..Well, I had the 3T MRI done on Monday. They told me to call on Wed. for results. They said the results came in so I asked the Doctor to call me to find out what was found on the MRI.
He didn't call back that day so my husband called and Told the nurse to have the Doctor call back today Thursday and that I was up spitting and choking most of the night.

The Doctor called back a couple of hours after that, and this is what he said....
The MRI picked up lesions, MS lesions, but he feels they have been there for a while. He also said the good news is none of them are in or close to my brain stem which controls the swallowing. So he dosen't know what could be causing the no swallowing. I asked him if he had his other doctors on staff to look at the MRI to see what they think and he said yes he did and they don't know either.

He said if I want I could try another Doctor because he just dosen't have an answer for me, I might have to just learn to live with it or keep going for more Doctors and more test.

I asked him if it could be a converson disorder and he said he didn't know because I definitely have neurolgy issues but he dosen't know if one of those neuro problems is causing it and not showing up on the test he has given me.

I will be seeing his nurse on Monday and for my B-12 shot, I asked him if I can have a copy of the report, he said yes.

I don't know if I should be seeing some kind of psychologist!

what a jerk! that is all I can say. Your MD so DISMISSIVE! and he should have been compassionate, and full of answers and if he didnt have the answers, he should have had a referral of someone HE wanted you to follow up with. HOW RUDE! Please RUN dont walk away from this MD. THis is NOT how you should be treated, Even if it is conversion disorder. Even folks with conversion disorder need direction, compassion and guidance.

Please find an MS center, and get signed up to see one of the MDs there. I too have choking issues, but only on occasion, and i have NO lesions in or near my brain stem. There are MANY reasons why you could have this issue. Muscle memory, weakness of the epiglottis and its inability to stay tightly shut, or a virus could have attacked the throat muscles. You need an ENT with a heart, and an MS MD with a brain.

In the past when that has happened to me the MD reccomended
Dextromethorphan HBr 10mg (cough suppressant)
Guafenisen 100mg (expectorant)
its nothing more than a shot of robotussion cough syrup. I have no idea why it works, but it did help.

Till then, please know that your MD was RUDE! and you need to find one with compassion and the ability to help you ferret out why, even if it means referrals to a new guys, not just dismissing you into a home that you choke frequently.

I wish you luck. let us know.

I sure am sorry you are having the swallowing issues. I want you to know you are Welcome here on Neuro Talk. I am not sure about that particular MRI. Somebody will be along who can identify that particular test. I hope that it can find the cause of your swallowing trouble. I do know it is horrible. I do not have that to the degree you do, but I do choke on food and pills if I am not careful. I have Barretts esophagus which I found out is the reason for it. My medications also dried up my mouth which futher hurts the ability to swallow. I couldn't take the barium test eithor, I got sick.
I hope that when you have this test, that you can relax, and just remember you can get out of the machine, and it is only for a short time. You can listen to music and the valium should help. I have a friend Named John up in Missouri, and he gets that closed in feeling too. I know open MRI's are available, but not in your particular area of the country. Perhaps your doctor allows for that possiblity. I went caving when I was young, and got that closed in feeling and had to get out. I do know that feeling. Just remember it is only for a short time, and that you are safe, and they can hear you if you need any help at all. Even with one that has contrast, or an IV, it isn't so bad if you can just relax. I have had four, and cat scans. All of them can make a person nervous. Most tests do. I don't care much for the dentist, and want to run out the door!
I really hope that this gets to the bottom of the swallowing issue. I know that not having the use of your throat is a terrible burden. We are here for you at Neuro Talk. I hope alot of others will also talk to you. You are in my prayers. ginnie

Sorry I was behind on the Post. I hope that a more compassionate doctor can be found. There is always the hope that you can find a better doctor to find out why this is happening to you. Don't settle for being told they do not know why this is happening. ginnie

Thank you Dejibo, I know in my heart and head that he isn't a good Doctor, It's just that now I'm at the point of being worn out. I will be seeking a new Neuro, as soon as I get my fighting spirit back..

Granny- do me a favor & get the cd? I'd love to SEE if it's worth the drive for a 3T machine vs my great local 1.5
I'm sure everyone here would love to see the quality bump.

I had a 3T and they saw several more lesions than on the 1.5 machine I was in. Then...they never used the 3 machine again. WTH? i mean if you are going to compare, why not continue to use the 3? made me kinda mad that now they are not seeing what they used to see and yet want to compare one to the other.

I hope granny kicks her MD to the curb.

..Well I went for my appt. yesterday to go over my MRI and fiqure out what the next step will be. Again I had to see his nurse. She acted like it was going to be just a routine check up. I told her I want to go over my MRI. She said the doctor said he did that over the phone with you. I said yes but I want to actually see the images and see where the lesions were located.

She didn't see why that was nessasary. I asked her for a copy of my C.D. MRI and the report to go with it because I feel they were not taking the time to explain what is happening to me. She looked confused and said, we feel it's a conversion disorder and theres nothing more we can do for you.
The doctor said I can try for a 3rd opinion with a new doctor in town and told me his name. I asked him what does he specialize in and guess what, he's another neuro muscular neuro.

I told him, you said that you and the other most qualified neuro muscular doctor, that you sent me to see, feel it is definitely not a neuro muscular disease. Why would you send me to see him??
His answer was Because I don't know what or where else to send you!!

So I tell the nurse what he said and she said he said that because he is trying to get other doctors opinions because he is trying to help me.

My husband and I were so upset. I told her I may or may not see her again because they have done nothing to help me. They are playing mind games with me.

She said as soon as I get home I should look up a good phychiatrist to help me deal with my swallowing problem and the conversion disorder, as she was patting me on the back leading me out the door.

So today I call my first neuro and made an appoitment for a 2nd opinion. he is the doctor that originally Dx. me with MG over 7 years ago. The only reason I had left him was because of insurance changes.

I also made an appointment with a counselor to help me deal with everything I'v been going through.

I know stress is not good for my M.S. and or my M.G. I had a bad night with painful spasms most of the night and my left leg feels so heavy today.

I can't allow myself to get so upset, I end up paying for it phyically and the people who made me so upset are just fine and dandy!

Granny, I am so sorry for your troubles. Your Doc sounds very unsure and I hate when they send in the nurse instead of facing the patient's questions themself. A transition? What the hay does that mean? Bah..

Good luck with your old Neuro. I hope he can help you. Let us know how it goes and take a deep breath, relax a little and tell Dr Dolittle, thanks for nothing.

What the doctors office said and did to you was not right. Where was their compassion? There was no excuse as to how you were treated. This isn't in your mind. You also have a right to see all your records, WITH the doctors notes any time you want. Discouraging you from doing so is wrong, flat out wrong. No patient can make decisions without adequate information. In fact the doctos notes may tell you more than what was shared with you. That is how I found out about my cervial problems, I got the notes!
I don't know that I could go back to that doctor who dismissed you. I would gather those records and head out the door to another who will be better toward you. Patting you on the back like you were a naughty child is disrespectful. I am sorry you are going through all this. I want to offer support to you, and encourage you to seek evaluations, maybe at a teaching hospital. I had a good experience with this when no other was able to find out what was wrong. I wish you all the Best GrannyJo. ginnie