posted
I had an MRI cuz my neurologist suspected MS. NO lesions. Do all people with Lyme have lesions on an MRI??? I almost WANTED to have one or two...to help confirm my Lyme case. Hmmm...oh well.
Posts: 56 | From bayarea | Registered: Nov 2006
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posted
I had no lesions on my brain as my doc first suspected MS. Having no lesions is a GOOD THING! You don't have any damage. Igenex test will confirm your Lyme diagnosis. Don't worry about needing more confirmation.
-------------------- 26 months of treatment. And counting....... Posts: 298 | From Northeast Kansas | Registered: Oct 2006
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thank u! i thought lesions were a staple 4 lyme. i should be happy u r rught. thx
Posts: 56 | From bayarea | Registered: Nov 2006
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ya...i feel like i have thyroid probs 2 but ts=ests r fine... example heat intolerance inability 2 sweat anxiety
Posts: 56 | From bayarea | Registered: Nov 2006
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posted
i had 2 mri w/lots of lesions, most definitely a damage indicator. I agree, way better to have none, there are many other symptons to have and be worried about. I also had 2 spinals, 1 band in one sample, ms indicator, and evoked potential, delay in right optic nerve. I went to the chrio. last mon. and my headaches are gone! Meet my llmd this sat. yeah! Finished iv 28 days and feel GOOD.
Posts: 9 | From martha's vineyard. ma | Registered: Nov 2006
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posted
Most with lyme don't have brain lesions If you had lesions, the doctors would likely diagnosis you with MS and not lyme
Posts: 628 | From the south | Registered: Dec 2005
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I had NO lesions, and wicked wicked MS symptoms. Also intense dizzyness and severe nervous system problems.
I didnt have MS... I had lyme... but it took a lot of tests to scratch the almost MS diagnosis.
Posts: 48 | From Toms River New Jersey | Registered: Apr 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Moosie: What is "hyperfusion" . . poorhouse?
I hope I can explain it properly.
According to my doc...it means the lyme disease has stopped blood flow to certain parts of my brain.
I am forgetting names and words and it causes pain indicators to flare up. And it's hard for me to deal with more than one task at a time.
It's why it's always something with me. Like when I'm so tired I can't keep my eyes open and almost drop on the spot. I forget things even if they are on a list I made the day before, no energy even if I try and noises, like music or talking I hear even when things are quiet.
I'm a mess. It explains, according to the doc, why I can't follow directions and get lost a lot if I'm driving in familiar places.
Lots of other things, but it's a kind of brain damage due to loss of blood flow to certain areas of my brain.
While I was happy the test proved something was wrong, it scares me to think my brain is damaged.
I'm still working full-time, but I'm not the person I used to be. I'm good at faking it still but it takes all of my concentration to even do simple tasks.
I pray most of you don't have this. I can take the physical pain and have learned to just deal with it moment to moment.....it's the brain stuff that really scares me. Posts: 867 | From PA | Registered: Jan 2006
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Jade u and I are in the same boat then i guess. I have major symptoms. Thx for your reply....it feels better cuz i was thinking it meant i didnt have lyme.
Posts: 56 | From bayarea | Registered: Nov 2006
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shazdancer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1436
posted
Close, poorhouse. What you're describing is called hypoperfusion, decreased blood flow in the brain.
Posts: 1558 | From the Berkshires | Registered: Jul 2001
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I have read that about 50% of Lyme patients with severe neuro symptoms have brain lesions. I think I have also read that about 50% of people with lesions have improvement in the number or size of lesions after treatment.
The author Amy Tan had something like 20 lesions I think and docs were trying to tell her that was normal for her age. Hubby who is very close to her age I think (he is 51) started with 2 lesions before Lyme -- increased to 5 lesions and has now decreased to 4 lesions we think.
A SPECT scan is supposed to be more sensitive than an MRI -- will show problems before they develop into lesions. It is my understanding that in many cases the hypoperfusion simply means decreased blood flow (usually as a result of infection -- vasculitis) and that this does not necessarily indicate permanent brain damage.
Some of you may have heard of the term hypercoagulation -- this is very similar to hypoperfusion in that it indicates problems with blood flow. This is due to bacteria which hide in the bloodstream causing increased fibrinigen. The test often used is called an ISAC panel and stands for Immune System Activation of Clotting. Babesia also causes bloodflow problems.
CoQ10 and Resveratrol should help with decreasing free radical damage in the brain. Treatment with heparin or systemic enzymes or other methods of thinning the blood may help with symptoms such as headaches and can help antibiotics penetrate and work better as well.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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I had asked, because when I had an MRI done a little over a year ago, I did not have any lesions. But I did have an "area of hyperactivity" whatever that may be, and since your term included "hyper" I just wondered. The pain doc I was seeing that "hyper" area was probably due to the hypervigilence stuff that supposedly goes on in fibro and chronic pain which is as far as I've gotten on getting any kind of diagnosis. I guess I have a part of my brain that is constantly monitoring pain. . .
confuses me just trying to remember how it was explained away as not being significant and my MRI being considered normal.
Anyway, thanks for the information. Moosie
-------------------- Trying to figure it all out. Posts: 38 | From Spanaway, WA | Registered: Sep 2006
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posted
Brain lesions is not the technical term used on radiology reports -- the reports might say something like "hyperintense focus" or "bright white spot".
Moosie -- It sounds like your MRI did find a lesion.
Lesions can be caused by many things -- MS, Lyme, celiac disease, migraines, etc. Often the radiology report will say it is abnormal if more than one lesion is found, but the actual neurologist will report that MRI is normal if they have no explanation for the lesions -- at least half of the 13 neuros hubby saw reported his MRI's as normal.
Had a phone consult with hubby's LLMD today. He says that he has only ever had one Lyme patient who had a normal SPECT scan. Hubby has not had this test done. LLMD did not think it was needed unless we needed it for insurance or to convince someone hubby was sick (like disability).
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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i have had two MRIs with the second one having more than the first 32 + in number of lesions ( or hyperdense spots) I hope they go away Even though i was crazy before lymes I miss my brain i can hope and pray for all of us !! mags
Posts: 259 | From California | Registered: Mar 2006
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posted
Resveratrol is an antioxidant -- usually from grape seeds or Japanese Knotweed plant. The Healing Lyme book suggests the Japanese Knotweed source. This is the brand the book suggests and what hubby takes.
Resveratrol is supposed to keep the serotonin in your brain from taking an alternative pathway which causes production of quinolinic acid (a potent neurotoxin). This happens when you have inflammation in your brain.
Do think this works. Hubby did have elevated quinolinic acid on one test and has lots of problems with SSRI's. He can take 5HTP (natural amino acid which increases serotonin) to help with sleep if he also takes Resveratrol.
Would also suggest Phosphatidylcholine to help with brain and liver/gallbladder function. The brand hubby uses is sold here (BodyBio PC). Hubby says the liquid tastes like burnt motor oil.
IV phosphtidylcholine (the P.K. protocol) is what I think made the one lesion disappear. Also the MRI no longer mentions brain atrophy (brain shrinkage).
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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thanks for the information i will look in to this so that my brain can function. sometimes it is a fight to keep on track with reality. one moment i am okay and the next second - i feel like i am a totally different person with out mental balance very frightening thank you !!!
mags
Posts: 259 | From California | Registered: Mar 2006
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