MRI Results....hrm...

[hoshi112]

I've had MS-like symptoms for 4 year (starting at age 17), but this last year it took a very bad drop and become debilitating. I had an MRI yesterday...but here's the thing: the mri pics were given to me on a CD to pass on to my neurologist at my next appt. It seems he actually looks them over instead of just being sent a report.

Anyway, I know next to nothing about what a brain SHOULD look like, so I don't know if anything is weird... so I thought I'd ask you guys. I know you guys aren't doctors, but another opinion would be great.

These are just a few pics....

[IMG]http://i50.tinypic.com/2n8vpzm.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i46.tinypic.com/2hmggie.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i46.tinypic.com/97v1ig.jpg[/IMG]

[hoshi112]

I dropped by my neuro's office today...and found out that he's out of town for the week. He also hasn't looked at my MRI's yet.

Can anyone tell me if these look like lesions? http://i45.tinypic.com/2md5c45.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/5vu3qu.jpg

Thank you very much. I so hate limbo!!

[Geekboy]

I know what you mean about feeling alone. I still feel that way and I have a supportive wife and two children.

I have two brain lesions, but the ones that are troubling me are on my spinal cord. I am taking Copaxone. It is a daily injectable drug and I won't know if it is helping for some time yet. I have been on it a little over two months now.

I was upset with my diagnosis but I do believe that this will be cured in my lifetime and I won't always have this. That's how I try to keep positive.

I'm glad you are writing all your stuff down. You think you can remember until you're in the office and freaking out.

[Hi99s]

I had headaches but my MRI's were clear of visible lesions - my neuro (who is a brain surgeon from MIT and extremely well educated) told me that lesions are not always visible until actual scarring occurs so a lack of myelin is not what triggers the visible effect of MS on an MRI. It can take years after symptoms 1st appear to have enough damage to produce scarring.There may be hundreds of damaged nerve fibres but they are so small that they don't appear on an MRI as they are not all in the same place. My MRI still does not show much at all.
I had 15 years of pain and weird symptoms before I was diagnosed. A Lumbar Puncture may show evidence of Oligoclonal Protein Bands. These occur when Myelin is broken down by the immune system. It is rare I believe to have these proteins in your spinal fluid unless you had recent physical Trauma to the spine/brain. If you didnt have one done yet ask for a LP - although I imagine your neuro is ahead of the game and has a course of investigation to follow. Be patient and try not to freak out. Being diagnosed earlier doesn't seem to help much apart from putting your mind at rest slightly imho.
keep your chin up you're very much not alone.

[lda328]

Thank so much for writing back.  I feel so alone, even with family all around me.  It helps to talk to people that are actually going though this.  I do plan to write everything down this evening that I am concerned about.  Did you have brain lesions and demyelation? What kind of meds are you on?

[Geekboy]

I'm sorry you are going through this. I was diagnosed with MS in August of this year and I know that it is very frightening.

I don't have headaches but I have a sackful of other symptoms. From what I have learned there is no normal with MS symptoms. A lot of us have the same experiences but it's kind of a grab bag of things to drive you nuts.

Be sure to write all of the things you are experiencing down so that you can remember it all when you see the Neurologist. This will help with the diagnosis.

Demyelation does indicate MS but you will have to see what the Dr says.

I wish you the best of luck and let us know how you are doing. I know what it's like to be scared and confused having been there just a few months ago.

[lda328]

New to this and wanted to report about the demyelation in my brain.  The CT scan showed it to be severe and the only reason I had one done was because of the severe headaches I have been having.  I went in for an MRI yesterday and it showed the same findings.  I have an appoinment with the neurologist tomorrow for the first time.  I think they are leaning towards MS.  Just wondering if anyone else here has had severe demyelation like mine and bad headaches.  I don't know yet what is normal.  I didn't even know I had anything wrong with me until a few days ago.  I am 41 years old and really really scared.  

[Karen99]

If I were in your shoes, I would call the imaging center and ask that their radiologist read and make a report AT YOUR REQUEST.  You or your insurance can pay for the report.  

Is this your first MRI since having symptoms for four years?  

Take Quix's advice and get your letter written to your neuro and cc: your family doctor.  

[hoshi112]

I know some of you probably get tired of people asking about their MRI results, but I just noticed something... the scans of my brain were T1 (w/ contrast), but there were some scans of my brainstem/spine that were T2 (without contrast) - and it catches something. I was wondering if this is what a lesion looks like... :

http://i45.tinypic.com/2md5c45.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/5vu3qu.jpg

I'm kind of at a loss here. I called my neuro's office and was again told that there was no radiologists report because none look at it as the neuro does it himself. I was also told that he'd look at it "within 3 or 4 weeks" from when I have the MRI done...it's been about 3 weeks now.
I feel like absolute crap. I'm 21.... and can barely make it to classes 2 days a week. I haven't really told my parents or family much about it, but I can't hide it much longer.

[Quixotic1]

I didn't think it was legal for an imaging center or department to do films without having a radiological interpretation.  Sure, the neurologist SHOULD do his/her own personal reading, but ???? This is news to me.

Be sure to let your neuro know that your symptoms are worsening.  Write a letter describing them and fax, mail or drop it off.  This is much better than leaving a message.  Also note on the bottom that you are also sending a copy to your PCP.  This puts the neuro on notice that other people know about the worsening symptoms and the neuro is less likely to ignore them.

Quix

[hoshi112]

I called my neuro and was told that he does indeed interpret them himself. There's no radiologist report.
How odd.

So now I wait and watch symptoms worsening. I'm scared and alone right now.

[shermay]

I agree with the other posts, you should have had a the radio's. report as well.  

Can you get back in touch with them and ask??  Maybe they forgot to give it to you, OR you could take your CD in abd get him to write a report??

Just something that I would give a go at doing.

Debs

[Udkas]

Hi there,
most neurologists like to look at the CD themselves just to see if anything has been missed but there would still be a radiologist report!  All hospitals that conduct MRI Scans have a radiologist do a report, this is a Dr who specializes in looking at your MRI scans and they have had extra training in this sort of thing.  I just had a scan done (not MRI) but CT and I had to take my CD to my next appointment as my Urologist wanted to view the CD himself but he would still have the report and my neuro always looks at my pics as well.  It would have to be reported on!! So try and get the report.

Good Luck, keep us posted, it is stressful when you are not well.
Udkas.

[hoshi112]

The problem is that there is no radiologist report. The imaging center said that my doc looks them over himself. They gave me a CD that contains the scans to give to him at my next appt. I have 2 appts with him - Jan 25th, 26th - the first for an EMG. So it would be difficult to get in for a cancellation.

I've already been tested for lupus, rheumatoid arthritis,etc... kinda at whits end here. I just turned 21 - I had to quit my part time job a few months back and had to drop some classes because I cant physically do it anymore...

[Heather3418]

I told agree with Udkas and my Amy girl...but I just wanted to see what your other films looked like.  I enjoy seeing other people's scans, just like some people like to see other mother's ultrasounds.  I think it's interesting.

The radiologist's report is what is important.

All the Best,
Heather

[Udkas]

Hi there,
three months is a long time to wait for results, I don't do waiting, perhaps you could ring up and see if you can go on to their cancellation list so you can get in sooner, or ask if the Dr would be prepared to give you the results over the phone.

Just because your MRI is normal it doesn't mean you are crazy, if it is MS it is not always easy to diagnose straight away, it does depend on the strength of the machine and other factors.  Also there are other MS mimics out there, so your symptoms might be from something else other than MS, but just because your brain MRI is normal does not mean it's not MS and it does not mean you are crazy.

As for reading your MRI none of us on here are experts (well there might be?) but most of us are   people living with MS or going through the diagnostic process so remember that when looking at your pictures.  I must confess I always like to look but at the end of the day do we really know enough to know what we are looking for?  Some of us might but I think it's best although waiting is difficult to talk to your Dr or get the report.

Goodluck with it all,

Cheers,
Udkas.

[Amyloo]

Maybe you could call and get a copy of the radiologist's report?  I know that kind of a waiting period would drive me nuts.

[hoshi112]

I have some...but I don't see much...
Ugh. My dr appointment isn't for another 3months. I can't keep on like this! If there's nothing wrong brain-wise, then I must just be freakin crazy! :(

http://i47.tinypic.com/wa3die.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/2pt78cl.jpg

[Heather3418]

Do you have any "side" images that you can share?  Like looking at your brain through your ear, if that makes any sense.

I am with Pastor Dan on the views you posted.  I don't see anything jumping out at me, but I do see some pinpoint spots on the right side of your brain-adjacent to the ventricules.

Heather

[PastorDan]

Oh, I did note that those were T1 images, so I wouldn't expect to see much there relative to MS; lesions would be more likely to show on T2 and FLAIR images.  I think T1 is best to show black holes, but I have no idea how to find those.

Read the "Health Pages" entries having to do with MRIs (see yellow icon @ upper right of page).

[PastorDan]

I'm no doctor either, but nothing's jumping out at me there.