Hi again. I hope evryone is doing well today.

I just need to vent a little and hope that's okay. My neuro's office called to give me my latest MRI results on Tuesday. For the first time ever, the nurse called instead of the neuro himself, which I thought odd but simply assumed he was busy. She said that there were no changes which is great news!

But...my neuro still wants me to do another brain scan in November. What? That makes no sense to me whatsoever! If there were no changes then why do it again in just seven weeks? I was getting angry with her explaining that it costs ME every time and I find it ridiculous to do it so soon if there was nothing new seen on the last scans. All she said was that he (the neuro) was pretty insistent that I do the scan in November and keep the appointment to see him afterwards. And why go over them in his office when we usually do it over the phone?

He's now on vacation for two weeks and I can't talk to him until he gets back. But I will NOT do this scan in November unless he gives me a valid reason why he feels I should. Why would he do it so soon? Is there something he's not telling me? Did he just not want to deal with it before his precious vacation? Ugh...

Has anyone had MRI's so close together before like that?

Allright, I feel a little better getting it of my chest to people who I know will understand. Thanks for listening.

Hi daphne,

I haven't heard of MRIs done so close together in time, but I can imagine that sometimes it happens.

Maybe the doctor wants to try a different MRI technique. For instance, was the MRI you just had with the gadolinium dye? If not, the doctor may want to do one with it because there is a more accurate picture.

Since you're "probable" MS, maybe the doctor wants to clinch the diagnosis because then you can start one of the injectable drugs (Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone, or Rebif).

There is a lot of evidence that the sooner you start on one of them after the diagnosis, the better it works.

It sounds as if all you can do for two weeks is try to forget about this, then get to the doctor by phone as soon as he's back at the office.

He's probably the only person who can tell you the exact reasons why he's doing another MRI so soon.

Sorry I can't be more helpful!

I've had MS for so many years that I just refuse MRI's. I can't see any point in counting lesions and wasting medical dollars. MRI's won't change my treatment plan etc.

I'll only consent to an MRI if I'm having a really big exacerbation or change in my symptoms and want to make sure I still only have MS. Betty

What Bafriend said, exactly.

I'm so sorry, Daphne. Neuros can be so dumb sometimes. I wouldn't do anything, until you talk with the Doc. He was probably shoving all his last minute duties off on his assist/nurse, before his vacation. She probably didn't know any more than you do.

Relax, with a nce glass of wine or a hot chocolate and rest, until he gets back....and call me in the morning.

Maybe they are checking a different area? I had one before dx that didn't include an area of my spine. I had to go back and do it again. They added enhancement the second time. MRI's are such a pain.

Enhancement shows active lesions and older ones that can establish different periods of activity which can help with dx. Hope that helps.
Take care,
Jean

When I was first dx'd I had MRIs a month apart, just as a way of confirming the dx. (I was admitted to the hospital on 3-31-00; had all sorts of tests including MRIs that night; got the the dx on 4-1-00; and then had another set of MRIs a month later, which showed new and different lesions, clinching the dx.)

The neuro wanted me to have my second set of MRIs on a better machine at a higher quality facility. I don't know if that's a factor for you. The hard thing is that, as others have pointed out, there could be so many factors that you really can't know what the issue is.

One of the skills you acquire along with a neurological problem is the ability to wait . . . and wait . . . and wait . . . and live with unanswered questions and issues that actually can't be answered exactly.

You've gotten great advice. As others have said, just try to relax for now, and when you have the chance, ask the neuro personally exactly *why* you should do another set of MRIs, and explain that the cost is a major issue for you.

Good luck! :-)

Wait...wait...and wait...I'm used to that. We're talking three years worth of waiting with symptoms.

I had a MRI of brain, c-spine, and thoracic done in May. This was the first scan to show lesions on my brain moving me up to 'probable'. That's when he scheduled the scan to be done in November to watch for changes, thus leading to a diagnosis.

In the meantime, he said call if I go in a flare. So I did and that's why I had this last set of scans done. It was all three areas again, all with and without contrast.

You all made excellent points. It's all just so confusing because I had all three areas done, and every time with the dye. And I do personally agree that he was pushing things off on his nurse so he could get out of dodge.

I will definetly be calling him when he returns. I dislike that darn tube very much and need it explained to me. If I already had a firm diagnosis I would not be doing any of these!

You would think that having no lesions to showing several, along with my classical symptoms and failed neuro exams, would show enough 'change' to warrant treatment. Ugh...darn this criteria!

Thanks so much for the kind replies. I'm gonna go have that glass of wine with maybe a box of chocolates!

Serial MRI's (3-4 over the course of a year) put together with symptoms, history and physical exam are what is often needed to get the diagnosis. I think if you still do not know for sure, it's important to follow through to get the answers you need.

If your insurance does not cover the MRI's, the Multiple Sclerosis Associan of America has a funded program to provide for free MRIs to those for whom the cost is prohibative. Theri web address is www.msaa.com and you can find info there about this program. Hope it helps take the financial load off and get you some answers.