As I mentioned in my last post, Doc Fundamental suggested that we get a second opinion from Famous Doc B.  The four months that I waited for an appointment went relatively fast.  I was very busy with work and my family.  I was also spending a lot of time reading everything that I could get my hands on related to multiple sclerosis and other similar diseases.  But as my appointment approached I started getting more anxious to do something about this probable MS.  After all, it had been a year since I had first seen the doctor about my leg.

I had read a lot about Famous Doc B prior to my first appointment.  My wife and I agreed that if we liked her, we would see if she would take me on as a patient instead of just providing a second opinion.

Famous Doc B was wonderful.  Going forward, I will refer to her just as my ms doc.

My ms doc started with the usual discussion of my history and the typical physical tests.  Then we went into another room to analyze my MRI images on a computer screen.  Doc Fundamental had relied on the written reports by the radiologists of my MRIs.  My new ms doc read those, but analyzed the images herself.  She explained to me and my wife  what we were looking at and the significance of each of the lesions, taking into account the differences between viewing them from the MRIs done with contrast and done without, and what that means.

Doc Fundamental is a good general neurologist that I wouldn’t hesitate to refer someone to.  However, my new ms doc had dedicated her whole career to studying the progression of multiple sclerosis.  Her answers to our questions and her analysis gave me and my wife enormous confidence in her.

And then came the diagnosis that I knew in the back of my mind had been coming for a while.  My ms doc said that I have multiple sclerosis.

We discussed the options for treatment and her suggestions (a topic for the next post).  My wife asked her if she would be willing to take me on as a patient and she said yes.  I was thrilled.  My wife cried.  Not because of the diagnosis; we knew that was coming.  But because I was going to have such a great doctor by my side for the upcoming battle.

As a footnote, it was a lucky call choosing my ms doc over Famous Doc A for the second opinion.  Famous Doc A will only do second opinions now and is not taking on any new patients at all.

And now the marathon journey begins….