1.5 vs 3.0 Tesla MRI

[sherrydenice1972]

I have an MRI scheduled for the 24th.  I went on 12/31, but claustrophobia got the best of me.  :(  Stinks because I had met my deductible for 2013, so it was not going to cost me a cent.  My deductible is $3000, but my employer pays $2500 of it.  I just feel awful now....telling them to fork out another $2500.  

On to my question........I have not been dx w/ anything other than anxiety.  Been having burning skin sensations, achiness all over, etc. since 2002.  I have had MRIs in the past and all were negative.  My last one was in 2005 on a 3.0 Tesla machine.  I know these are much better than the 1.5 Tesla.  The one I scheduled this morning is for a 1.5 facility.  Should I call back and have them schedule me at a family who has 3.0 machines?  This is my GP, but she's EXCELLENT!!!  I have seen neuros in the past.  They all tell me that my symptoms are not MS and can't find anything neurological going on.  I have even seen an MS specialist, back in 2004 & 2005.  BUT I NEED PEACE OF MIND.

[sherrydenice1972]

Well, I'm happy now.  I talked to the dr's office and they are sending my order to another MRI center.  I just need to wait for them to call me to make sure it's all approved.  I should be having a c-spine MRI as well.  I had to get valium rx to me.  The one I did in 2005, I walked in there like a boss and got it done w/ no problem.  Not so much this time!  :(  When they tech handed me ear plugs, that's all she wrote.  I can't stand things in my ears or around my neck.

[sherrydenice1972]

I go through stages of fatigue as well.  It comes and goes like very couple of months and usually kicks in in the afternoon and is horrible!  I've been okay lately.

I visited w/ 2 different different rheumatolgists from 2002 - 2005.  In 2002, I was given an MRI of my c-spine to see if the burning on my upper arms was something coming from my neck...but nothing was found.  I saw him for a while and he could never find any cause.  Put me on Zoloft because I sunk into a depression - and IT HELPED!  Got off of it years later (after taking it off and on for a few years).  Tried it again 2 1/2 yrs ago and it did not work...made me WORSE.  So now I'm afraid of AD meds.  My x-father-in-law has Lupus so I saw his rheumatologist for a 2nd opinion (years ago) and she found nothing as well.  Said my symptoms were not quite like fibro either.  So all I've even been told is that I suffer from PTSD/anxiety/depression - which I believe I do.

Yes, I've been to so many drs. through the years.  I was seeing an endocrinlogist up until almost a year ago.  She dx me w/ Hashimoto's, but I had this gut feeling that I didn't have that.  I know that may sound silly, but I had had the bloodwork done so many times through the years and my thyrhoid levels were always fine.  I've heard she is notorious for dx people w/ Hashi's so I just felt a little taken back.  I did take Synthroid for a while - I culd never tell much of a difference w/ anything.  As far as the burning, she had no clue.

My ears have rang since 1995 (I was 23 then, 41 now).  I've noticed lately that my left one is much louder than usual.  It's 24/7.  I learned to live w/ it long ago, but it's been a bit of a nuisunce lately.

So, yes....I've defintely had my fair share of fatigue that is almost debilitating, but I know that can be from anything.  

Was dx w/ Pars Planitis in 1994 (linked to MS in small percentages), so MS has always stuck out in my mind.  I've also had doctors mention it in the past when I would go for different reasons.  I always forget about this, but I recall YEARS back (probably 2004/2005), I went to a foot dr. becuase one of my feet (can't recall which one) was hurting like the dickens.  He found no reason for it.  HE mentioend MS!   Hearing it from a dr., who I had never spoke about my fear of MS with, was a little scary!

I just really don't know!  12 yrs is a long time to "not know" why one feels odd.  

[kwarendorf]

Hi SD- Welcome to the group :-)

I agree with DV, 3T is better than 1.5T. That said, many of us were diagnosed with the help of 1.5T MRIs.

Burning skin sensations and achiness all over are not typical MS presenting symptoms. Because MS symptoms are the result of damage to specific places on nerves in the central nervous system, the symptoms tend to involve specific locations, like your left foot. Other than fatigue that is.

If you are experiencing all over achiness, have you seen a rheumatologist?

Kyle

[doublevision1]

If you have the option to have a 3T then that's what I'd want if I were you. If there's anything there, a 3T is more likely to pick it up than a 1.5.

[sherrydenice1972]

That was supposed to say **schedule at a facility who has 3.0 machines.