> I am wondering what those specific tests were? Please send them along
> so i can give this information to my DR. It took him over 2 months to
> diagnose, and he continues to inquire about this disease and treatment
> options available. Please respond ASAP!
> Thank you, Christina
>
>
>
>
> ---DCE12630(AT)aol.com wrote:
> >
> > Bob from Houston:
> >
> > I think your neurologist is in error. At least I hope so. We were
> diagnosed
> > in a top-notch hospital - one of the finest in our area - University
> Hospitals
> > of Cleveland. There are tests to determine TM versus other
> disorders. I
> > know. My husband had them all. And therefore, I disagree with your
> > neurologists opinion that TM is so hard to diagnose. It is tricky
> at first to
> > pin down the symptoms of some, but once the TM is suspected, it can be
> > verified.
> >
Christina,
I think how quickly a diagnosis comes depends a lot on how familiar the
neurologist is with TM. I don't think there is one specific test which
indicates TM; often a lot of tests are run to rule out other possible causes.
I think the "usual" tests are first a CAT scan or MRI to check for possibilty
of stroke, bleeding, or aneurysm (sp?), or lesions on the brain (which would
indicate MS. But they usually also do other tests, like checking spinal fluid
and possibly evoked potentials to rule out or confirm MS). Often with TM there
is a lesion on the spine where the damage occurred. With me (and with others)
there was no lesion, so further tests were a myelogram (dye -- or,
technically, contrast material -- is injected into the spinal fluid [no fun!]
and x-rays taken in different positions) to check for bone problems along the
spine that would interefere with nerve function. Then there were multitudes of
blood tests. I did read the results -- there were pages and pages of things
they tested for. Wish I'd copied the results, because I can't remember what
all was tested now, but some of the tests were for thyroid function, Epstein-
Barr virus, Vitamin B-12 deficiency, lupus myasthynia gravis (sp?). In my
case, a TM diagnosis was made within a week of onset (although from the second
or third day they were saying they thought it might be a virus) on the basis
of the symptoms and the ruling out of other causes. Hope that helps somewhat!
Barbara