Today I had my 3d MRI in as many weeks (ask me anything)

[ashling]

the first one was for my cervical spinal, then lumbar spinal and then today was a brain MRI

(OK, stop with the Wizard of Oz music already ...if I only had a bran, indeed!)

I have been in that magnet tube so many times that when I lie in the middle of the bed I automatically point north.

[1gobluedem]

1. I hope it's nothing serious

I've also had so many MRIs that my SO is convinced I recharge phone batteries just by talking on the phone. It's true that I've never had a phone battery die on me.

Whatever it is, I hope the MRIs find it and it's treated successfully.

[ashling]

2. I'm having surgery tomrrow

on my neck to fuse a couple of vertabrae...the lumbar one did not indicate surgery at this point (but my back still hurts like a son of a bitch!)

The one today was because of nerve damage to my left eye (I had retina detach twice and am left with some blind spots due to nerve damage) this MRI was to see if there is any tumor, etc. pressing on the nerve.

such is life...

[leftyclimber]

22. My dad had 3 cervical vertebrae fused about 15 years ago.

Said it was the best thing that ever happened to him. Hope you have similar results!

[vard28]

3. I've had two cervical fusions

What are they fusing it with? They dug bone out of my hips for my grafts both times. Best advice is to take it easy afterwards. Take care of yourself. I'll be thinkin' about you! :hi:

[ashling]

8. The hip bone's connected to the

neck bone ....

Thanks
:hi:

[Oldtimeralso]

4. I Had A Brain MRI For Vertigo And The MD Told ME That They Did Not Find Anything.

I also had a retina tear in 3 places and detach, long procedure with eye removed from socket and on a tray in front of me. I woke up in the middle of it and thought I was in a SciFi movie, needless to say the retinal surgeon was pissed at the anesthesiologist.
GOOD LUCK with your procedure and keep us informed.

[Kali]

7. OMG

I woke up during an endoscopy - they were checking to make sure no stones in any tubes after yanking my gall bladder but JEEBUS! Your eye on a tray! :wow:

[ashling]

9. I had 5 retinal tears

and my regular opthomologist sset me up to see a retina specialist imediately who who di about 150 laser shots to tack it back down. That was like arc welding inside my eye. LOL

2 weeks later the retina detached anyway, so he put a scleral buckle on and reattached the retina. I was just about to recover from that when the retina detacked from a different spot, so he had to remove the vitreous, put in some kind of special silicon oil which he had to take out after four months in another surgery. The retina seems attached fine, but I have this negative field of vision.

The neuro guy said that the nerve damage is likely permanent, but it is inconclusive as to what caused it, and ordered the MRI. I will see him again in about a week.

Next time I am going to go for an upgrade to an infra red or low light night vision. LOL

[Red State Rebel]

24. I work for a top Ophthalmologist

I do the transcription and secretarial work for him so I understand your post :). I hope everything goes well. I never thought much about my vision till I started this job and reading all of this scary stuff!!

Good luck!

[leftyclimber]

30. I have a 75% chance of retinal detachment.

I appreciate your talking about your experiences. It helps me understand what I'm going to go through at some point. Thank you.

While we're on the topic, I'd like the infrared/night vision upgrade, too. Does it cost extra? :evilgrin:

[ashling]

11. I was somewhat lucid during

n esophogeal echo cardiogram.

[ThomCat]

5. I hope your surgery goes well.

And I hope they can find out what is going on with your eye. :hug:

Please be well.

[ashling]

12. And you, my friend ...

Thanks.
:hi:

[Critters2]

6. Best wishes for a good outcome tomorrow! nt

[libodem]

10. Best of luck to you

I had a cervical fusion and it helped a lot. The neurosurgeon wouldn't commit to saying that it was going to help the neck pain just the numbness and tingling in my hands and arms. It helped both. I had migraines and regular headaches that drove me insane. I'm glad I had it done. My lumbar fusion did ease the worst of the agonizing back pain but I still have back pain and nerve pain in my legs.

[ashling]

13. When I saw the back MD (after referral from an ortheo MD)

He did not immediately suggest surgery he hadn't seen the MRI, but before I left he saw it and immediately said I had to have surgery.
Not only is the vertebrae impinging on 2 nerve roots that goes into my arm, but there are spurs pressing into the spinal chord. My balance is affected and I walk like a dawdlin' little old man...which is also due to this condidtion, which is way past physical therapy or other treatment.

But, it will all be OK ... yeah....

[Dystopian]

14. Best wishes....

Hoping all goes well for you tomorrow...
You've been through a lot....:hug:
Please let us know how everything went...will be thinking of you.

peace~

[ashling]

15. Thanks

:hi:
I'll be back on as soon as I'm able. I will probably be in the hospital for a couple of days (I couldn't believe my insurance approved 6 days in the hospital ... of course that is at $100 co pay -per day- and the out of pocket which I have way already met, doesn't count for in hospital...)

but at least I have coverage. There were times I didn't have that.

[bluesbassman]

16. Heh ashling, I just had my lumbar MRI yesterday.

Good luck on your surgery. I hope it gives you the relief it should!:pals:

[ashling]

17. Thanks.

The Lumbar one was the worst because you had to go all the way up in that thing ... and at nearly 250lbs . . .OK, OK! 300. . . my arms wer in there pretty tight! LOL Plus, it took the thing extra time to get started and the blood flow to my hands seemed to be diminishing ... I started thinking, they might just bury me in this thing LOL ...

Hey, there ought to be a blues song about dying in the MRI LOL

The Doc said that he couldn't garauntee that my symptoms would improve tremedously, byt it would keep it from getting worse ... and since the MRI indicated that my spinal chord was severely crimped, another fall or two might leave me a quadrapalegic. Now THAT is scary


BTW, do you know where spine surgeons go after work?

[ashling]

18. They hang out at the

Lum Bar and Grill.
:rofl:

[bluesbassman]

26. LOL

That's a good one.

Yeah, going "full tube" is kinda creepy. I was also thinking, does it have to make so much noise? I bet they just do that to make you think you're getting your money's worth!:)

[ashling]

27. or wonder if its falling apart LOL

I'm not claustraphobic or anything, I actually start to go to sleep. My brother in law is claustrophopic and he really has problems.
The doc who ordered this last one said open MRIs aren't worth shit.

[Tommy_J]

19. Good luck with everything!

and best wishes

[sakabatou]

20. I've had my share of MRI

The 7 Tesla sucks like hell.

[hippywife]

21. I hope your surgery goes well

today and your symptoms are relieved. :hug:

[ashling]

23. 4 more hours

Damn I'm hungry!

[Midlodemocrat]

25. Thinking of you. Hope it goes well.

:hug:

[ashling]

28. Thanks

It got postponed at the last minute because of elevated counts in my bloodwork.

[begin_within]

29. Is it claustrophobia-inducing in there?