mrsruby,
it is so overwhelming listening to this whole new complex language while already anxious and not so eager to hear the unwelcome diagnosis.
I'm glad the someone ordered the M-spike that triggered all these other labs. And that there is disagreement on the diagnosis. You may just want to a third opinion and fourth opinion. I like to say that if you see three doctors two of them are going to label you non-compliant because they'll all disagree.
I like to record all these medical consultations so I can look up all the terms and have a better understanding of what they're thinking.
But I also collect all the lab reports.
I have a brother who saves himself the stress by not questioning and letting the doctor decide. He's older and may be wiser.
With either diagnosis you probably need a blood thinner and might get the exact same treatment with or without the rare label to avoid another stroke.
Frightening to have a stroke. Have you completely recovered. Was it really strange.