I go back to Neuro TODAY

[robinandjc]

Hello Everyone,

I won’t bore all of you with all I have gone through with the Dr, Insurance Company, and Neurologist in the past week. I was sent running in circles until the Chief of Staff of the medical Clinic that I go to at the Army base got hold of my records. He was so angry that he threatened to not allow anymore patients to be sent to this particular Neurologist office (which has 9 Neurologist employed there). He said if he lightened their patient load that they might realize that you don’t put off office visits with the patients he sends to them. IT WORKED because I will be seeing the Neurologist that first told me “You have MS and need a brain MRI”--TODAY, less than 24 hours since the Chief of Staff received my medical records.


My original visit was scheduled last Friday (6 weeks after the brain MRI was done) but needless to say the Neurologist wasn’t even in the office that day. So no one could see me and they suggested I return to my PCM. That is why the Chief of Staff got involved with my case. He plainly stated that MS is not something you just play around with.


I finally saw my results of the MRI. I will add that here so that anyone who is interested in their findings can have a read. Wish me luck everyone with the Neurologist today. Yes a part of me is still in denial and I am hoping she looks at the scans of my brain and says sorry I misdiagnosis you. The words "highly suggestive" and "most likely" on the impression still leave room for HOPE! Wishful thinking maybe but hey either way I will do what ever I have to so that I can get back as normal as a life as I can. Positive thinking either way! {{HUGS}}


FINDINGS: There are multiple (greater than 9) small ovoid areas of
increased T2 signal abnormality and on the periventricular regions of both
occipital horns of the lateral ventricles. Small scattered areas in the
subcortical white matter gathered in in the deep white matter of the
occipital and parietal lobes are also seen. Ill-defined areas of increased
T2 signal are also seen in the medial aspect of the cerebellar peduncles,
especially on the right. The ventricles and other CSF spaces are symmetric
normal in size and configuration. No intracranial mass, mass effect, or
midline shift is noted. The midline anatomy, craniocervical junction and
orbits are unremarkable. The major vascular flow-voids including the
larger dural venous sinuses are within normal limits. No high signal on
the FLAIR sequence is noted within the cerebrospinal fluid.

Diffusion weighted imaging and ADC maps show no areas of high signal or low
signal respectively to suggest acute ischemia or infarction. The b0 images
show no obvious hemosiderin staining.

IMPRESSION:

1. Findings are highly suggestive of a demyelinating process, most likely
multiple sclerosis.    

[Inny2009]

Im sorry that is your diagnosis but I am happy that you got some answers! I hope your course of treatment will help your symptoms and I hope that you find some others who are willing to accept it, but dont be too suprised or hurt if they dont.

I dont have a diagnosis yet, but MS is a possibility for me that I go for in august. My mother actually called my doctor an idiot for trying to explore that option and thinks he needs to license taken away...

Your going to find those kind of people. I dont really know what to say other than that keep your chin up and keep looking forward.

Inny

[Fluffysmom]

My first brain MRI in Feb. 2008 had "far and away most likely to be multiple sclerosis" in the IMPRESSION on the report.  I didn't get diagnosed for 20 months...

I actually had 2 regular neurologists and a MS specialist suggest that my brain lesions and some symptoms were from migraines.  #4 (2nd MS specialist) diagnosed me on my first visit with him.

I saw a nurse practitioner at his office during a flare of vertigo, and she really thought it was caused by a complex migraine.  That migraine theory is a persistant favorite!

I've been diagnosed for 9 months now (started Avonex two weeks after diagnosis) and am still adjusting to the changes in my life.  Hey, all life is about change, right?

Wishing you the best in adjusting to this news and all that comes with it.

Hugs...

Kathy

[Sparkysarah]

I did not want to comment on your MRi report but there were similiarities to mine which also said possible demyelinating process and I thought that it was likely you would get your diagnosis.

It feels like you were expecting it and seem to have accepted it OK..but allow yourself time for it to sink in. Don't worry about other people's reactions..that is their problem and I had some strange and unexpected reactions.

Anyhow at least you know where you are now and have some time to think about it, research it and have an idea of what treatment you think you would like to try.

Keep well and hugs xxxx

Love Sarah x

[essdipity]

I've just read your MRI report and it does sound classic for MS. Since that's your diagnosis, I'm glad you have a good neuro who will do well by you.

So sorry that you have MS, but I'm wishing you well and hoping for a mild course for you.

ess

[robinandjc]

UPDATE: Saw the Neurologist and according to her I have Relapsing-Remitting MS. As a follow up she has ordered Cervical & Thoracic MRI’s, a Spinal Tab, and Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SER). She started me on Neurontin. I am hoping that helps and at least it is a start.

She did a complete examine and although I was off balanced quite a bit she did say I responded very well. She gave me lots of literature on MS, not much different than the research I have already done myself. And she suggested that Vitamin D and calcium could be very beneficial to me.

I go back in 5 weeks so that by that time all the test she ordered will be back and she said we would develop a course of action at that time.

My mom has started accepting the diagnosis but there are still some people that want to believe it has to do with something else. One friend actually thinks it could be from migraines that I might have had in the past. I thought that one was one of the funnier “reasons” for my symptoms that people are coming up with. Of course I have had a migraine before, the majority of people have so I guess according to the friend almost the entire population must have MS now. But never the less I thought it was humorous. {{HUGS}}

[Sparkysarah]

I cannot comment on the findings from your MRI and hope that you find answers when you meet with the neuro.  It has been a very long time for you to wait since having your scan and you deserve to have everything explained to you. I will be thinking of you today and let us know how you get on.

Love and big hugs

Sarah xxx