A picture of a slice of my brain

[Fluffysmom]

I've been trying to figure out how people post pictures from their MRIs, and I finally got one slice on my My MedHelp page.  Any comments?    

I'm curious if these lesions look similar to anyone elses, and remember, there are a lot more "throughout supratentortial white matter tracts".

Thanks for any input.

Kathy

[Fluffysmom]

I have come to believe my fibro diagnosis was a cop-out diagnosis, since other things have shown up that were obvious causes for several of my pain issues, and I worked hard at PT and improving my lifestyle, and had no fibro symptoms for a quite a few years.

Well, you should see the rest of the brain!  Lots and lots of bright spots!

I had maybe 5 migraines until my mid-thirties, then started getting menstrual migraines every few months.  I started taking Premarin on my placebo days on my Mircette , and no more migraines, well maybe a few, but not many.

I saw an ophthamologist on the 18th; he said my optic nerves looked very healthy, and that the floaters that suddenly appeared were most likely from the pressure change from the LP and CSF leak.  I asked about any evidence of prior ON, and he looked surprised, then had me schedule a visual field test.

My neurologist said that I don't need any follow-up appointment, that she would call with the results of my spinal MRI.  I'll have the pictures before she calls, possibly the report.  I am keeping in mind all of the people that I've read about that went through multiple neuros, and will accept it if she really has dismissed me.  She was pretty sure that I don't have MS, based on the LP and blood test results.

Good heavens, how many hospitals and labs screw up on our tests?  They most likely didn't send off your MS panel from the hospital?  Sheesh!  I don't feel secure about my test results, since all of the trouble with orders the day of the tests, and then finding out the radiologist ended up writing new orders.  I'll check out the results when I get them, and have them to pass on if I need to move on to another neuro.

Thanks for responding, and validating how I feel about what's going on inside my brain, and with my body at the same time.

talk with you later,

Kathy

[Deb61]

My goodness!  You've got a lot of them!  It looks like MS to me, but I'm not a doctor.  What your neuro may be considering is doing a follow-up MRI in six months give or take to compare MRI's (if you want to stick with her longer).  Plus you may some new enhancing lesions.  This is what gave me my diagnosis, since my MS panel for my spinal tap was most likely never sent off from the hospital.  

You've got something going on there, girl, and you need some answers.  It's not uncommon to have a negative LP, especially in the early part of the disease.  If the blood work was negative, this all points to MS in my opinion--based on what you've described of your symptoms.  I don't think that these lesions are caused by migraines--there's too many of them and you've said that migraines isn't your biggest issue.  Have migraines been a problem, even?

You've mentioned a fibromyalgia diagnosis.  I've been diagnosed with this, but this will not cause lesions on the brain like this.  My neuro told me that I was diagnosed with this out of laziness and incompetince.  Don't accept this as the root of your problems.  

I suspect, based on what you've said about your symptoms and eye problems that you're in the early stages of the disease.  Go to the opthamologist, get other brain MRI's in six months, and don't give up on finding out what's wrong.  BTW, best wishes on the 25th on the spinal MRI.

Deb

[Fluffysmom]

I posted another picture of my brain, but couldn't get the side view slices to upload.  Are they too complex, take to much space, or what?

I really am curious if my lesions are similar to anyone else.

Kathy

[Fluffysmom]

My bloodwork and LP came back normal, the brain MRI she said "Isn't textbook MS", but didn't really venture a guess as to what it is.  She let me wonder aloud if migraines could cause that many, since I have no medical history that would point to microvascular disease.  The neuro-radiologist that read my MRI said "The appearance and distribution of these lesions is far and away most consistent with multiple sclerosis"  When the first neuro said that was all wrong, my friend that works with the radiologist called him, he pulled up my films, and said "I stand by my findings".

I used to wish I could have films instead of cds, but then I found out more about how to navigate them, and wish I had a better computer so the resolution was better!  They really stand out on the neurologist's computer.

Thanks,

Kathy

[SOONERMOM]

I left a comment about your photo.  What does your neurologist say that these lesions are from??  Didn't you say that you were told they were  normal?  I only have the film and so can't post mine!!!  I wish I could.

Stacey