ANA Discussion Forum
Treatment Options => Radiation / Radiosurgery => Topic started by: Sue on December 29, 2009, 07:59:02 pm
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Hi All,
Yesterday had my latest MRI. New software updates to GE MRI has caused it to be louder than before, if you can believe that. I felt like I was in the torpedo chamber of a submarine that was preparing to dive. All the warning klaxon's went off, and continued to make strange and loud noises all through the trip. Fortunately, I'm not one of those that are freaked out by this whole experience, so the 45-50 minutes went by and I was out of there. The day was cold, a bit breezy, with a beautiful blue sky. Today, it clouded over and I went to the mall to snoop a bit before my appointment with young Dr. Modha to go over the results. As I was leaving the mall, I realized that the rain that had started up just as I was entering the mall, was now decidedly white and fluffy. Oh great! I made my way to the doctor's office and by then, it was really coming down! I finally got in to see him, and the appointment was short and sweet. Nothing new for me to report to him, and he said that everything looked good. My AN is stable and hasn't grown or shrunk. It remains the same. I said, 'Well, you are supposed to tell me it's dead, dead, dead." And he said, "Oh, it's dead. But, we should monitor you for 5 years after so come see me in a year, or two years , that would be okay too." In the world of AN checkups, boring is good. This was good. No excitement, no drama or trauma, no revelations of epic proportion. Just - it's stable, see ya later. MRI - $1800, Dr. Visit - $350, co-pay - $40, peace of mind - priceless. :)
He showed me, on the scan, my trigeminal nerve on the good side, and on the AN side. The AN side, the nerve is resting on top of the intruder and probably has stretched out a bit and it's not at all happy about it. Hence, the troubles on my left side. (of my face and head). Nothing to be done there, sorry to say. But, I can stop worrying that the dumb thing is doing something it shouldn't be, anyway. It's stable. Nothing wrong with that. I'll take what I can get. ;)
Happy New Year!! 8)
Sue in Vancouver, USA
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Sue,
I am so glad to hear your AN is "stable". Stable is good!! Also, you are right, peace of mind is priceless!! I know it is normal to worry, but it sounds like things are as they should be.
I could not help but laugh at your description of the the updates to the MRI. It was so graphic and funny!! I'm glad you could be calm through the loud experience. Take care!
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I almost yelled, DIVE, DIVE! But thought the tech wouldn't understand my humor. ;D Thanks for the kind words. I strive to be informative, yet entertaining! ;)
Sue in Vancouver, USA
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I look forward to stable MRI's in the future. Good luck with yours Sue. Thanks for your encouraging words. My 20% co-pay puts the MRI at around $240/ea. I haven't figured out the various sounds of the MRI. I just close my eyes and try to sleep.
Happy New Year from Sacramento, CA.
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Hi Sue,
Glad that the big news of the day is snow. Enjoy the driving. 8)
Are you saying that they don't play a CD of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer warming up during an MRI? All that sound is the machine? ::)
When your doctor says come back in a year, or two would be okay too, you know you just got good news. Happy New Year to you.
Steve
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Yeah , no rhythm whatsoever with an MRI. ;)
Sue in Vancouver USA
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Sue,
congratulations for the excellent boring report.
What a great way to start the new year!
All the best,
Marianna
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Hi, Sue in Vancouver ~
I appreciate your sharing that 'boring' MRI report with us.
Although we have to be honest and realistic around here to retain credibility, I have to admit that I love to read good news - like yours - on these forums, giving the lie to those who claim that AN message boards are just bitter people complaining about their problems. Er, not really. So, thanks for the update and remember, on a post-radiation MRI report 'stable' is always a good word. :)
Jim
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Hi Sue. Good to hear you are stable. Each time I hope the specialist will say it has shrunk but no change is just as good. The MRI definitely is getting louder and sometimes I think it shakes. I make sure I don't fall asleep because I have a tendency to talk in my sleep :D I used to pre-guess what the little sucker is doing when my symptoms change but now I have come to realise that trying to guess is a waste of time and causes more stress.
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Boy Aussie Chris, are you right!! Every little nervy twitch and change, i.e., louder tinnitus, more pronounced "burnt" feeling in mouth, and odd zing or pain, makes one think that the darn thing is exploding in there. But it isn't. It's just sitting there like the stupid dumb lump that it is, and the damage it already has done is just acting up. I guess.
And you know, I saw the news and they had this sweet teenager who is playing football but he is blind. He lost his vision when a brain tumor destroyed the nerve that provides us with sight. How's that for putting things into perspective!
Sue in Vancouver USA
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Sue~
So glad to hear the good news!!
K ;D
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What do I say, m'dear? WELL DONE! Continued wellness wishes to you, may the MRI's continue to show nothing but boredom.... and you rawk! :)
MAJOR kudos Sue! :-* :-* :-*
Phyl
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Hi Sue. Glad to hear you are putting this in perspective. Not that I am trying to put extra things in your mind but when you were trying to guess what the sucker is doing have you ever looked in the mirror and noticed that one side of your mouth may not be exactly the same as the other? I did and got scared when I noticed the edge of my lips isn't exactly in line. Took me a while to remember that our faces are not symetrical in the first place. I can laugh about that now but I couldn't at the time. Boy, I crack myself up :D
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Hi Sue,
Such wonderful news, great way to start the year. I am truly happy for you.
Vivian
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Congratulations Sue!! Good to start another year on that happy note. The short and sweet just can't be beat. I notiiced my neurologist didn't spend nearly as much time with me once things stabilized and that was ok. I hope I can someday be as unflappable as you are with regard to the MRI, but it's something to strive for. Take care and enjoy life.
Regards, Joey
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Aussie Chris, that's hilarious! Yeah, don't start staring at any one body part for too long, because it starts to look weird. And kisses from Phyl! My day is complete! And yes, of course, I think we all do rawk!! Thanks for all the thumbs up. It's nice. Yeah, the doctors are bored of us now. No challenge to them. Their work is done.
But what if it went something like this:
Dr. - "Good News, Sue!""
Me - "Really? Whatup, Doc?"
Dr. - Well, it looks like that pesky tumor is nearly gone."
Me - "Gasp! No kidding!"
Dr. - Oh yes, it's just a smear, and the trigeminal nerve is healing itself. You should be symptom free in about two weeks."
Me - "Wow!"
Dr. "And I talked with the medical journal people about writing a paper on this, and they are willing to pay you about $25,000 for a study of your healing, and you and your family can have an all expense paid trip to their facility, which is located in Orlando, Florida and you can have free passes to Disney World if you want. It's all included you know. Shall I make the call?"
Me: Hey, everybody, my AN is gone and I'm going to Disney World!!
My husband: "Wake up, Sue! You're yelling about Disney World... Wake up!! " ;) or :'( can't decide which one is more appropriate!! ::)
Sue in Vancouver, USA
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Now you are talking Donnalynn. I can bring all the varieties of Tim Tams you can't get over there and I am quite happy to drink....err bring the rum. At least I will have an excuse for loosing my balance. Capt Deb can help us out with the trip too if she can get the snow thawed in time.
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Donnalynn, I love your scenario better!! Awesome!!
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Sue in Vancouver, USA
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Hi All,
I said, 'Well, you are supposed to tell me it's dead, dead, dead." And he said, "Oh, it's dead. But, we should monitor you for 5 years after
Really! That is awesome! Could he tell by the MRI that it was dead? So you had the radiation back in 2006?
DJ
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Yes, to all those questions. April 18, 2006 I was nuked. They could tell necrosis had begun in a later MRI because there was some darkening or little black specks. When I expressed fears, common pre-MRI check-up kind of worries, my friend Lorenzo, (another AN'er said) "Nothing could survive THAT!". I am thinking that the doctor is confident that the tumor is no longer active, no longer growing, no longer a threat to my long-term well being. I was hoping that the darn thing would show more physical signs of fading away, such as shrinking, but mine doesn't seem to want to do that. That's why, in my little fantasy world, it became a smudge, a mere shadow of it's former self. In reality, it looks just the same as when they first discovered it, but it's stable and not getting bigger. That's a very good thing. :)
Cheers,
Sue in Vancouver USA