Dear Friend,

I am sorry that you are experiencing a new flare with possible brain stem lesions. My brain stem lesions have given me my biggest issues. Some of my brain stem lesions continued to enhance, with contrast om MRI, for more than one year. It was very unusual and very concerning for my neuros.

My brain stem lesions were located on my pons and my medulla. They have caused several autonomic dysfunctions including increased heart rate, poor temperature regulation, feeling very short of breath with no cause (respiratory centers are located here), and arrhythmias. My biggest problem was difficulty in swallowing that took over a year to improve and the loss of my gag reflex (has not returned).

I hope that your lesions are not in the brain stem and that your neuro can identify the lesion locations for you based on your recent MRI. I know that lesion location does not always correlate to symptoms but my neuros were dead on when my symptoms presented. They knew the MRI was going to show brain stem lesion and they were right. Hope you feel better soon.