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Topic: MRI Results? (Read 373 times) |
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t_h_b
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MRI Results?
« on: Jan 31st, 2004, 5:30pm » |
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Did any ClusterHead ever have an MRI that showed anything important or that affected treatment or is it just a c.y.a. thing for neurologists?
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No, it's not a headache--it's a Stage Ten Primary Chronic Periodic Idiopathic Trigeminovascular Cephalalgic Crisis.
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brad267
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Re: MRI Results?
« Reply #1 on: Jan 31st, 2004, 5:46pm » |
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It's definately a CYA thing. Normal MRI here, although if you met me, you'd doubt that diagnosis.... Born without a soft spot, needed surgery, very lumpy head... 
-Brad
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Kevin_M
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Re: MRI Results?
« Reply #2 on: Jan 31st, 2004, 6:59pm » |
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Actually very funny.
Yesterday I had a brain c t scan. I can't wait for them to send it to my doctor and have it to be found to have "nothing unusual".
Yes, it is required for most entries into a headache institute. My thoughts are so that they can take a look to see if there is anything physical which they can see so they have no liability for having not diagnosed an obvious problem which may have appeared. But for cluster headaches, mine have come back basically irrelevant. The one I took yesterday, I am going to ask for a complete interpretation and see if they spend more than ten seconds explaining anything on it.
Thanks for the honesty.
Kevin M
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Callico
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Re: MRI Results?
« Reply #3 on: Jan 31st, 2004, 10:24pm » |
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It is not just CYA for the docs. You hope they come back normally. As bad as clusters are a slow cerebral hemorhage can also give headaches, as can some tumors or aneurisms. We lost a good friend to a ruptured aneurism above the right eye two years ago. He was 21.
Jerry
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Tiannia
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Re: MRI Results?
« Reply #4 on: Feb 1st, 2004, 12:38am » |
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When mine started I had a MRI right away. Came back perfectly normal. Which is why it is funny when you get the "its all in your head comments" cause you wanna say well they already proved its not.
Tiannia
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ave
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Re: MRI Results?
« Reply #5 on: Feb 1st, 2004, 7:38am » |
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With respect, tia, but is your hypothalamus located in your left knee or something?
It IS in your head, and the enlarged hypothalamus does show up, but is not a diagnostic tool for clusters (yet).
Also, thanks Callico, for pointing out the usefulness of MRI scans.
I'll go further, any type of test that comes back negative, is useful, because it excludes conditions you maybe would not like to have, really.
My patience with the "let's knock doctors because they can't cure clusters and earn money" party, must be wearing thin today...
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Kirk
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Re: MRI Results?
« Reply #6 on: Feb 1st, 2004, 7:59am » |
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My only MRI was 12 years ago and came back normal.
An obvious case of malfunctioning equipment. Atleast thats what my family thinks.
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Giovanni
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Re: MRI Results?
« Reply #7 on: Feb 1st, 2004, 9:05am » |
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"Normal"
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magman
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Re: MRI Results?
« Reply #8 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 6:41am » |
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on Feb 1st, 2004, 7:38am, ave wrote:| "let's knock doctors because they can't cure clusters and earn money" party, |
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I would be happy if those ‘professionals’ that have failed to diagnose the Beast would simply admit it.
If they could come down off of their pedestals long enough to listen to those of us that suffer and have done the research, maybe, some would not have to suffer as long.
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fubar
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Re: MRI Results?
« Reply #9 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 10:39am » |
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It's been documented, they looked in my head and found nothing. 
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hdbngr
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Re: MRI Results?
« Reply #10 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 3:00pm » |
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Yep. They found my brain, and appearance was normal in 1997 (despite me feeling like I must have a brain tumor, nothing ordinary could hurt this bad) The annual MRI's every year since have also been normal.
Beats the alternative, but the ONLY test that ever showed anything was a thermography test where they could actually "see" the cluster attack, which was interesting.
Whatever is wrong with CH doesn't seem to show up on the average MRI scan.
V
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t_h_b
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Re: MRI Results?
« Reply #11 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 7:22pm » |
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Quote:| The annual MRI's every year since have also been normal. |
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If they are normal every year then why the heck do they keep doing them? That really sounds like a waste of your time.
Callico_kid/Jerry, sorry about your friend. Obviously there are many cases where the diagnosis is unclear or the extent of a problem needs to be investigated. I was not questioning the value of MRIs in general, just for people who clearly have CH. The signs and symptoms of CH are so unique and easy to identify IF you know what to look for. My neuro didn't seem to think one was necessary to rule anything out, but apparently it's very common to order them.
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No, it's not a headache--it's a Stage Ten Primary Chronic Periodic Idiopathic Trigeminovascular Cephalalgic Crisis.
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Lizzie2
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Re: MRI Results?
« Reply #12 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 7:32pm » |
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It's generally a rule of thumb for neurologists to order an MRI if someone presents with a new headache or a change in their current headache condition. While the MRIs generally turn up clear and normal, the docs have to make sure. I had one 3 years ago when I first got my chronic daily headache, and then I got one again when I was recently diagnosed with clusters because there was such a marked change in the nature of my headaches.
A word of caution: headache is often not the first symptom of a brain tumor or aneurysm. Some people have had aneurysms with no headache at all before it blew. A "thunderclap" headache is often the sign of an aneurysm if that is the cause. Brain tumors often have a first defining symptom of a seizure or other neurological deficit. The headache often only occurs after the tumor has progressed fairly far along in its path. I think these are reasons they often order MRIs. They have to check for things that may or may not have a symptom of a headache.
Jerry, also very sorry to hear about your friend.
Take care,
Lizzie
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BlueMeanie
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They are very important as you and your doc do not know what is causing your headaches. At least anything major can be ruled out. I know Cluster Headaches seem to be major to us that feel the pain. A brain tumor can kill you. Cluster Headaches do not.
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KarynG
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Re: MRI Results?
« Reply #14 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 7:55pm » |
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Had a cluster while I was in the machine having my MRI and MRA 7 years ago
didn't show anything abnormal according to the neuro
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If you want to be somebody else, If you're tired of fighting battles with yourself, If you want to be somebody else, Change Your Mind
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ClusterChuck
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Re: MRI Results?
« Reply #15 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 9:07pm » |
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on Feb 2nd, 2004, 7:55pm, KarynG wrote:Had a cluster while I was in the machine having my MRI and MRA 7 years ago
didn't show anything abnormal according to the neuro
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Damn, woman, are you whining, AGAIN???? Sheesh!!!
WDGCH!!!
Dern freeking wimmins!!!
Chuck
PS: Love to ya, Darling! SO happy to have met you at Deb's house! Welcome to my heart!
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KarynG
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Re: MRI Results?
« Reply #16 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 10:20pm » |
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Chuck,
STFU!!!!
Joe is on the phone with my sister trying to fix the hard drive on my desktop and they are talking about masters and slaves and things...I know we'd all be having some fun with it...
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If you want to be somebody else, If you're tired of fighting battles with yourself, If you want to be somebody else, Change Your Mind
Sister Hazel
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Thorns
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Re: MRI Results?
« Reply #17 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 10:36pm » |
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My CT came back a little scary. It was followed up by an MRI w/wo contrast that revieled a "1.4 cm rounded lesion in the region of the anterior portion of the 3rd ventricle/region of the foramen of Monro, in the midline"  (quoted from the report). Basically, the legion is characteristic for a classic colloid cyst that my neuro informed me is usually found in pre-natals and usually disappears within the first few years of brain growth and development. Apparently mine stuck around and as my neuro tells me has no significance in relation to the clusters because of its location and it was reported as having no associated hydrocephalus. Also, she said that if it were going to cause problems it would have done so by now.
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KarynG
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Re: MRI Results?
« Reply #18 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 11:40pm » |
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Chuck,
Had to cut that short to check the status of my computer.
What I meant to say was STFU AND Ditto on your P.S.!!!! I can't wait until we get together again.
Computer is fixed. There were two hard drives in there and only one of them was broken. Fancy that. Blond hair dye works as well as the original...
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If you want to be somebody else, If you're tired of fighting battles with yourself, If you want to be somebody else, Change Your Mind
Sister Hazel
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