diagnoised in 2001 now have 5mm lesion on pons what is that?

[ANGELEYES4SANDI]

I collapsed twice this month and was hospitalized.  MRI with contrast showed a 5mm lesion on lower left pons.. not sure what role the pons has in our anatomy, it's function.  Dr said it affects breathing, swallowing and heart rate.  This doctor was in the hospital..not my dr.  So should I assume that the MS is going to eventually stop me from breathing and stop my heart from beating.  I have had trouble swallowing since a major attack in December.  Lesion was not present in MRI in December.  I just feel very very tired and forgetful..brainless.  What is the PONS?

[risnerrose]

I am too new here myself to advise, but I do hope you find the answers you seek.

Sherry

[sllowe]

Hi Angeleyes,

    I'm sorry to hear about your collapsing, but I am glad you went to the hospital, especially since they found the new lesion (if it's new). Do you have an appointment scheduled with your Dr to discuss the issues?

This is the best definition I could find for Pons that included where it is, and what it does.

Definition of Pons

         Pons:  A specific section of the brain formed by the rounded prominence on the front surface of the brainstem. (The brainstem is the lowest part of the brain that merges with the spinal cord; it consists of a structure called the medulla oblongata, the midbrain and the pons.) Cranial nerves V, VI, VII and VIII take origin at the border of the pons.

        Pons is Latin for bridge. It is short for the pons Varolii, the bridge of Varoli, named for a 16th-century Italian surgeon and anatomist Costanzo Varoli. The pons bridges that portion of the central nervous system between the medulla oblongata and the midbrain.

      The adjective for pons is pontine. Transpontine means across the bridge. In London, transpontine refers to one side of the River Thames, the south side, where the theaters playing popular melodramas were located in Victorian days. Cross a bridge over the Thames and you were in the more respectable cispontine sector of London.

_____________

Also, be so careful since you've been collapsing.  Have you gotten any warning signs before it happens?  Or, does it get you out of no where?

I hope you feel well soon,

SL

[Quixotic1]

No, it would be very, VERY, VERY rare for MS to cause you respiratory failure or cardiac arrest.  Though these processes are among the very many controlled in the pons area, MS is very rarely directly fatal.  Do they know why you collapsed?  Did you lose consciousness?  Have you had the full work up fro fainting?  Have you had a Tilt Table test?

Quix

[ANGELEYES4SANDI]

What is a Tilt Table Test?
I am going to the Neuro on Thursday.
I am very very fatigued... sleeping a lot.. I can no longer work anymore.