NOT HAPPY!! O-bands are only present in a small percentage of people with MS. I don't have time right now to find you the studies. HOWEVER, an elevated albumin level IS a marker of MS, as well as neurosyphilis, a couple encephalitis (es) (how do you plural that word?!!), and something else equally nasty that I can't remember. Your Uni spec Neuro isn't releasing you, is he? He isn't THAT short-minded, is he?!?!?! Kris

::delurking:: So, I don't have enough time this morning to read all of the responses, but I did read your two responses to other. First, {{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}} You need to take a deep breath. Relax, even if it is just for a few moments. Be gentle with yourself. If I came on here and gave a similar post, what would your advice to me be? Breath. Second, while I think exercise is very important for our bodies, I think sleep is equally important. Now, I don't know where you are, but pack the kids up and take them someplace where you can ALL walk. You don't have to choose between sleep and exercise...you can just make the kids go for a walk with you. Rather than focus on giving up something, adapt. Third, depression is insidious. It is one of those nasty summer colds that sneak up on you and then smack you when you least expect it. Every year on March 1st, I turn into a raving lunatic (okay, that might be me being hyperbolic, but I'm Not Nice). I am Not Nice for exactly 11 days and then on March 12....I'm normal. It sucks. It is a full on light switch. Last week, my son even mentioned to my mom that we could do something or another....why? Because it falls between 1 Mar and 11 Mar. Why? Because on 11 Mar 11 I lived in Japan. We are coming up on the 6th anniversary and this will be the 5th time I've gotten really cranky. Knowing it is coming....I try to dampen my emotions and my responses. I issue a self-regulation that I must breathe 2 breaths before responding to anyone.....but that didn't stop me from chewing the head off the poor mechanic last year. Poor dude. He's still scared of me. What does this mean? This means that you know you are under stress right now as your date gets closer. But, this probably means something else too. Have you considered talking to someone? I highly doubt you need medication...you mentioned that earlier. I think this sounds a whole lot more like you have some problems to work out and resolve within yourself. Maybe see if you can find yourself an MFT, an LCSW/ MSW, or even an LPC in your area. Go in and tell that person what you've said to us. You aren't the person you want to be. I don't think I'm depressed, but I feel hopeless. I'm unhappy and unsatisfied. I don't enjoy something I used to love. (church) I don't think I'm a nice person. {{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}} I think the fact that you are upset and unhappy about this shows that you *are* unhappy and probably depressed. It happens so slowly sometimes that we just don't see it. A few months ago, my daughter's (15yo) therapist (who she sees because of a nasty divorce) looked at me as we were leaving her office and said, "So, how are you doing with all of this?" And.... I started crying. Turns out, without realizing it, _I_ had slowly become more and more withdrawn and depressed. She saw it, because she saw me every week with dd. I didn't see it, because i was too busy living day-to-day and dealing with dd's steadily worsening illness. My friends missed it because they were too close and really didn't know what to look for. I've been seeing her for several months now and that's a good thing for me and for my kids. _I_ am having a hard time and consequently, I'm not a nice person. I'll admit to something hugely embarrassing to me..... on Sat morning I cursed at my daughter and ripped her a new one. Now, she deserved the scolding, having done something I find highly inappropriate, but I've never cursed _at_ her before. I apologized later for cursing at her; that was uncalled for. {{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}} Be gentle with yourself. You are a good person, otherwise you wouldn't be questioning yourself. Kris

One of our dogs loves "kitty treats". The other loves live birds. Dogs are gross.

I know I'm coming into this late, but I wanted to agree with this statement. It is HARD to ask for food, but it's one of those "help" buttons that you will ask for. Kris

The fact that they sent you home makes me a bit relieved. I'd be watching that online chart too. Kris

What I love best about that box..... is that it prevents my dog from enjoying "kitty treats" from the bar. Kris

I don't think it was careless. I think it was negligent. Let's change this a bit: rather than a cyst, you got a cut and a nasty infection? (it's within the realm of possibility). This infection became bad and went to your blood. Just because you had a rather "inconvenient" problem from this negligence doesn't change the fact that it was a serious error. I wouldn't file a complaint or even sue them, but I wouldn't go back. I have low tolerance for medical incompetence. Mistakes happen, we are all human. But they NEVER EVER should have left you alone. That act was negligent. Kris

I think mine are related to autoimmune conditions (be it lupus or Sjogren's). I get them when my Lupus gets really bad (which has happened twice). My daughter.....not sure. One of hers, and the worst one she's had, was because she kept chewing on it (there was no pain). They think she must have injured the spot. This was the only one that they cut and biopsied. (both medically covered but done by the dentist) The others were in various spots of her mouth, but she couldn't chew them. 1 was left alone and she has a scar from that one. The other 2 were drained and she was given steroids. Dentist did some research and thinks it might also be autoimmune related, but we really aren't sure. Now, she does have some sort of autoimmune condition, but we don't have a formal diagnosis yet. (suspected MS) Why did you get it? My guess would be that you had an injury (check) and possibly have a naturally occurring bacteria in your mouth that is making it worse, which is why it keeps coming back. I wouldn't step foot back in that dentist's office!! Oral infections can be weird. Kris

What Wapiti said. Go see an oral surgeon. When you see the doctor, tell them flat out you want it out. ASAP. My daughter has had 4 of them (she's 15) and I've had 2. They are a pain in the mouth. Mine just go away by themselves, I just have to leave them alone. Dd's though can get yucky. Kris

Okay, is this in your teeth (root area, socket, ??) area or in your lingual (tongue) / cheek area? Does it need to be drained and then a heavy dose of abx to follow? See, I'd be seeing my dentist for it, but my current dentist is a jack-of-all-trades kind of guy. If you have a name for your problem, call around and see if X doctor will remove it. "Hi, I'm pretty sure I have a "thing-a-ma-bopper", is that something that your ENT/ Dentistry/ Oral Surgery office will take care of." If the person you are talking to doesn't know, ask to talk to the office manager and then he/she will talk to the doctor about the problem. Good luck! Kris

You and I both!!! Do be warned, you aren't guaranteed an answer with the LP. My daughter's keep coming back clean and I'm starting to get peeved. She doesn't quite fit the McDonald criteria. My son, however, had more than 15 o-bands in the CSF. {{{hugs}}} Oh, also! You need to get a CD copy of all of your images! Kris SaveSave

I think you have a plan! You have an idea on the student loan numbers...it isn't my job to approve or not, I just wanted you to know to think about it! (you wouldn't believe the number of people I talk to who don't before starting!) {{{hugs}}} Not that you asked, but do you have listening or attention lectures? (again, you don't have to answer!) My son has MS and he just started community college. They have a voice-recording pen...only more. Hard to describe... check this out: https://www.livescribe.com/en-us/smartpen/echo/ Anyway, they aren't very expensive and I think they might be of benefit. Kris

Not a nurse (and never, ever ever want to be!!! Yucky!!!) but know many nurses, a couple with their own host of mental health problems. First, how are you going to pay for it? You are banking a lot on being successful IF you are considering getting a BSN. Second, what is the acceptance rate at the school you are applying to? Third, don't count anything out with a BSN. What do I mean: I mean that if you want a hospital job, yes you are likely to work nights, which I don't know would be best for you. HOWEVER, depending on the population you want to work in, working at a hospital might not be in your best interest. Between now and when you graduate: decide what population you want to work in. Geriatrics, then go for it 'cause there are always nursing home jobs open. The work will suck and I mean that in the poopy-your-employer-and-most-parts-of-the-job-will-suck way. BUT, you will get experience quickly and move into something else with your NP certification. You have lots of areas to choose from: geriatrics, mental health, ped's, women's clinic, or ???? look around and consider for yourself. Having said that....if this is what you want to do, make a plan and take action. You CAN do it if you choose to make it a priority. Just because the "normal" path includes sleep deprivation, doesn't mean you have to be normal. Kris

WOOT!!!!!!! I know that MS isn't something to be happy to have.....but...... if you have MS WOOOOTTT!!! As for the EMG, it's not a typically ordered test in part because it isn't conclusive if you do not have lesions in that area of your spine. Even if you have leg involvement. LP makes perfect sense. My daughter has had 2 in the past 3 months. Are you worried about the procedure? {{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}} Kris

POKE!!!! POKE!!!!! Are you home yet? (<---that's in the "are we there yet" kid's in the car voice....)