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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> MRI results showed brain cyst?
        
(Message started by: fuligin on Sep 20^th, 2005, 7:46am)

Title: MRI results showed brain cyst?
Post by fuligin on Sep 20^th, 2005, 7:46am

I saw a neurologist for the first time recently, and while he started me on Maxalt, he ordered an MRI to be thorough. I expected it to show nothing because they're usually normal with migraines and cluster headaches. (Is this correct?) It turns out that I have chronic sinusitis, which is news to me. I've never had what I considered to be sinus problems, and the neuro did not think this was the cause of my headaches. He said he also found "a cyst", which he said could be related or just incidental. He's ordered a follow-up MRI, this time with contrast.

Oy. I probably should've asked more questions, but I don't like talking on the phone. I know that people often find asymptomatic cysts as a result of MRIs for other reasons, so has anyone here had that happen? Did it affect your diagnosis? Thanks.

Title: Re: MRI results showed brain cyst?
Post by Melissa on Sep 20^th, 2005, 7:49am

Is the cyst in the sinus cavity? That is what I had when I was diagnosed with clusters, a very large cyst (the biggest that hospital had ever seen) in my sinus cavity. It was funny, an ear, nose and throat specialist is the one who diagnosed me.

Unfortunately I still had the clusters after the cyst was gone.

Good luck to you!
mel

Title: Re: MRI results showed brain cyst?
Post by fuligin on Sep 20^th, 2005, 7:56am

Hm, good question. You know it's possible that he meant in the sinus, not brain. I can't really remember, but he'll be calling to schedule the 2nd MRI today. I'll ask. Frankly I'm more worried about the scan. Claustrophobic, hate sitting still.

Thanks for your fast response. :D

Title: Re: MRI results showed brain cyst?
Post by longfatyoung on Sep 20^th, 2005, 10:59am

Hi , Ive had clusters since i was a small child ! at age 27 I was diagnosed as having a putuitary tumor and had it partially removed! Headache free for almost 2 years but the clusters came back more frequently and the pain was far greater!

Title: Re: MRI results showed brain cyst?
Post by yikes-another-one on Sep 20^th, 2005, 12:02pm

:)
hey if you tell them you are claustrophobic,
they'll hand ya a valium...if you're not allergic.
Extra drugs....hmmmm

I have onlyhad 2 MRI's in the past 5 years.
2nd one I fell asleep for. They had a
country music station on....and zzzzzzzz
hahahahaha

I hope you relax and have and easy time of it.

TJ

Title: Re: MRI results showed brain cyst?
Post by lionsound on Sep 20^th, 2005, 8:24pm

Enjoy the party in the MRI :)

As said above, you can ask for valium and if you can't take that they'll find something else tasty for you.

Please do not hesitate to ask your doc any questions you might have, don't wait too long or you'll worry more.

Good luck and please keep us posted,
Be well and PF!
-lionsound

Title: Re: MRI results showed brain cyst?
Post by sandie99 on Sep 21^st, 2005, 1:36am

My MRI didn't show anything out of ordinary. My doc didn't even bother to call me, he just emailed me and wrote "everything is normal"... :P

But the experience itself was interesting. I felt like astronaut or something. I kept thinking sunny beaches and peaceful stuff. I did get a warm feeling on my upper body during it. And I tasted metal afterwards and an hour later I threw up. ::)

Sanna

Title: Re: MRI results showed brain cyst?
Post by JJA on Sep 21^st, 2005, 11:33am

Yeah,

My MRI showed a sinus cyst. I've been meaning to have it looked in to, but then I'd have to pick up the phone, make an appointment... ahhh screw it. Anyway it didn't affect my diagnosis.

Jesse

Title: Re: MRI results showed brain cyst?
Post by fuligin on Sep 21^st, 2005, 12:12pm

Thanks all! The new scan is scheduled for October 1st. Oh yeah, and you just don't "ask for valium" in NYC. LOL. This is the capital of drug-seekers and doctors are extremely wary to prescribe even codeine. (Nasty stuff, codeine. Makes me itch and vomit like Linda Blair.) No matter though, because I will have seen my psyche by then and gotten my Xanax refill.

Again, no point in telling the doctor that I'm claustrophobic. The scan at this particular clinic is done by Chinese docs who are nice but don't speak very good English. I indicated claustrophobia on their checklist, but all they said was "relax". ::) Thanks, Doctor Obvious!

It's all pretty funny when my head's not actually splitting open. :-/

Title: Re: MRI results showed brain cyst?
Post by Jeep on Sep 21^st, 2005, 3:10pm

At least YOUR MRI showed that you HAVE a brain....

"If I only had a brain... da-da-da-da-dee-dee-dee-dee..." [smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: MRI results showed brain cyst?
Post by dodie on Sep 22^nd, 2005, 1:59pm

Hi,
I had a similar experience very recently. I have the above post named "looking for help in Buffalo"
After yet another dose of pred. that didnt work on me, and I got rebound CH's, my new doctor wanted to see what was inside. Yeah in the past my MRI's were always clean and I expected the same. "your brain is normal you have migr. and CH's" kind of reflex answer from the doctor. When the Nurse P called me and told me I had a cyst in my right sinus I was very surprised. She deduced that because my pain is on the right side that these two things must be related. She said that the MRI showed it being fluid filled and up there pretty good (close to the brain) she said it was about the size of a fingernail and it looked infected. She wanted to give me Augmentin 875 mg twice a day for 10 days to try and shrink the cyst and some Loritabs (hydrocodone) for the CH pain in the mean time because that will not cause thining of the blood or any bleeding should there be any because of the cyst.
I agreed to try the medication. But I think that the MRI did affect my diagnois to a point. First of all I have had CH pain for 15 years and this cyst just showed up and it is not very big. I think the two are seperate events. I might be convinced to a point that the pressure from the cyst may have caused some stress on my body and triggered the CH's to come back. But I do not believe the CH's will go away after the cyst is gone.
I am frustrated because once again the Dr. is treating the symptoms and not the cause. She still did not want to give me any scripts for the CH pain. The pain I am having is not only in the sinus where the cyst is. It is typical CH right side, head pain classic symptoms. In fact I do not believe I noticed any symptoms of the cyst at all which is why it was a shock to me that she saw some thing on the films. She did not say if or when she would want to see me again. She did not mention another set of films to see if the cyst shrinks. I assume I will call her after the dose of antibiotic which by the way in that dose makes you feel sicker than when you were not on anything! But the Loritabs make anything in life tollerable (even my mother). In short :) yes I do think the MRI squewd my diagnosis.
Good luck to you with your upcoming check up and yes stay strong and make sure you get all the facts (like Im one to talk, but I am determined to demand better care and more attention from now on)
e mail me and we will chat about our similar situation if you like. dodiehow@hotmail.com
your friend in pain,
Courtnay (dodie)

Title: Re: MRI results showed brain cyst?
Post by fuligin on Sep 27^th, 2005, 2:07pm

Hey everyone. Sorry it took me so long to reply but eh... I'm sure you all know how it is. :) I talked to the neuro today and it turns out the cyst is on my pineal gland. Which didn't mean all that much until I looked it up and found out it regulates sleep and daily rhythms.

Hello dolly. Maybe it's just a coincidence but if it is, perhaps I should play the lottery? I did try taking melatonin for a week to no effect, but maybe that's not long enough.

Yes, I totally assumed I had a sinus cyst but no, this sucker's deep inside the brain and may or may not be related. To Courtnay specifically, thanks for your detailed response. My GP actually just prescribed me Vicodin, but I wouldn't take one more than once a week. While it *helped* with the head pain, it did not eradicate it. Also, it made me stay awake all night and want to clean things. Most people feel happy and then pass out. In a way, I am disappointed. *grin*

Good luck to you too, and everyone else. My pineal gland will be ready for its closeup (with contrast!) on October 1st, Mr. Demille.