My 2nd MRI is this Tuesday 4/16

[sandythegeek2]

My 2nd MRI is Tuesday. This will be the first one with contrast. Last year they only did without contrast. They're doing both ways this time. They gave me Valium, per my request, to take 20 minutes before. I hope I get some answers with this one. Wish me luck!

[sandythegeek2]

Good news!!!  The neuro's nurse just called me and said that my MRI shows no changes.  So, no more MRI's in the future unless I have more symptoms.  Maybe their suspicions were right that it looked like MS but the Migraines and concussions could have caused those lesions.  

I have been on Propranolol for the past year and that could be why no more lesions if they were caused by migraines.  My migraines have stopped since I began taking it.  

I have a follow up still on 5/22 to get refill for Propranolol.  I've gained 20 pounds since going on it but I'm also going into Menopause.  ugh

They also wanted me to take that drug for Blood pressure being a bit high and for tremors.  It has helped with those as well.

[anon07072023]

That's a long time to wait. I wonder if the neuro will look at the scans themselves or just go off the radiology report.

Can you go get a copy of the report?  One place I went to never let me have copies and another place that I went to would let me come get the report the next day.

[maxthecat43]

Hi Sandy,

Keep us posted, okay?   I couldn't see any difference on the images you posted from last year, with this years- but I'm not a radiologist.  It's a long wait till May 22, but hopefully the radiologist's report will help.

[sandythegeek2]

PS  What I found odd is that they didn't do with contrast on T2.   They only did T1, SAG, and another one with contrast.  They did all the scans without contrast first.  T2 is what shows the lesions.  

[sandythegeek2]

Thanks Kelly.

I don't have the radiologist report and won't see the Neuro until May 22.  

But, when I looked at the images for today's MRI, they look almost the same as last years.  I don't see lesions on the 3 scans with contrast but I don't really know what I'm looking at.  I posted 3 pictures in my photos if anyone wants to see those.  I noticed a bunch of white stuff in my ventricles that almost looks like blood or veins or something.  That's with contrast.  When I look at images of similar area online for other people, I don't see that.  

I know I'm probably over analyzing and probably shouldn't bother looking at them but I'm OCD about health stuff and it fascinates me.  I think the brain is an interesting thing to look at.  

[anon07072023]

I hope you get some more definitive news today.

[kwarendorf]

Good luck today :-)

Kyle

[sandythegeek2]

Kelly,  2 neuros said its probably MS but they are taking the wait and see approach. So this MRI might tell them a better story either way.

[anon07072023]

Sandy, what did they say after your first MRI?  Did they say they want to wait until you have another before an official MS diagnosis? I was looking at the pics of your MRI that you had posted from last time.

[Lulu54]

Poppy, they will first do the MRI without the contrast and then the contrast will be given and the additional images.  They would never give the contrast first - it takes too long to clear out of your system and they want to get the next patient into the MRI.

If you have lesions, they will still show up on the mri even if you don't have contrast.  The contrast causes the lesions to enhance if they are newer (under 42 days old) and is a good indicator of NEW lesions -that helps to demonstrate distance in time for the diagnostic criteria. It is the 'lucky' patient who actually has enhancing lesions captured in images because of that 42 day timing.  

Sandythegeek- Here's hoping your tests show something that helps the doctors.  

best to you both, Laura

[sandythegeek2]

Apparently I'm in a fog today too.  I typed "To need" instead of You need.  ugh

[SarahL2491]

"usually" if they are going to do contrast, they do without first, then the contrast closer examines the flairs and may uncover some new ones with the closeness..........yeech, somehow that sentence sounds strange, but I think it says what I meant......fog day here

[sandythegeek2]

Thanks Sarah!  

Poppy,  keep us posted and don't forget to ask for the cd when it's done. To need to keep it for your own records.

[Poppy7402]

Good luck.  Hope you get results quickly.

My second MRI is also this week (Fri), this time with contrast.  Not sure whether they'll also do one without?

Poppy

[SarahL2491]

We'll be thinking of you and hope you get some answers!