I had 3 spinal taps..but none ever showed any of the OBs. So fun!

I could not get a dx because I could only remember the one exasberation I was in at the time althought my LP was positive for MS and I have 8 lesions. CIS was dx

i had only one lesion for a long time and allot of symptoms but they wouldn't diagnose me untill i got 6 more and then all 7 grew.
i never had a spinal tap

When I had my first episode in 2001, my brain mri had 3 or 4 lesions and my lp was negative. So he dx'd me based on my exam and my mri.

I got a maybe on MS after first MRI, then a probably MS after spinal, the a brain wave test and a nother Mri I for sure have it. Now just recently had 3rd MRI several more lesions since the first but New Neuro can't get old dr. to send results so waiting to have a 4th so they can compare. Hope this makes sense. Lots of love kim

I have been diagnosed with MS by two different neurologists and have no "obvious" spots on MR but a screamingly positive LP. I had increased opening pressure, elevated lymphocytes, increased IgG:Albumin ratio, elevated (high normal) protein and of course the ever popular Oligoclonal Bands.

I was told by one neuro that as i didn;t have positive MR I didn;t completely meet the MCDonald criteria for diagnosis, BUT both neuro's looking at my entire picture, said I have MS.

I will tell you, based on what I have been reading, i am very "lucky" to have been diagnosed so quickly. and i am glad i was so i could jump into treatment. [although today is a crappy avonex day]

However, the caveat to this (i think) is that i am in medicine and (with the exception of the most recent neurologist) had a team of medical providers who know me VERY well and chasing the heck out of my symptoms. I would like to hope that ALL providers would be so diligent to chase symptoms, but i am not naive. I know that i got a little more attention from my colleagues because they have known me and knew that although things weren't a "slam dunk" as far as a diagnosis, soemthing was wrong and we weren't going to give up until we had an answer.

The very last test I had was the LP. i avoided it until i felt like i did not have a choice.

Hang in there and be persistent. I really beleive in the saying: if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, looks, tastes and smells like a duck its a duck!

lisa