MRI results please help

[Jenny240]

I finally got my mri results and this one is from 5/31/2007. Findings: Previous MRI evaluation demonstrated three focal areas of abnormal enhancement within the brain possibly representing multiple sclerosis or other demyelinating process. The focal contrast enhancing lesion involving the anterior left lobe on the previous study is not identified on todays exam. The contrast enhancing lesion involving the left frontoparietal lobe is again noted but has decreased in degree of contrast enhancement on todays study. The  contrast enhancing lesion involving the posterior right parietooccipital region on the previous examination is not identified on todays study.There are new focal  contrast-enhancing lesions involving  the periventricular white matter of the posterior left temporal lobe, periventricular white matter of the anterior right temporal lobe, periventricular white matter of the posterior right frontoparietal region. On the flair images, there are foca; and confluent areas of increased signal intensity involving the periventricular white matter and subcortical white matter of the cerebral hemispheres. The orientation of the periventricular abnormalities is perpendicular to the ventricles. These findings are most consistent with changes secondary to   demyelinating process to include multiple sclerosis. Other less likely etiologies would include vasculitis. The ventricles are normal in size, shape, and position with no evidence of shift of midline structures. But my lp came back normal and my physical exam was also normal. My blood work was also normal.  What else causes white spots to come and go on the brain? My docter wants me to come back in June of 08 for another mri unless something dramatic happens like I go blind in one eye.  He talked about treatment but said I was not having that many symtoms and treatment would make me feel worse...  But I have had three mri that are similar to this one in the last year. But lesions in different spots that have come and gone. I am really confused on what this all means and if  this is ms or what? I was thinking about going to see another neuro in San Antonio which is three hours away from where I live. What do yall think I should do? Please help...

[Jenny240]

Thank you both for answering me too.

[Jenny240]

Thank you so much. I really agree with you about my docter...

[Jenny240]

My docter is Dr Vanderzant. Its nice to know there is someone here from San Angelo too. I feel so lonely here because I personally dont know anyone here with this disease. And when I tell  someone my symtoms they tell me everyone does that.

[Jenny240]

Thank you for writing me back. As far as I know he didnt find anything as far as weakness and I guess my gait was fine too. Sometimes my symtoms last a couple of days and sometimes a couple of weeks. I have three kids so I have to put me aside sometimes just live with whats going on in me. So I have always overlooked alot of things.

[Jenny240]

Thank you too for your post. I live in San Angelo Tx. Its  close to Austin too. I cant remember how long it takes to get there. What is your docters name? Sorry it took so long to answer you all because I took a nap.

[Jenny240]

Thank you so much for writing back. I have had symtoms on and off.But I also have thyroid disease too. I just asummed it was form a sluggish thyroid. Symtoms have been from what I remember in 2006 I woke up in the middle of the night and it was like the room was spinning and it happened a couple of times but I didnt think anything of  it.  Then in the summer of 07 I was taking care of a elderly lady and I had to take my husbands car with no ac. When I would get to work I was totally exhausted. One time I dozed off in her chair. Then I was in the shower and I was washing my hair and I got light headed and almost fell. I have had numbing in my right hand and right foot. I have had the pins and neddles in my right foot. But they didnt last that long. Theres also been times where I felt like I was ADD. When there was alot of people around I couldnt pay attention to a person that was talking to me, I was looking at all the people coming and going. I felt bad because I felt like I was being rude. I dont know if that has anything to do with ms. There are times where I drop things out of nowhere. As for my docter and the neuro exam, the first one he did he did it very fast. And thats another thing, he considered nothing wrong with me then, but he had these results. He said it could be caused from smoking, drug abbuse, or head injury. But even on that mri,  it said spots coming and going. I think I do need to see another docter for this because I think hes wishy washy, one minute he says one thing and the next its another. Its making me very uncomfortable. Just last month I was studdering alot but it lasted a couple of weeks. I just dont know what to do.

[young at heart]

YOUR NEURO NEEDS SLAPPED AROUND A BIT.

I DON'T GET HIS REASONING ON WAITING FOR ANOTHER 6 MONTHS WHEN YOU HAVE ALREADY HAD 3 MRI'S THAT SCREAM MS.

HAS HE DONE MRI'S ON THE C-SPINE OR THORACIC, SOME WITH MS HAVE NORMAL LP'S.

HIS ANSWER AS COME BACK IF YOU GO BLIND IN ONE EYE,HE OUGHT TO BE KICKED IN HIS HINEY.IT'S HIS JOB TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T GET OPTICAL NEURITIS.IT'S NOT PLEASANT TO DEAL WITH

WHAT SENT YOU TO A NEUROLOGIST?

GET A SECOND OPINION,AS YOUR CURRENT NEURO SOUNDS LIKE A WEENIE!!!!!!!!!!

T-LYNN

[Amyloo]

Good one, Quix.  My two cents:  a normal physical exam on any given day would be possible for probably alot of people.  I have gone in skipping, and also in a wheelchair.  Just depends.  Amy

[Quixotic1]

Wow, if that MRI doesn't scream MS at us nothing ever will.  We have said many times before that that the disease causes damage and nerve fiber (axon) loss long before symptoms.

Okay, you have a normal neuro exam.  Do you feel he was incredibly thorough with the exam?  Tediously so?  We had a link to a great desription of a proper and complete neuro exam.  Here are a couple

http://www.neurologychannel.com/neuroexam.shtml

http://www.neuroexam.com/

Your lp was normal.  Have you had at least a Visual Evoked Response - VEP?

Would you tell us what your symptoms have been like?  Has there been any pattern of coming, staying a bit and then a period of resolution?

Have you posted here before and told us this?

And while you're talking to us, set up that 2nd opinion.  Those lesions should not just set undiagnosed while they wait for you to "go blind in one eye."  Sheesh!

Quix

[biowham]

Are you also near Austin? There are some good neuros and good neuroradiologists here. My neurologist is one of the top docs in the nation, and the neuroradiologist is also highly regarded.

Emily

[Heather3418]

If your symptoms relapse and remit and your MRI shows lesions that also relapse and remit, I would be highly suspicious of MS.  The fact that you say you have normal physical exam by the doctor is the puzzling aspect in all of this.

Did your doctor find anything, weakness, change in gait, etc., on physical exam where it showed there were neurological changes in the brain.?

I need a little more information about the length of time you have symptoms...how long they last, days and weeks, at least a month inbetween symptoms that would show a clear relapse...that kind of thing.  If you indeed have that kind of history, I would suspect a demyelinating disease as the radiologist suggested.

Hope to hear more from you...

Heather  

[LLWB]

There are others here who can answer your question. Just wanted to let you know you will be heard. Quix, or resident Goddess of Knowledge isn't feeling well, but I'm sure she will answer when she can. Heather is also a mine of information.  My impression is that as damage is being done the spots appear. Then they scar over, and new lesions form. IMHO you need to be seen by an MS specialist if possible. 3 hours is nothing compared to your health. You don't give other symptoms. That would help in our answers. Good luck, and hang in there.