I agree with many on the forum. I personally have had more MRI's, enough blood work to keep Dracula happy for a very long time and a ton of other tests..........why? Because my doctor team wanted to rule out or find....anything they could. Since my experience started, not because I went to the doctor or even thought about symptoms, rather because my eye hurt, my glasses weren't doing the job and I thought I need new ones. My OP reconized my ON and started me on a long, and painful journey. Some good doctors, some pretty narrow minded. Symptoms that put me in bed for almost a month. I had no idea what was going on, and the talk of MS upset me pretty bad. Well, to make very long story short, they ruled out what seemed to be a hundred things. Could I still have some of those things they ruled out....yes, of co**** I could. If finding a dx for MS is uncertain, why can't Lyme or the other mirror images of what MS may cause, also be uncertain.
The point from my perspective is that 5 doctors have done the best they could to find out what it is, and even with a clear headstart of ON and a flunked VEP, an questionable MRI they would not accept MS until they ruled out as much as they could. Could I have Lyme or Lupus or something else....not likely now, but mistakes can be made. I still reject the fact that they are sure that I have MS, and we are still discussing Meds, but everyday I am glad that they were so precise, so careful, not to make mistakes, and to rule out as much as possible. I have seen with my own eyes, my brother in law... told that he was wonderfully healthy after his physical, and he dropped dead in the parking lot by my side and the autophsy showed he had massive stroke (at 42). But he was wonderfully healthy.
It has been 7 months today that I went to get my glasses fixed. I am now going through some more tests. Another MRI a week ago.
Extensive blood test on Monday again. Why? To make money perhaps? I know my team better than that. They are making sure that my symptoms which are increasing again, are because of my MS or is it something else they overlooked. Will they look for Lyme or anything else again.........yes, they will and have told me so. These disease's are all terrible, life sucking, problems. It took me months to get the right doctors that care......about me..........not the debate about what I do, may, or will, have.
As has been noted. Listen to your body. See a doctor if it feels different, start the journey to find out what the problem is and although forums like these, and information on the net are wonderful resources, there is NO substitute for getting doctors involved. And accept the fact that some are better than others, some labs are better than others, some advice is better than others..... Find the experts, let the experts do their job, and you will have your answer. Perhaps not tomorrow or 3 weeks from friday, but if you really want to feel better, really want to find out was is wrong, persist. There is no rule that says you can't pursue Lyme while your doing the same with MS or Lupus or? Speak your concerns, and "what if's" to your medical team. If they won't listen, move on to others that will. Then after all that, you think a mistake has been made, the meds don't work, whatever........start the journey again.
That's the way I see it..............
Good Luck