Thanks for the hugs and the nice words Lisa. I am definitely in need of a clear and correct diagnosis right now. The doctor seems a bit older/mature and maybe his experience can help him figure it all out.
Wow, Kelly - I'm glad your new doc is going over this thoroughly. You really haven't been well over the last year. Sending good thoughts for a clear diagnosis, and the right treatment. It all sounds rather scary, and you sound amazingly calm in your writing (of course I could be totally misinterpreting, here).
Big Hugs to you...(((Kelly)))
Thanks, It is nice to get a chance to have another set of eyes looking at all that I have going on. Many of the autoimmune diseases seem to be so intertwined.
Sometimes it only takes one person to listen! I hope you have found that one person and they can take a fresh look! Anything to get you feeling better. Can be so complicated sometimes. Wish it weren't that way. Many hugs your way! I am anxious to hear the results and a plan for you.
Thanks for your input JJ. You're definitely right about not knowing if any of those are going to end up on my plate in the end.
However, I do know that the radiology report specifically pointed out the mesenteric lymph nodes and said that it was more than likely related to an "inflammatory or malignant process." And earlier today, I found in the book a lot of radiologists use, Ioachim’s Lymph Node Pathology Book, that these nodes are the 2nd most popular for SLE Lupus to invade. So, it could definitely very likely be Lupus. You'd be winning big money on me !! :-)
The brain lesions that I have are very few. The radiologists always put in my MRI reports that just a few scattered hyperintensities - basically nothing more than typically seen in the population. And my current neuro that I had moved over to last July had told me that she doesn't know if she would have diagnosed me with MS, but said she wouldn't take away my diagnosis since the Univ Dx'd me based on what they saw on my MRI & symptoms.
Plus, I'm not a normal healthy population with the lymph nodes. The whole reason why my primary care doctor did the ct scan is because I haven't been well in a long time.
I really wish I could take a deep breath. That's good advice. I need to learn how to relax and have less STRESS. That's probably one of my short-comings. I also get nervous / anxious fairly easily. Which I know isn't good for me. It's just something I can't seem to help/control, especially with all that's been going on for so long.
Thanks again!
Hi Kelly, i so didn't expect to see this this morning, wow girl you must be in a spin!! Firstly HUGS!!!!!!
Secondly - take that deep necessary breath, and hold your horses gf, you dont know for sure its any of those things right, no point jumping to the uglyiest one on the list. It still could be none of them, wait until the dr's have finished fishing and then let your self have a much needed freak out, wait first though :-)
If I was someone who gambled i'd of been considering putting my money on Lupus, not much causes that butterfly rash and your combo of sx but you've got brain lesions right, so thats suppose to be 'rare' in Lupus. So i'm thinking its possible the Lupus like sx could be a drug induced reactions over a condition thats quite rare and drug reaction is the most common cause of the rash. hmmmmm its still possible to have MS and another autoimmune condition, lol can you see how there isn't much point in worry too much until more facts come in, its sort of like chasing your tail until then.
I'm not sure the lymph node findings exactly have any huge significance, my google brought up this.....
CONCLUSION. Incidental finding of mesenteric lymph nodes is common, reflecting more widespread use of thin-collimation MDCT and PACS workstations. In general, these nodes are small, measuring less than 5 mm. Such nodes when found in an otherwise healthy population are clinically insignificant and require no further imaging.
http://www.ajronline.org/content/184/1/41.full
Take a breath, be kind to your self and dont jump to any conclusions just yet cause its only going to keep you spinning, breath!!!
HUGS.............JJ