I'm just wondering who here as had an MRI of the brain done and for what reasons?
When I went to a duck and before I was diagnosed I had one done because I was having headaches, trouble with balance, and I was stumbling a lot.
I guess I'm just curious as to who else has had one done and why?
Posted by Cobweb (Member # 10053) on :
I've had a couple of MRI's done-for the same reasons sort of.
Mine were done specifically to look for lyme lesions though. No lesions seen, but later Spect Scan was consistent with lyme brain.
When , or if, you do have a brain MRI I will be glad to tell you of my experience. Take Care, Carol
Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
quote:Originally posted by Cobweb: When , or if, you do have a brain MRI I will be glad to tell you of my experience. Take Care, Carol
Thanks!
I've actually had it done already. My duck wanted to check for a tumor since I was stumbling and such. It, of course, came back fine. I'm just curious as to everyone else who has had one as well.
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
I had a brain MRI when I had motor tics to make sure there wasn't a reason besides Lyme causing them. I had 2 or 3 "tiny" lesions.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
yes, i had one; and my experience! quite an ordeal for me!!
my PCP had me do one to look for MS lesions. nada. my brain SPECT came back with very different results.
dilly
Posted by LocalMan (Member # 11648) on :
Brain MRI with dye about 6 weeks ago to check for possible tumors or MS lesions. Came back negative.
I have had fairly severare neuro symptoms for about 3 months now, Neurontin helps but does not eliminate. Just finishing my first month of Zithromax antibio after IgM WB showed +/- and Babesia FISH showed positive.
I've also had MRIs done on neck and back in last several months showing herniated discs. I believe Lyme is responsible for these, as well as the severe shoulder pain I am currently experiencing.
Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :
What portion of TBI patients actually get brain lesions? I had an MRI
done in June on which no abnormlities showed up...
given that I feel that my neuro symptoms are actually a
little less severe now, should I put my mind at ease about this
subjct for the time being?
Posted by cactus (Member # 7347) on :
I had four or five done years before being diagnosed, because of MS like symptoms (read: Lyme symptoms). The ones you named in addition to many more including numbness/tingling in extremities, fatigue, overall unwell feeling, migraines, you name it.
Found brain lesions which landed me with an MS diagnosis.
We now know it was Lyme.
Posted by improver (Member # 8380) on :
I've had 2 brain mri's in the last 2 years. They were due to headaches, ballance, ringing in ears etc. Both negative.
Posted by cjnelson (Member # 12928) on :
LOL! I have had 4 brain MRI's! Looking for MS brain tumors etc. for the same reasons you stated
Posted by LocalMan (Member # 11648) on :
To those of you with SPECT scans: Did the scan change your diagnosis or treatment? Or was it just another piece of clinical puzzle?
Posted by AP (Member # 8430) on :
I've had quite a few MRIs and 1 SPECT scan. The first MRI was done as a result of my combined Lyme/Lyme Meningitis and Encephalitis diagnosis. The following have all been follow-ups to track the damage. - Neurologists used the first MRI to confirm the positive Lyme titer.
I still don't know why we did a SPECT scan, it's report read exactly the same as the MRI...
Posted by CD57 (Member # 11749) on :
This is a timely thread -- I didn't know that Lyme/co's cause lesions of their own. Do we know this for sure?
I went to a neurologist today who told me that he wouldn't be able to tell the difference between Lyme and MS on an MRI, and that he doubted there were many who would. He also said that typically in MS, there are lesions on the spine as well as the brain. How do you find a neurologist who can tell the difference?
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
CD57, run as fast as you can away from that neurologist. Neuros are notoriously not Lyme literate!
Stick with a LLMD! If you don't have one, find one ASAP! Go to Seeking A Doctor Forum.
Posted by Kevin Hamblin (Member # 12019) on :
I had one negative MRI.
But I had a PET Scan show consistant with MODERATELY SEVERE ALZHEIMER'S. That confused the hell out of all my Ducks. Everyone said it was all in my head. They were right!!!
Apparently that is a common finding in Lyme patients. I hope so. Early onset Alzheimer's has a bleek future.
It turns out 70% of Alzheimer's is Lyme According to an Alzheimer's specialist in New York. He wasn't looking for Lyme either. He just kept finding it.
Brain Fog baby!!!! Did I really type all this? Is this happening? Are u all real? Who am I?
Gotta keep a sense of humor!
Posted by EyeBob (Member # 12572) on :
I had an MRI 3 months ago, about 2 months into my symptoms prior to ABX. I requested it, my PCP agreed given my severe HA and fog at the time. Mine too was negative, but I was on pins and needles awaiting the results. I didn't want to hear MS or ALS. I've never had a SPECT but because of my constant brain fog, I am beginning to think about getting one. It'll only confirm the diagnosis so, on second thought, I don't think that I'll ask for one.
BT
Posted by Julz (Member # 12678) on :
I've had several MRI's because all of a sudden I had "seizure" activity...so the neuro insisted on an MRI...which of course was negative...showed absolutely nothing abnormal...I had already had my first SPECT Scan which confirmed Lyme Brain. I then had a few more seizures, and more MRI's still completely normal, and another SPECT which was worst than the first. ANyone else ever start having seizures after being on treatment for a while???
Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :
I had an MRI before lyme diagnosis because of excruciating headaches.
It found 11 lesions, some to 5mm, mainly frontal lobe. It attributed these to MS, lyme, or vasculitis, or even just severe migraine headaches.
The radiologist opined privately that it didn't seem like MS as it typically presented in different areas of the brain. He also placed migraine-caused lesions low on his suspicion list since those were almost always very small lesions.
It turned out he was a very fine diagnostician for a radiologist!
This was my first clue I might have lyme. (Though to my neuro, it was the first clue I had MS.)
Subsequent tests were highly CDC positive for lyme. Not to mention babesia WA-1.
I did a new MRI after a year of aggressive treatment failed to resolve the headaches.
The second MRI was unchanged, unfortunately. But at least there were no additional lesions!!
Michelle
Posted by tory2457 (Member # 10384) on :
I've had many MRI's over the years along with a CT scan for head pain!
I was diagnosed with MS years ago; I do have lesions in both my brain and spinal cord.
I'm now in Lyme treatment and my lesions are lightening, and I'm feeling better!
I agree, find a LLMD.
best to you, tory
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
one of you asked what lyme mri's look like compared to MS or regular.
look in treepatrol's archive in medical....newbie's links.
i had posted a link there about brain mri's ... had something to do about HARVARD showing actual mri scans! good luck finding. Posted by Boomerang (Member # 7979) on :
Hubby had nuclear brainscan done two years ago...checking for possible stroke/MS due to his cognitive problems.
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
Had an MRI of the brain with contrast 3 or 4 years ago before I started tx for lyme & co-infections. It was done to rule out anything else like a brain tumor.
At the height of my worst neuro symptoms, it was completely normal.
Just another way lyme can "fly under the radar" Posted by jasek (Member # 12395) on :
I just had an MRI done . my LLMD called and said we'll be going over that and my new positive western blot test from igenx. I.m expecting new and more vigorous treatment. I have had accupuncture mostly all skull concentration and it has helped my headaches tremendously althou not much else. But I grateful for that' they were debilatating.
Posted by LisaS (Member # 10581) on :
Yes, my neurologist ordered one to see if I had MS. But it came back normal.
Posted by siggy (Member # 8654) on :
I've had 4 MRI's done - first one 12yrs ago when first diagnosed with LD. The last three done last year when symptoms reappeard. This time MRI of my brain as well as my spine.
MRI shows something, but nothing conclusive, and nothing changing. One radiologist said it could be from LD, another one said he didn't know but probably congeniental (sp?).
Anyway, it hasn't been used to back up a dx of LD. Just another ?? in my case history.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)