One year ago today, Daniel and I walked upstairs from my hospital bed to the MS Clinic for my 1:30 appointment with Dr. Kastrukoff. During the interview I had many bouts of pain in my face up through my head and each time one hit me, I stomped my foot and flailed my arm. But I was eager to answer all his questions and get the official diagnosis. He did a full head-to-toe neuro exam but I don’t recall anything being observed and his report states that there was nothing remarkable other than the facial pain.

He told me he hadn’t been able to view my MRIs as they had been archived. (This is what happens when the ordering neurologist doesn’t look at the images.) He had put in a request to get them but he wouldn’t be able to see them until the next day. I had my CD copy of the MRIs with me and we loaded them onto a computer. He was able to identify old lesions that indicated I have had MS for some time. With relief, I said, “So, the diagnosis is official?” and he said yes.

It took over a year from when I told every doctor I saw that there was something wrong with my body to get an official diagnosis.