Many thanks for the reassurance essdipity. I feel much saner today than I did yesterday!
Cheers
Liz590
Thanks very much for you post PastorDan.
Cheers
Liz590
I had many MRIs showing 'ischemic changes' or 'ischemic disease,' at least supposedly. I think the radiologist took one look at my age and pinned it on that. The thing is, I had none of the other factors likely associated with ischemia, and my blood pressure has always been on the low side of normal.
Ultimately it was decided that my abnormal MRIs showed an atypical pattern for MS, not ischemia, and my symptoms certainly matched MS, as did various clinical signs and tests.
Many here have had this experience, the late-onset MS people especially, so if you are not getting answers, keep pursuing them.
And as has been said, don't worry about dementia. If my MRIs meant that, I'd be very disabled indeed at this point.
ess
Thanks for bringing the term to light. "Ischemic" has been used conjecturally by more than one radiologist looking between my ears, and I thought I knew what it meant. Since I lost my Mom to early-onset Alzheimer's, I always pay close attention to things that could relate to that problem. Consequently, when your posts caught my eye, I felt obliged to consult Wikipedia, and found that ischemia means something entirely different from the meaning that I thought it carried.
So, thanks for sharing; you helped me learn something new, even before sunup!
Hi Lulu54
Thanks very much for your message Lulu - I really appreciate it. Yes, I do have a follow up appointment with a neurologist next week. I have pins and needles in my fingers and toes 24/7 which is debilitating because of the lack of sleep.
Hopefully I will get some answers next week. Once again thank you.
Kind regards
Liz590
BW got that one right - she always does. This report has nothing to do with dementia - ischemic change is very common. I hope this really does put you to ease. Do you have a follow up with your neurologist to review the report? Be sure you do that to confirm what you have been told here.
Hello and thank you BW - I really appreciate your detailed response - and will stop worrying now. Thanks again.
Kind Regards
Liz590
Hi, Liz--
That's a common comment on scans in which the "spots" they don't see aren't of the characteristic shape and location of MS-related spots. It's not something that indicates you have dementia. It means here and there, maybe, some vessels in your brain have responded to a transient lack of oxygen in a way that left little imprints that show up on the MRI. I think many of us here have had that as part of our MRI reports.
Hope that helps.
BW