Been in treatment about 8 months for Lyme and have Bart. First MRI showed some small lesions and a duck Neuro DX'd me with MS. Then went to LLMD who told me it was Lyme, which I knew I had. Just had follow up MRI and saw my LLMD who said he thought they looked a bit better. Then got the MRI report from the MRI Doc and he says that there is no change and MS as possible Dianosis. I had asked the lab doc if he had anybody ever had an MRI with Lyme and he said "no". Little does he know. But anyone have any thoughts on my new MRI results. What does it mean if there has been no change? Thank you
[ 10. January 2007, 12:23 AM: Message edited by: lalyme ]
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
Hey LALyme*)!*)!!
I would assume it means No Change to white matter lesions or whatnot!!! But you have not been in treatment very long!! Everyone diagnosed MS locally haS taken longer than 8 months to get better- everyone diagnosed MS has also been put on IV!!! Locally I mean- have you been on IV>? I should remember but I forget!!! Best wishes, Sarah
Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :
quote:Originally posted by lalyme: I had asked the lab doc if he had anybody ever had an MRI with Lyme and he said "no". Little does he know.
That tells you a lot right there.
That's kind of funny because my radiologist said he normally wouldn't even remark on differential diagnoses when interpreting an MRI. However, he had just been to a radiology seminar where lyme presentation was discussed, and my brain MRI was really quite like the ones he had seen.
So I guess it was my good luck he had just gone to a seminar.
In talking to him later (after testing highly positive for lyme), he said he would certainly be more on the lookout for such presentations as he previously didn't know there was any lyme in our area. Thanks to our idiot neurologist ducks.
With MS, lesions usually come and go, sometimes in short order.
With lyme, they may not go. But they might. The figure is around 50%.
I think the fact that they're still there - combined with of course your tests and symptoms - leads me to believe they are lyme lesions, not MS lesions.
My lesions have not improved (11 of them) or changed, per a repeat MRI. However, many other things have improved with treatment! And on the bright side, I haven't gotten any new ones. This increases my confidence level greatly that I don't have MS (original duck DX). And I think it should increase yours too.
Hugs,
Michelle
Posted by imanurse (Member # 7022) on :
I think that it is very reassuring that there are no new lesions or that the lesions are not larger. Stable is a good thing!!
It is my understanding from a neurologist who specializes in MS that MS will show progression of lesions and worsening of condition over time.
They should not have diagnosed you with MS with a few small lesions. He didn't understand the real MS diagnostic criteria.
Posted by lalyme (Member # 8964) on :
Thank you all sooooooo much. As usual, I am so touched by everyone's caring on this site.
California- I have not been on I.V because my LLMD wants to do everything he can to treat me without it and if it doesn't work, then I.V P.S I almost went to the support group in Aptos, but decided to head to L.A cause I was exhausted that day. So, I'll meet you someday:) Right now, I still have muscle twitching and ear ringing and he said we will introduce Omnicef into the plan, which is now 400 doxy and Rifampin for Bart.
Posted by D Bergy (Member # 9984) on :
I am curious if your MRI caused you any Herx reaction.
It has been reported by some Lyme patients that an MRI has caused this. The MRI can in some cases, accidentally hit frequencies that the Lyme spirochete is vulnerable to much like a Rife device.