Hi, I have been in limbo for five years now. I started getting symptoms around March of 2010 (tingling, electrical sensations, pain everywhere). I had my first MRI (positive for 4-5 T2 white matter lesions) in July of 2010, and was referred to a local neurologist who ordered a C-spine MRI (negative for lesions) and did not suspect MS, but couldn't rule it out. I also had a LP in July of 2010, which caused issues with my vision and chronic dizziness. My vision has been off ever since (blurriness with panning while watching TV and fast moving objects intensifying dizziness).
I waited about 6 months to finally schedule an appointment with an MS specialist, because I was having symptoms again, along with a new strange sensation in the middle of my chest and extreme dizziness. He ordered another MRI of my brain (January 2011), which showed no changes. He ordered another MRI of my brain and C-spine in August 2011, and that showed no changes. I had another MRI of my brain and C-spine in January of 2012 which showed no changes. The MS specialist was doubtful that it was MS at that point, instead pointing towards my migraines as the probable cause of my white matter lesions and neck muscle tightness/spine straightening as the cause of my pain/numbness/tingling/other symptoms.
I was supposed to get another MRI of just my brain in January of 2013, in which the MS specialist said he would rule out MS if there were no new lesions, I kept pushing off scheduling it until recently and had my latest MRI yesterday. (I denied the contrast dye, which I know is important, but I am weary about it, due to the new studies demonstrating that gadolinium is not completely eliminated, even in patients with healthy kidneys. I'll wait for the FDA to investigate it further before getting another MRI with contrast). I do not see my MS specialist for 3 weeks, but the diagnostic radiologist wrote this:
MRI BRAIN WO CONTRAST
HISTORY: Multiple sclerosis. Routine follow-up
TECHNIQUE: Brain MRI with demyelinating disease protocol without
contrast. The patient declined gadolinium contrast.
COMPARISON: 1/30/12
BRAIN RESULT:
Findings: There are multiple foci of hyperintensity on spin density, T2
and FLAIR within the white matter, compatible with the clinical diagnosis
of multiple sclerosis.
New T2 Lesions: None
Interval Improvement: None.
New Enhancing Lesions: Not applicable.
T2 Burden of Disease: Mild.
Parenchymal Volume Loss: Mild.
Other Significant Findings: None.
Impression
IMPRESSION:
Multiple intracranial white matter lesions compatible with multiple
sclerosis. No new T2 lesions. Mild parenchymal volume loss.
Other significant findings: None.
It seems as if she is diagnosing/assuming MS, while there are no new lesions? Any comments/suggestions would be appreciated. I tried to get into see my MS specialist sooner, but he is booked.
I waited about 6 months to finally schedule an appointment with an MS specialist, because I was having symptoms again, along with a new strange sensation in the middle of my chest and extreme dizziness. He ordered another MRI of my brain (January 2011), which showed no changes. He ordered another MRI of my brain and C-spine in August 2011, and that showed no changes. I had another MRI of my brain and C-spine in January of 2012 which showed no changes. The MS specialist was doubtful that it was MS at that point, instead pointing towards my migraines as the probable cause of my white matter lesions and neck muscle tightness/spine straightening as the cause of my pain/numbness/tingling/other symptoms.
I was supposed to get another MRI of just my brain in January of 2013, in which the MS specialist said he would rule out MS if there were no new lesions, I kept pushing off scheduling it until recently and had my latest MRI yesterday. (I denied the contrast dye, which I know is important, but I am weary about it, due to the new studies demonstrating that gadolinium is not completely eliminated, even in patients with healthy kidneys. I'll wait for the FDA to investigate it further before getting another MRI with contrast). I do not see my MS specialist for 3 weeks, but the diagnostic radiologist wrote this:
MRI BRAIN WO CONTRAST
HISTORY: Multiple sclerosis. Routine follow-up
TECHNIQUE: Brain MRI with demyelinating disease protocol without
contrast. The patient declined gadolinium contrast.
COMPARISON: 1/30/12
BRAIN RESULT:
Findings: There are multiple foci of hyperintensity on spin density, T2
and FLAIR within the white matter, compatible with the clinical diagnosis
of multiple sclerosis.
New T2 Lesions: None
Interval Improvement: None.
New Enhancing Lesions: Not applicable.
T2 Burden of Disease: Mild.
Parenchymal Volume Loss: Mild.
Other Significant Findings: None.
Impression
IMPRESSION:
Multiple intracranial white matter lesions compatible with multiple
sclerosis. No new T2 lesions. Mild parenchymal volume loss.
Other significant findings: None.
It seems as if she is diagnosing/assuming MS, while there are no new lesions? Any comments/suggestions would be appreciated. I tried to get into see my MS specialist sooner, but he is booked.
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