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Worth having an MRI?

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Posted 2/20/2013 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
If Lyme and MS look so similar in an MRI of the brain why would you pay $5000 to get the MRI? I tested positive for Lyme and my symptoms improve and disappear with antibiotics. What's the benefit of the MRI? The outcome that I see is being misdiagnosed as having MS instead of attacking the Lyme.
Posted 2/20/2013 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
No, I wouldn't. . And if you have to pay 5k for it. Go out of the country, get a nice trip and pay $500 for it.
Posted 2/20/2013 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
I found an independent lab that will do it for $1100 (MRI of the head without and then with contrast). But I don't want to pay any amount of money for a misdiagnosis.
Posted 2/20/2013 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lapaga,

An MRI over here in Belgium is covered by health insurance (if prescribed by a dr), there's a small patient contribution to pay, but that's all. My dr never talked about doing an MRI, and he does a lot of tests!
If I remember I'll ask him the usefulness of doing an MRI, I've got an oppointment soon.

Marie
Posted 2/20/2013 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
I had one. I felt the same as you did. I felt like either way it was not going to be beneficial for me to have one. If I had lesions they could say I had MS, if not, they could say I'm a hypochondriac. I had no abnormalities on it even though I have tons of neurological issues.
Posted 2/20/2013 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
I definitely wouldn't pay that, if it's Lyme I don't see the point.

Are you still being treated for Lyme?
Posted 2/21/2013 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
I'm just on 21 days of doxy (100mg 2x per day) to get me thru to the next appointment. My PCP just passed me off to an infectious disease doctor.

My PCP said he couldnt treat me for Lyme if I possibly had MS. I asked him what the point of the MRI was if I tested positive for Lyme and responded well to antibiotics for Lyme. He agreed that if i had MS I wouldnt feel completely better by taking antibiotics for Lyme. At that point he basically threatened that I would be on low dose doxy the rest of my life. I told him I would prefer actual treatment. So he recommended that I see someone in infectious disease.
Posted 2/21/2013 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
Oh Lapage, I'm so sorry! I got (and still get) the runaround all the time! Have you been able to find an LLMD? Many ID dr's will not be very understanding when it comes to Lyme, unfortunately.

I had a terrible experience with one. I was able to find an LLMD that I like very much through the help of the kind people on this forum. So if you need help finding one don't hestitate to ask!

It sounds to me like your money would be much better spent on an LLMD at this point.
Posted 2/21/2013 2:54 AM (GMT 0)
Btw what your PCP said is inaccurate. Yes, you could be on antibiotics for a long time, but a low dose of doxy is not how most people are ring treated for Lyme and co-infections. It's sad that most regular doctors are so terribly uninformed when it comes to Lyme disease and the treatment, and I think many are scared to treat it b/c of the controversy associated with it. :-/
Posted 2/21/2013 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lymer! I honestly felt like he was threatening me with not just long term doxy but lifelong doxy because he didn't like that I questioned his order for the MRI. There is a very nice person from this forum giving me names of LLMDs in the area. :)
Posted 2/21/2013 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
Lapage I'm glad to hear it! Try not to let those doctors get to you, I know I did, but in the end they simply did not have a clue what they were talking about!

My LLMD confirmed that all my symptoms were in fact real, not in my head, not because I just had a baby, not because I'm an alcoholic, drug dependent, have anxiety issues and need counseling... Yeah those are just a few things I've been told over the years. I was becoming severely depressed and confused, I've always been a good person, and now that I'm a mom all I want is to take care of my son, go back to work, live a normal life...

So please don't let their ignorance of Lyme disease get you down like I did!
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