White spots on MRI

[originalkitten]

Hi there
I have lupus and fibromyalgia,hypothyroid and asthma. Recently Ive been zoning out where Ill be talking and then will just forget wht im talking about and I have to backtrack. I can also just completey forget where I am or what Im doing. Also Im forgetting what Ive just done ie. if a pan was hot on the stove, I pick it up even though I have just moved it with a cloth previously (hope that explains right). Also Im saying things like...if I want my son to put something say in the bathroom....Ill know its the bathroom but ill say.....go put that in the living room and it will take me forever to get to the point of where i want the item. The other day i was talkin to a friend and I zoned out and started talking about something completely different, then zoned back again and thought hang on....what have i just done....
Anyway I did this infront of the doctor and he ordered a MRI scan....and when it came back they said that it showed white spots that a woman of my age (36) should not have....and have referred me to neurologist who I see next week.....but Im worried sick....do I have MS or what else could it be?

[originalkitten]

thanks lois for replying and the advice. Im a single mum of two boys - one 15 and one 11...and Im trying so hard to relax and ignore it and it's having the opposite effect. I've noticed too lately I'm easily angered which I have no idea if this has anything to do with it.

They were looking for "lupus brain" in the original MRI...where the blood vessels arent getting enough o2. and I do know I had two types of MRI...one without an injection of dye into my hand and one with.  The whole process took about 30-40minutes....and there was a lot of different types of banging, which I know is normal...My mums a lupus sufferer and had her fair share of MRI's and she said the different types of banging at different times shows different scans that are being done. I have no idea if this is true or not lol.

Ive had such a hard time with my Dr's. Ive been fighting a true full diagnoses of my illnesses since October 2007. I have 2 Dr's saying I have Lupus and 2 that don't even though blood tests and symptoms show me to have it. I was admitted last month to hospital with a suspected clot in my leg and been left with a very painful leg and they are just pumping me full of painkillers and not bothering to see why my leg is so sore. It wasnt until I zoned out in front of the Dr that they started taking me seriously and the usual consultant who has refused to see me the last 5 times Ive been, took me seriously. I actually broke down once in the hospital during my stay and once on leaving the Dr's room in the hospital for outpatient appointment crying why don't they believe me Mum?

I think my late grandma bopped me on the head to make me zone out in front of the dr so they would take me seriously lol.

My mum and my mums own GP said they should not have left me hanging with so little information. Im hoping its just one of those things and passes me by.

Thanks ever so much for the advice. This looks like an awesome community.

[RedFlame]

I can see why you would be concerned---and it looks like you already are burdened with so many illnesses.  The good thing is that your doctor is taking this seriously and has sent you to a neurologist who will help figure out what is happening to you.  

The areas of hyperintensities on the MRI can be a number of things, lesions being one of them.  Do you know what they were looking for in the original MRI or how the test was done?  If the neuro suspects MS he will probably do a more extensive MRI series using something called 'MS Protocol'.  

I think right now it would be best to take a deep breath and try to relax.  These things will take some time to figure out.  This is a great support system so I welcome you here.  Also, there is a area for those in limboland who don't yet have a diagnosis.

Take a look at the health pages here too.  
THere is a link on the upper right corner under Discussions.  

---lois