Another Picture

My special vocabulary expands. This time into the world of diagnostic imaging which is actually somewhat helpful for my job. I obtain insurance authorizations for diagnostic imaging and sometimes that means finding certain equipment for patients. How many of you knew there are different types of MRI machines?? Beyond Open and standard?

I have to have a 3T MRI (3 Tessla the measurement of the magnet strength) and found out that a hospital much closer to our office has one such piece of equipment. I also found out that they do not have certain types of coils that might be needed for other patient's but thats totally unrelated to my journey. What's a coil? I think of it as a magnafying glass for the picture. generally its a tubular device they put around the body part being imaged. In my case I get to wear a head coil which involves first covering my ears with ear plugs, then headphones, then the coil, then adjusting it so my head can't move. Sometimes there is a mirror on the coil so that I can trick my brain into thinking I'm not being shoved into a tiny tube and am really looking "out". (This only goes so far and then comes my anti-anxiety medication. Too little I freak out, too much I fall asleep and screw up the test because I'm moving.)

I've had 6 MRI's in the last 12 months. 4 of which were for my brain. This test no longer freaks me out and there is something to be said for conditioning. However, it is now the results that make me anxious.

I saw Dr. G my neurologist on July 1st. The report seemed to describe more uptake (the disease) in new places but overall my disease seemed stable. Which is good and bad news. Good that I haven't gotten worse. Bad because I'm taking steroids and they aren't helping. And suffice it to say I gave up on the Gluten Free living. I still think it is beneficial but I'm having a hard time staying committed. And so my husband and I decided it might be time for some more drastic treatment options. (I'm going to lobby for whichever causes the most weight loss!) While my pain is under control the reality is that I'm still ill. Dr. G believes that the pain will stop being initiated when we get the diease in remission and that my dry eye will go away as well.

I'm hoping that also means the insomnia thats kicked in recently will as well. I see Dr. S in August and will repeat the MRI in September to see if the changes are noticible.