MRI report - freaking out a little

[milwrite]

Got copy of actual brain MRI report (w/o contrast/1.5 machine) today. It says:
Fewer than 10 small foci of T2 hyperintensity in deep subcortical & periventricular white matter of both cerebral hemispheres, with nonspecific appearance.

This combined with my 2 cervical MRI's (1 w/ & 1 w/o contrast/1.5 machine) from 11/2008 which says:
Patchy T2 hyperintensity throughout cervical spine

I'm really getting scared now. Right side numbness every day face/ear to toe & noticing trouble find the right word & having to really concentrate to get the word out many times per day for about 1 1/2 weeks. I'm starting to freak out. I'm really afraid of symptoms progressing too far before I get a diagnosis & meds. I drive for nursing visits for 1 of my jobs & highway driving with a numb right leg gets a little frightening.

[milwrite]

Thank you so much for all your help Lulu.

milwrite

[Lulu54]

There is no way of knowing how bad this might be - IF it turns out to be you have MS, the progression of disease is so different for each person that it is impossible to predict.

Since you have been around here a bit, I hope you already know that MS is not a fatal disease.  It can change your life, and it can make things miserable at times.  But this disease is also manageable and with treatment, most people list a fairly normal life with no complications.  

The majority of people dx'd with MS have RRMS, which means the symptoms come and go over time.  The unpredictability of MS makes it a hard disease to live with at times but we all find a way to manage.



I hope you will take advantage of the information in our health pages and read more about MS.

be well,
Lulu

[milwrite]

Thanks Lulu for talking me off the ledge! So I guess the symptoms won't progress so fast that I have some time for diagnosis & I should relax a little.
I have an appt. in 3 mos. with local Neuro. I asked PCP for a referral to a Neuro at an MS Center in Boston instead & am waiting to hear. Per the PA at PCP's office, Lyme, thyroid, low potassium, brain tumor & stroke are ruled out & MS is top of her list. She's the one who referred me to local Neuro.

Do DMD's lessen the numbness?

[milwrite]

Does anybody know how bad the above is? Should I not be so worried?

[Lulu54]

Its a natural reaction to freak out when you see those reports - that's why so many neurologists prefer to review your tests with you BEFORE you actually et the copies for your records.  When do you meet with your neuro again?

The patchy spots on your c-spine, along with the spots on your brain (and their location) are adding up to be important evidence in the diagnostic process.

I am going to assume that your doctor has already done a number of other tests to rule out mimics of MS.  I hope that has been done, since you have been at this for what appears to be over a year.

As for the mental and speech problems you are experiencing, I would suggest that perhaps some of this is coming from the anxiety and concern you are experiencing with a possibly serious disease.  The harder we push our brains to perform sometimes the worse we do.  I hope that makes sense.  If you can find a way to back off on the pressure to perform, you may find you do a little better.

The right side numbness is an important symptom, and you should be contacting your neuro to let them know you are having this problem.  

Getting on a DMD  *IF*  this is MS is important, and you need to keep pushing for answers. But please don't panic about the timing - this is not like an infection that must be treated with antibiotics immediately.  There is some latitude in starting treatment for MS.  But again, obviously you want to start them as soon as possible if this turns out to be MS.

Keep pushing for answers - this is the hard part.  We're here to help answer any questions you might have.

my best,
Lulu