost cried), I am pretty sure I want these other disorders even less.

I never did hear back about my Vitamin D levels, blood calcium, and urine calcium. I am going to call and bug them tomorrow. I am also going to bug them AGAIN about the as-yet-unreceived MRI order.

OH, I think I forgot to mention that I spoke with Dr. Rick's secretary yesterday, and she is working on scheduling a screening visit for me on November 30 for the daclizumab study. Unless something happens with the bloodwork and it turns out I do not have MS after all.

Sensory:

-Pins and needles: 2

-Tingles: 0

-Paresthesias (burning): 1

-Paresthesias (other): 0

-Numbness: 4, no change in the permanently numb areas, still losing feeling when I sit. Most of the time. I should pay attention to times I sit and do not lose feeling--maybe chair height? Softness? Angle?

-Vision: 2.. getting better?

-Nerve pain: 3

Motor:

-Gait: 2

-Sore muscles: 4, and even worse this morning. I am stiff and sore most mornings, then it gets better as I move around, and then it gets worse in the late evening again.

-Fine motor: 2, I am typing much better today!

-Weak muscles: 5, I do not feel safe going down stairs lately. And I sometimes feel like my legs might buckle when I am standing. Standing is harder than walking for some reason. Maybe it is in my head?

-Spasticity: 3

Cognitive:

-Language processing: 2

-Memory: 2

-Attention: 0

-Confusion: 2

General:

-Fatigue: 4

-Balance: 1

-Sleep: 3, close to eight hours but broken up a little

-Bladder: 1