Had MRI. Exhausted and upset!

[Guest guest]

Will post what I sent to my fibromyalgia group. I don't think I am up to much more typing.

Apparently, titanium is okay in an MRI, although my report states, "Some small areas of magnetic suscepticbility artifact in the floor of the middle cranial fossa due to titanium TMJ implants are noted." The following is what I posted to the FMS group --

"Spent all day at the hospital and I am spent! I had my MRI -- head and C-spine. Doc put a rush on it. Which may explain the idiocy in their "report." I spent 60 minutes in that bloody tube, listening to pots and pans being dragged from the back of a train, and thundering horse's hooves, and any other loud aggravating clanking sound you can think of. No doc in the room, just techs. Then I went out to the waiting area, and they emerged in just 15 minutes(!) with a typed "report," proclaiming all to be "normal." With the exception of disk deterioration and osteophyte formations.

What really got to me is, at the top of the "report," it says -- "Preliminary:

Verify before acting on report." On the bottom of both pages, it says,

"Electronically signed when a physician's name appears below." No MD name

appears below.

I have the MRIs in my possession, and am taking them to my new neuro on Friday. I have seen literally scads of MRI pics on the 'net of Chiari, and I am

sorry, but I do have pics from *my* MRIs where the brain is descending into

the spinal canal, where it doesn't belong! There is also a black line/lump in the spine that looks curiously like a syrinx (indicative of syringomyelia). It's not "in-your-face," but it's very, very close to 'net pics (which are usually worst-case scenarios anyway!). But they are there -- no doubt about it. I may not be a doc, but I have eyes in my head. (And they're darn funny-looking in the MRIs too!!) (*G*)

So -- I have had an exhausting day. To say the least. I called Kathleen (Chiari

buddy in Nashville), and she said it is not at all uncommon for radiologists (and esp. techs) to completely miss Chiari. Sometimes even neuros miss it. And, in rare cases, even neurosurgeons have been known to miss it. In which case,

they often send their films to a Dr. Milhorat (leading specialist) in NY to be read -- many Chiarians have been diagnosed that way!

As Kathleen said, I have just "jumped one hurdle" today. I have a long way to

go. But I have to tell you -- it is exhausting!! I am wiped out, physically and

emotionally. I got the worst headache from them strapping my head into that

blasted vise on the MRI table. It all happened so fast, I didn't have time to ask for sedation, but I had Klonopin in my purse, so I took that. It helped, but not a lot. And that blasted dye they use to get contrast pics -- it burns your brain!! Thank God it doesn't last long!

So, that's my day. Hope you all have had a better one!!

Love,

Shron"

Any comments, esp regarding similar experiences, would be so appreciated! I feel like an idiot, but I know how I feel physically, I know my symptomology, and I know what I see on those scans!! How anyone could miss them is beyond me -- tech or no tech! I don't think I am wrong here. It's so frustrating -- I could use some words of encouragement! (If you feel I am wrong, please be kind in your replies? I feel beaten up enough today!! Thanks!) ;-}

Blessings,

Sharon in Nashville

sharon-palmer@...

Just-MRId Confused Possible Chiarian