Another MRI?

[metalbender]

I just got back from the neurologist and I'm a bit confused...He doesn't like anything that he sees or hears...He told me my speech is significantly worse...He used the word scanning...Whatever that means....I know I talk funny...Well anyways he checked my fingers using hand eye coordination and compared my left with the right...He noted the difference and told me that he expected to see exactly the deficit in my right hand....Balance is also effected by this part of the brain...The part where it connects to the brain stem...He called it a name but I forgot but it is the processor part of the brain...He believes I'm having some attacks in this area....So he scheduled an immediate mri for tomorrow morning....I'm actually surprised I got in so quickly...If positive he wants me to go 5 days of iv steroids AGAIN!....It didn't help 3 months ago why does he think it will help this time?!?!? I see him on the 11th again for my follow up but I'm getting really ticked off...So, IS IT NORMAL TO GO THROUGH THIS MANY STEROIDS IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME?....Sorry for yelling but the last time I did steroids my body did not like it...

Michael

[anon07072023]

Hi Michael,

It sounds like it's not going to be fun, but if there are active lesions, I'd say you probably should do the steroids again. You want to do all that you can to limit permanent disability.  IV Solumedrol doesn't play nice with me either.  

Good luck to you, I hope your symptoms start getting better,
Kelly  

[metalbender]

Thanks for the kind and informative posts...My doctor knows about the problems I had with steroids...After my day one infusion (April 12th of this year) I turned red and started vomitting....The head nurse did not like that and she never had an ms patient in 5 years admitted to her cardiac floor....She was inexperienced with this, but told me the steroids I'm taking are the same ones heart patients use...So she called my doctor and he prescribed an anti-anxiety and a drug used for chemo therapy patients to battle nausea...This combination was adminstered a half hour before the steroids...This worked well for the remainder of the infusions...BUT, the steroids caused bad shaking and no sleep...It also caused me to urinate like crazy...

I should explain my first post: If positive he wants me to take 5 days of iv steroids...Well, he actually wants to start me on steroids irregardless of the results of the mri but I suggested to him if and only if the mri comes back positive...He actually agreed to that very willingly BUT I take it that he has great concern with attacks on this part of the brain. And yes, it was called the cerebellum...He says that just my speech alone dictates something wrong there and it doesn't matter what the mri says BUT he ordered an immediate one anyways...

When I went in yesterday to see him, I had all these complaints that I had prepared to give him....And soon as I start to talk, my speech was the number one concern of his....And I never gave it a second thought...Of course he wrote down my complaints after we discussed the cerebellum...He told me that part of the brain is imperative for me to function at work...So I listened to him....

Lulu I guess I'm not angry at my doctor as much as I'm angry with everything that happened so sudden...I can't kill the messenger because that is stupid...But I blame things on the messenger that I shouldn't...And really, the messenger is a great guy....

Michael

[doublevision1]

Scanning speech is a form of dysarthria which affects some patients with MS.  Basically is is when you speak with noticeable pauses between syllables.  It indicates lesion(s) in the cerebellum.

[rendean]

Ditto what Lulu said. I'm sorry about your disease course but I do agree the neuro is doing a good job. Do tell him that you had issues with the steroids the last time and yes, steroids 5 months apart is not unusual even if you and your body so not like them.

It sounds like he is only going to use the steroids, from what you write, if there is a change in the MRI.

Let us know how things go and what you and your doctor decide together as a treatment plan.

Ren

[Lulu54]

You may be frustrated by this doctor, but I'm thinking I like his approach, a lot.  If he sees that your MRI shows active disease and increase in lesion load, I imagine he will talk to you about a change of therapy.  You want to use the treatment that is best for your form of MS.

As for the steroids, he must be thinking tht it is necessary to speed the decrease in the inflammation.  I sure understand the YELLING RIGHT NOW because this is pretty stinky for you.  

Talk all this through with your doc and tell him straight up about your problems with steroids.  You can Make an informed choice as to whether you do another course or not.  If it keeps you from adding more permanent disability, the 5 days of he ll may be worth it.

I'm sorry you are having more difficulty.
Lulu