MSAA is very proud to present our 2018-19 Art Showcase – celebrating the work of artists affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). Each month on our blog, we will highlight an artist of the month.
We have received many wonderful submissions from across the country and are delighted to share their work and their stories with you. Please visit our online gallery to view all of the new submissions.
| Martha Sue Meek – Arlington, TX July 4th Cookout |
 |
About the Artist:
“MS has forced me to stop and reflect on what I love and art was at the top of my list! When I was forced to slow down by this disease I started creating more than I ever have and I must admit, it helped me to put my energy on something positive!”
I am undiagnosed but present all the symptoms, my problem is that there are no decent doctors in my area and none in outlying cities that accept my insurance which is AHCCCS Health Choice who will look into this. I tried to go to the Barrows Institute in Phoenix but all they would do was talk about headaches for three hours when that wasn’t my concern and wouldn’t listen to me when I tried to explain my other symptoms which I admit are extensive, a few being a feeling like a band was wrapped around my chest, tingling and numbness that travels, a headache that leaves me feeling blind and like I’ve lost sensation in my body with my hearing becoming tinny. Excruciating pain in my neck and back, especially my neck like electrical fire. I could go on and on. I then tried to get in to see Aimee Borazanci but it seems like you can’t get in to see her unless your already diagnosed. I am in Kingman AZ. Right now I think I’m in remission with mild symptoms but I cannot go through a major relapse like I went through in 2016. I could barely change from sitting to standing to lying down and almost had my mother put me in some sort of home. My main concern is I can’t go through this again without some sort of answer to my diagnosis. I’m rural and my situation is intolerable, if someone could point me in the right direction that would be fantastic. I am in desperate search of answers.
Thank you for reaching out Brandi, I’m so sorry to hear of your symptoms and the access to care barriers you are experiencing. Have you tried to contact your insurance to see if they could offer any additional neurologist referrals in/near your area? It’s tricky because wait times can be lengthy with MS specialists and sometimes they’re spread out few and far between across locations, so I definitely hear the challenges you’re having with this. I wanted to offer you another search site to look for MS specialists-you can search by city here, this is through the American Academy of Neurology, https://www.brainandlife.org/brain-and-life-home/landing-page/find-a-neurologist/?formPosted=13336&Zip=&City=&State=&LastName=&Specialty=&Next=False&Previous=False&Skip=0. Do you have a primary care doctor who can help make a referral? Did the office staff at Barrow Neurological Institute say that Dr. Borazanci would not be able to see you to help evaluate you for MS? I would call them again to ask if you can be seen for MS diagnostic evaluation either by her or a different doctor if you wanted to try again, her office phone (602) 406-6262. Are there neurologists that practice out of Kingman Regional Medical Center? There is a Dr. Paracha affiliated with this site who practices neurology, phone (928) 757-7100. I hope some of these suggestions are helpful in your search Brandi, please feel free to reach out again if we can try to offer additional information, email MSQuestions@mymsaa.org. I wish you the best, take care. Angel, MSAA Client Services Specialist