MRI findings...

 I have the written results to my most current MRI findings, but yet I can not translate this into English other then bad Bad BAD. I was hoping that someone here may be able to translate these findings for me??? I see my neuro in less then a month, and I have a feeling she will agree with me that these findings aren't good, but won't translate it to English...

FINDINGS:

Far greater then 10 T2 hyperintense supratentorial lesions are again identified involving the periventricular and subcortical white matter. The current dominant lesion is located within the left periventricular white matter measuring approx. 17mm maximally. In comparison with 10/06/2005, significant disease progression has occurred. The following lesions are either new or significantly larger: subcortical white matter left superior frontal gyrus, subcortical white matter posterior aspect left superior frontal gyrus, right posterior frontal periventricular white matter, multiple lesions within the left frontal periventricular white matter, left posterior frontal white matter, left parietal deep white matter, spleen, corpus collosum, left parietal deep and pariventricular white matter, right parietal white matter, left posterior temporal subcortical white matter, and anterior left temporal periventricular white matter.

Within the infratentorial brain, scattered small foci of T2 prolongation persists within the middle cerebellar peduncles and the left cerebeller hemisphere. They have nto progressed significantly.

The current dominant lesion located within the left parietal, periventicular, and deep white matter demostrates a complete rim of peripheral intense enhancement with smaller amount of internal heterogenous enhancement.

No evidence of brain parenchymal volume loss.

IMPRESSION:

1. Far greater then ten T2 hyperintense white matter lesions involving supratentorial much greater than infratentorial brain consistent with demylenating disease. In comaprison with 10/06/2005, significant disease progression has occurred as described with numerous new or more conspicuous lesions.

2. Dominant left periatrial lesion demonstrats complete rim of intense peripheral enhancement.

3. No parenchymal brain loss.

PHEW. Got that all written down. Clinically, I still walk without aide and I work part time. I just finished my BSN with a almost a 4.0 GPA. I can also tell you that it seems like almost everyday I am adjusting to something 'new' with my body. I can say that these results aren't a surprise, but it is still very hard to see on paper what others would simply write off as 'all in my head.'

The dominant lesion I have come to call "Iggy" because on dx it was thought to possible be a parasitic worm and the IgG lab came back negative. It was also 10mm on dx, in 2005 it grew to 12mm and on this current MRI from 2006, it is now 17mm. OUCH. All I can say is it needs to stop growing so fast...

Although the findings only report far greater then 10 lesions, when I was diagnosed at another facility it was written 'far greater then 30 lesions.' So I know I have a lot in there. With significant disease progression as seen on MRI, is it possible that I have a more progressive form of MS?  Since dx it has felt as if my MS is slowly progressing, slowly with few if any relapses. With all these areas of my brain having activity...

Right now, I am having more good days then bad. I am currently not taking any meds because my liver enzymes are elevated and it seems as if I function much better 'all natural.' I am being reviewed at work for a promotion and I am viewed as an asset by my patients and coworkers at work. I can make it through most days now without a nap and my memory is the best that it has been in over a year. Right NOW I feel good, but reading this MRI is emotionally painful. And another funny thing, I almost hate to verbalize, is that although I feel very good right now, I am noticing things about my body that make me think I am heading to another 'relapse' to the point I can't work... or maybe it's just another new lesions...hmm

Any feedback would be much appreciated. Even a good website that can help me to translate these findings myself. I just want to know why I feel like I feel, if that makes sense.

Thank You uppity for your response.
I was on copaxone for the year between 10/06/2005 and when this MRI was taken. I don't feel that it was effective for my MS and I actually stopped taking it the day this MRI was taken. I had an assessment the same day and say how poorly I perform on tests that the previous two years I did very well in... (I am in a gene research study for the past three years).

My doc is always good about answering my questions. I guess it is just hard for me to ask her if I have a more progressive form of MS. I just like to think that if it was, she would tell me... But I also know that she likes to tell me about things that she can treat and not things that she can't treat. I have seen her get fustrated and irritable when she says there is not much that can be done about something that is going on with me. These are usually for things I state "I just wanted you to be aware" and I am not asking for anything.

I am thinking I should see my other neuro at UCSF where this study is being conducted out of. He is a more aggressive medical side neuro with little compassion. Maybe that is what I need right now.

Wow, Sandy,

That is very scary.  Hang in there.  The good news is you are doing so well (job, educations, general functions).  Be tough!!!!!  I have read that the number of lesions doesn't always coincide with the level of disability.  You could have a lot of lesions and still be okay.  That sounds like you!!!  Don't let a piece of paper dictate how you feel about your life.  You are doing so well. 

It can't hurt to see the other more aggressive Dr.  Find your compassion elsewhere (perhaps here?!) and see if this guy has some answers and reasonable treatment options for you.  Good luck and keep us posted.

Thank you ALL for the encouragement! I may be a nurse, and I may be able to to "know" things, but when my name is on that paper, I loose any "know" I may have and just get overwhelmed. I think this is what makes me a good nurse. I can empathize with my patients in ways that many cannot. I should have been a psychiatrist or psychologist lol. Maybe its not too late for that....hmmm

Uppity-
In my original post there was no mention of a doctor, I am seeking knowledge. Knowledge that is a bit over my head at this point in time, so no I can't expect any doctor to go into the detail I would like. I am very grounded and well informed about MS as well. I just wonder how the paper with my name reads and a few papers without my name on it reads, then look at the clinical presentation of each case.

My doc at UCSF is in the "know" for all the lastest research and I have to wonder if there is something else out there...