anniebooboo
01-08-2008, 09:07 AM
Gday Guys,
You all probably know my boring story (clear MRI but still stuck with lots of neuro symptoms) but here's something interesting. My 13 year old daughter had a brain MRI days ago due to bouts of severe migraines with loss of vision and loss of power in her arms. I was very naughty and read the report. Her drs appointment is a long way off and I did not have the self discipline to wait to hear from him (due to distance to his office the report and films couldn't be delivered by the clinic - I have to take them to the next appointment). It seems that there are 3 lesions - I'll partially quote from the report. "Minor focal white matter hyperintensity in the deep white matter in the left cerebral hemisphere is non specific in size and nature.......There is minor asymmetry of the lateral ventricals with a prominant right lateral ventrical......A small focal lesion particularly anterioraly within the temporal lobes and a small lesion are identified.......Impression - The significant artefact is limiting the sensitivity of this examination and small lesions cannot be excluded. Repeat examination after removal of the braces is suggested to exclude any small structural anomaly". (She has braces on her teeth - significant artefact means that the MRI was obscured in places)
I know it is stupid to read these things when I am not educated in this department. Please don't harrass me for doing this, and I know that there probably aren't any drs deciphering here. However, I do believe that some of you know alot about MRI results. Please someone tell me, do migraines cause lesions? What are structural anomalies? Can anyone sort of interpret this MRI? Everything else in the report sounded fine. My big concern is that she may have MS, even though the report never mentioned demylination. She has had about 6 massive "migraines" with vomiting and loss of sight (for long periods of time - over 24 hrs in one instance). She complains constantly that one arm tingles. She suffers from restless legs.
Weird even that both of us had to have MRI's.
Any thoughts? (and again - no harrassment - I will never open a report again - I think I've learnt my lesson)
Annie
You all probably know my boring story (clear MRI but still stuck with lots of neuro symptoms) but here's something interesting. My 13 year old daughter had a brain MRI days ago due to bouts of severe migraines with loss of vision and loss of power in her arms. I was very naughty and read the report. Her drs appointment is a long way off and I did not have the self discipline to wait to hear from him (due to distance to his office the report and films couldn't be delivered by the clinic - I have to take them to the next appointment). It seems that there are 3 lesions - I'll partially quote from the report. "Minor focal white matter hyperintensity in the deep white matter in the left cerebral hemisphere is non specific in size and nature.......There is minor asymmetry of the lateral ventricals with a prominant right lateral ventrical......A small focal lesion particularly anterioraly within the temporal lobes and a small lesion are identified.......Impression - The significant artefact is limiting the sensitivity of this examination and small lesions cannot be excluded. Repeat examination after removal of the braces is suggested to exclude any small structural anomaly". (She has braces on her teeth - significant artefact means that the MRI was obscured in places)
I know it is stupid to read these things when I am not educated in this department. Please don't harrass me for doing this, and I know that there probably aren't any drs deciphering here. However, I do believe that some of you know alot about MRI results. Please someone tell me, do migraines cause lesions? What are structural anomalies? Can anyone sort of interpret this MRI? Everything else in the report sounded fine. My big concern is that she may have MS, even though the report never mentioned demylination. She has had about 6 massive "migraines" with vomiting and loss of sight (for long periods of time - over 24 hrs in one instance). She complains constantly that one arm tingles. She suffers from restless legs.
Weird even that both of us had to have MRI's.
Any thoughts? (and again - no harrassment - I will never open a report again - I think I've learnt my lesson)
Annie
Sponsor
cyprian1
01-08-2008, 10:57 AM
i am new here , but did you talk with the dr as far as the mri ? i missed where he rendered his opinion .. you were reading notes from who ? the radiologist ?
that is weird that your mri is clear and your daughters is not .. i would be concerned about my daughter and her future , really ... and just get my symptoms treated as they come ..
anyway, you say you learned your lesson, i for one am not knowledgable about reading mri's, but i am surprised the dr did not give you any information ..
y'know, not to be mean or anything, but are you looking to have ms ? and why ? it is an awfully unpredictable disease ..
have you had blood work for it, spinal tap , and/or mri from the cervical spine on down ?
i am scared for you both , i would never wish this on any one , not even my worst enemy ... thanks for allowing me to express , but again, i am new and just don't understand what you are doing ?:(
that is weird that your mri is clear and your daughters is not .. i would be concerned about my daughter and her future , really ... and just get my symptoms treated as they come ..
anyway, you say you learned your lesson, i for one am not knowledgable about reading mri's, but i am surprised the dr did not give you any information ..
y'know, not to be mean or anything, but are you looking to have ms ? and why ? it is an awfully unpredictable disease ..
have you had blood work for it, spinal tap , and/or mri from the cervical spine on down ?
i am scared for you both , i would never wish this on any one , not even my worst enemy ... thanks for allowing me to express , but again, i am new and just don't understand what you are doing ?:(
Snoopy61
01-08-2008, 12:01 PM
Hi Annie.
Migraines do cause lesions.
Hopefully someone will be able to help you on your other question.
Migraines do cause lesions.
Hopefully someone will be able to help you on your other question.
MSNik
01-08-2008, 02:14 PM
Annie, doesnt sound remotely like MS. Migranes, as Snoopy said, DO cause lesions and a Neuro will be able to interpret whether they are Migrane related lesions or from something else. A bad bump on the head, a car accident - all of those things cause Lesions, too. Remember, Lesions are simply scar tissue.
ITs the placement, size and where they are located which point towards MS.
In this case, nothing points towards MS.
Im glad you learned your lesson. I wont lecture you. I realize youve got some time until you see the doctor and hear what he has to say and its really hard NOT to read these things...but I learned the same way you are learning, if you open the films and look at them, or if you read the report, ALL IT DOES IS UPSET YOU AND CONFUSE YOU!;) Lesson learned.
In the meantime, can you take her Films or report to someone like a GP who is closer? Is there any doctor whom you truly trust to give you his or her impression? Thats just a "thought" (and remember, its an MS thought)- truthfully, it sounds like your daughter is suffering from nothing more severe then bad migranes and I wouldnt be surprised if Migrane meds are in her future...
Try NOT to stress. THeres nothing in there which is bad and nothing you can do about it anyway, Relax.
hugs
Nikki
ITs the placement, size and where they are located which point towards MS.
In this case, nothing points towards MS.
Im glad you learned your lesson. I wont lecture you. I realize youve got some time until you see the doctor and hear what he has to say and its really hard NOT to read these things...but I learned the same way you are learning, if you open the films and look at them, or if you read the report, ALL IT DOES IS UPSET YOU AND CONFUSE YOU!;) Lesson learned.
In the meantime, can you take her Films or report to someone like a GP who is closer? Is there any doctor whom you truly trust to give you his or her impression? Thats just a "thought" (and remember, its an MS thought)- truthfully, it sounds like your daughter is suffering from nothing more severe then bad migranes and I wouldnt be surprised if Migrane meds are in her future...
Try NOT to stress. THeres nothing in there which is bad and nothing you can do about it anyway, Relax.
hugs
Nikki
anniebooboo
01-08-2008, 06:24 PM
Nikki and Snoopy, thanks for your info. Glad to hear that lesions can be present and it may not be a problem at all. Cyprian - did not appreciate your comment about me "wanting to have MS". What kind of crap are you spinning here? From all the people in Limboland, searching for answers, that is simply an inconsiderate and inflammatory remark. You need to apologise.
Annie
Annie
MSNik
01-08-2008, 07:04 PM
Cyprian, You had written "have you had blood work for it, spinal tap , and/or mri from the cervical spine on down ?"
Just so you know, there is no blood work for MS. Nothing can be found by bloodwork other than ruling out B12 deficiencies and other issues such as Anemia. Nothing to do with MS will show in blood work. They do blood work once you have MS if you are taking disease modifying drugs, as they can affect your liver, cholesterol, white blood count and a few other functions.
Also, in general they dont do MRIs from the Cspine down. They do it from the Cspine UP...meaning the brain. It is possible to have thoracic MS, and it is possible that a doctor NOT finding lesions in the brain or Cspine, might order Thoracic Cspine, but its not the norm in testing for MS.
Spinal taps are used to also rule out brain infection, Meningitis and if all else fails and no lesions present themselves, to check for Obands in the central spinal fluid...the spinal tap is not a definate for MS either, however, it does rule out many other diseases, which is NECESSARY to diagnos MS when NO lesions are apparent.
Just thought you might want to know. Your post in this thread wasnt quite accurate as far as testing goes.
Just so you know, there is no blood work for MS. Nothing can be found by bloodwork other than ruling out B12 deficiencies and other issues such as Anemia. Nothing to do with MS will show in blood work. They do blood work once you have MS if you are taking disease modifying drugs, as they can affect your liver, cholesterol, white blood count and a few other functions.
Also, in general they dont do MRIs from the Cspine down. They do it from the Cspine UP...meaning the brain. It is possible to have thoracic MS, and it is possible that a doctor NOT finding lesions in the brain or Cspine, might order Thoracic Cspine, but its not the norm in testing for MS.
Spinal taps are used to also rule out brain infection, Meningitis and if all else fails and no lesions present themselves, to check for Obands in the central spinal fluid...the spinal tap is not a definate for MS either, however, it does rule out many other diseases, which is NECESSARY to diagnos MS when NO lesions are apparent.
Just thought you might want to know. Your post in this thread wasnt quite accurate as far as testing goes.
cyprian1
01-08-2008, 11:27 PM
i am sorry if i was not understanding the post .. i believe they did blood testing for t cells or something .. and i know that tests are done to rule out stuff .. i do not understand why you are too upset, my skills are not the best .. a pm may have been nice if i posted something truly offensive i apologize .. i say things as slowly and simply as i can .. and i believe i said i mean no harm, and that is simply my expression , and i may have asked it differently but i cannot think how .. this is why i don't write .. people don't understand me ..
kerri5
01-09-2008, 01:08 AM
Items can show up on an MRI and may or may not be associated with MS, these are called ditzels.
You may or may not find out a diagnosis of MS, the disease is elusive. There are tests that "play" on the percentages of whether or not you are likely to have or not have MS, such as particular proteins in the spinal fluid. There is no one single and definitive way to diagnose MS (but as was stated before, tests to rule everything else out happens in the process because MS can mimick many other things)- it is a combination of many things that only your doctor, and hopefully a neurologist with an MS specialty can conclude. The MRI is the best tool as of now to actually see MS, but it will take a series of these over time to see changes, regardless of symptoms being present or not, in combination with other factors to come to a conclusion.
After meeting with the Dr., get other opinions and look for an MS specialist neurologist, imo.
You may or may not find out a diagnosis of MS, the disease is elusive. There are tests that "play" on the percentages of whether or not you are likely to have or not have MS, such as particular proteins in the spinal fluid. There is no one single and definitive way to diagnose MS (but as was stated before, tests to rule everything else out happens in the process because MS can mimick many other things)- it is a combination of many things that only your doctor, and hopefully a neurologist with an MS specialty can conclude. The MRI is the best tool as of now to actually see MS, but it will take a series of these over time to see changes, regardless of symptoms being present or not, in combination with other factors to come to a conclusion.
After meeting with the Dr., get other opinions and look for an MS specialist neurologist, imo.