Dr. said Brain MRI to R/O MS - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

FLFLOWERGIRL · 08-21-2007, 01:07 PM

To all of you that have been DX'ed or are in the process, I have questions!

I became anemic in Jan., due to this anemia I was very sick with many anemia symptoms. My blood levels went up then down so I stayed sick for 7 mo's. Now I am better with a higher Hgb.

In the beginning of this illness, I started getting a neck cramp in the late afternoon. After two days it progressed to a sick feeling in my head. I have facial numbness only slightly and tingly fellings on the left side only and sometimes my teeth hurt. They ruled out TN with MRI. I was given Xanax by my doc for anxiety from the anemia. This just happened to help this facial neck and head thing. I wonder why the Xana helps? The doc told me I was getting a tension headache. I personally don't believe that at all. Well, this has lasted for at least 5 mo's now. It comes everyday and feels like it starts in the muscle of my neck and shoulder area. A few times when I was really sick I had blurred vision and jelly legs and just overall muscle weakness. My mom kept saying get some sun so I would lay out in the sun and get really sick, still due. I am an avid gardener too, hence my screen name.

Anyway, I went to another doc an internist, he said I had symptoms of MS and ordered an MRI of my brain. Thank goodness it was a clean MRI. It was an open MRI if that really matters??

I have been reading around for information. I'm confused, I read that you cannot rule out MS with only a brain MRI and my doc told me that I don't have anything wrong with me. That is two now, I finally have a referral to my husbands Neuro next week. I put this visit off because I have seen many doctors from the anemia situation. Now I guess I am ready for another visit. Does anyone have any advice for me on what to expect? What I should be asking about or knowing?
Thanks in advance for any information. FLFLOWERGIRL

MSNik · 08-21-2007, 02:10 PM

wow. First of all, try to relax. Nothing is going to happen to you overnight and nothing is going to get worse by waiting to see another doctor, ok?

An Open MRI is not usually recommended (unless it is the ONLY way to go) for MS diagnosis. Open MRIs do not have the same capabilities to see very small legions as closed ones do- so therefore, there is still a chance that things were there, but it didnt pick them up....keep that in mind. Secondly, it is true that you cannot rule out MS by an MRI of any type. First of all, many things can show up with MS in a spinal tap...also a spinal MRI can show things which wont show up on a brain scan...an internist is NOT qualified to rule out MS, so I agree that its a good thing you are seeing a Neuro soon!

A neuro, who is familiar with MS will give you some tests in the office, balance tests, reaction time tests, nerve tests possibly. None of them hurt and they tell alot. Make sure that this Neuro you are going to has a patient load of MS patients...many Neuros do NOT see MS patients and refer them out. He might order another MRI, of the spine...he will probably order a spinal tap to rule out several infections and even LYME. Lyme cannot be ruled out by a simple blood test anymore..it must be sent to a special lab, or spinal fluid should be drawn to get a 100% positive answer on yes or no...

MS is a disease which is hard to diagnos...it is usually done, by ruling out everything else...so dont be surprised if it takes alot of tests and awhile, timewise, before you get answers....

The symptoms you were talking about with the anemia sound very much like MS symtpoms as well. Its possible that the Xanax helped because it simply relaxes your body and mind, allowing you to get a good nights sleep and also to deal with the unknown better. I take about 2 of them a week right now, just trying to deal with pain and anxiety that I have been having due to major stressors in my job, life and family....I think Xanax helps me cope... in your case, the facial neck and head thing that you questioned MIGHT be caused by stress, and the xanax is helping to control that...thats all I can think of...its not pain killer, so it has to be helping your mind- not the physical symtpoms...nothing wrong with that, as long as its helping!

Stay strong, and let us know what happens with the neuro, ok??
nikki

FLFLOWERGIRL · 08-21-2007, 09:28 PM

Nikki--Thanks so much for your wealth of information. I just wish that I had the whole spine MRI with the brain. I hated the open MRI, it was really hard to just relax. I even took a Xanax to help, and it did. I was still ready to get out. I am not looking forward to another. No way will I do a closed. I hope this doctor will accept that. I know he likes to read his own MRI's. I had a spinal tap when I was 7 and I couldn't walk for 3 days. I hope they are not like that anymore, I'm sure they do something different by now?

I'm not sure this Neuro is well versed in MS. I will have to call ahead and find out. I was only going to him because my PCP said I need to go to one and we know this doc already.

I went to a Rhumey to rule out Lupus and any other autoimmune diseases. I do have Hashimotos thyroiditis (an autoimmune disease) which puts me at risk of developing another. As for the Lyme this doc just asked if I have been bitten by a tick. I said yes when I was very young, he said no. He said that the problem is after running 3 pages of test that took 3 1/2 wks, we just don't know what is wrong with you. You don't have anything that I do. What all do they rule out first?

The symptoms that I stated were not anemia THEY ARE my problem. I had to wait 7 mo's for all anemia symptoms to go away to know that it was not anemia. The Hematologist said they are not related.

I also thought that the Xanax was acting as a muscle relaxer. I don't know it's properties, I just know it takes most of the pain away. And I really don't feel stressed like I was, that is why this is so weird to me. Thanks for answering and for all your good information. I will post the results of my neuro apt. next week. FLFLOWERGIRL

jalo123 · 08-21-2007, 10:42 PM

xanax is an anti-anxiety medicine, and it does relax you, thus it will relax the tension you feel in your neck and shoulders.....

Good luck with your dr. visits
Janet

Hope4All · 08-22-2007, 05:50 AM

If you don't have it already ask for the CD of your MRI and the report.

My dr says my MRI is normal then when I read the report I found that I have 3 lesions and white matter disease. He said everyone has this and its normal....in my gut I know this is totally wrong!

After asking him about the report he finally said "there is something wrong with you I just don't know what"

I'm going to make an appt with an MS specialist. I will be more willing to believe him over this previous Neuro. This guy is was not good for me, further more I found out he charged my insurance co for a huge amount and said he spent 60min with me on the first visit, that is totally wrong........IF he's lucky it was at most 15min!!!!!!

Ask for a copy of your cd and report, this way when you seek a second opinion you will have everything in hand for your visit.

Just my advice to you

Hope