ANA Discussion Forum

AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: Debbi on April 28, 2009, 03:57:41 pm

Title: OneYear MRI
Post by: Debbi on April 28, 2009, 03:57:41 pm
Well, I am very pleased to report that I survived the Tube of 1,000 Curses (with the help of a little valium) and got my results from Dr. Golfinos who says that I have nothing up there but belly fat and brain.  Yahooooo!  He hasn't seen me since last September and was quite pleased with the facial progress - and reminded me that botox is an option in about another six months (I'm in no rush for that - needles in the face - YUCK.)

For fun, thought it would be cool to see the "before" and "after" MRIs (I know, only the AN crowd would think that this was anything other than completely gross!)
Here's how it looked last March, 2009 at diagnosis
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk167/debifulco/BrainBoogerattimeofdiagnosis-Mar-1.jpg)

April 28 - nothing but fat!
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk167/debifulco/429BrainMRI-1.jpg)

This is one of those times when I totally love my belly fat!!

Here's hoping that everyone else with upcoming MRI's has such good news!

Debbi
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: leapyrtwins on April 28, 2009, 03:59:58 pm
Now there's a beautifully clean MRI  ;D

Congratulations, on the great news, Debbi !!!
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: Debbi on April 28, 2009, 04:08:03 pm
Thanks, Jan - and you know I am keeping fingers crossed that yours looks just like this!  I have never been so happy to see belly fat in my life...
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: JerseyGirl2 on April 28, 2009, 04:17:19 pm
Debbi,

Congratulations on your outstanding MRI results! Jan, I hope your news will be equally wonderful!

Catherine (JerseyGirl 2)
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: Helga on April 28, 2009, 04:37:47 pm
I am so happy for you!! Hoping my MRI will look just as lovely next year.
Helga
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: Pooter on April 28, 2009, 05:38:43 pm
Yea!  Congrats!  My turn in the tube 'o gloom next week!  WOO WOO!

Regards,
Brian
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: MAlegant on April 28, 2009, 05:45:34 pm
Debbi, that is so awesome. What a beautiful MRI!! Congrats.
Marci ;D
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: texsooner on April 28, 2009, 06:11:10 pm
Way to go Debbi!!! That's the MRI report we all hope for. Congrats.

Patrick
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: ppearl214 on April 28, 2009, 06:54:28 pm
Congrats Debbi!!! Terrific looking MRI and continued wellness wishes!

Way to go!
Phyl
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: EJTampa on April 28, 2009, 08:45:43 pm
Woohoo Debbi!  Thats a real nice picture of your brain!  Especially the one without the big white spot :).
 
Ernie
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: leapyrtwins on April 28, 2009, 08:49:55 pm
My turn in the tube 'o gloom next week! 

Will this be your first MRI post op, Pooter?

I found myself really stressing before my first one, but strangely calm for this one (2nd post op).  Maybe I'm just falsely confident, but I'm finding I'm not worried at all.

Best of luck to you.  Did you put your "date" on the AN Calendar?

Jan
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: sgerrard on April 28, 2009, 10:06:23 pm
Very nice MRI, Debbi. Congratulations on a great result.

I have been saving this link for a while, and your 1 year anniversary is a good time to post it.

It is a thread you started a year ago, called Happy Endings/New Doors:

http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=6260.0

I thought you (and everyone) might enjoy taking a look back. It might even be worth waking it up again.

Steve
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: Nance on April 28, 2009, 10:57:21 pm
Hi Debbi
Instead of falling asleep at some late hour tonight, I was thinking of you and had to get up and check my computer to see if you'd had your MRI yet- and like magic, there was your post from today.  Congratulations!  I thought I remembered your appointment was today.  I was so happy for you that there's just a mushy, fat filler on the right and that Dr. Golfinos is pleased with your progress.  My Golfinos one year appointment is in June- and I'm edgy to get it over with. 
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: suboo73 on April 29, 2009, 04:05:03 am
I was so happy for you that there's just a mushy, fat filler on the right and that Dr. Golfinos is pleased with your progress.
----------------------

Debbi,  I want to say CONGRATS too!  What kul pics!

Nance - what a great line (mushy, fat filler!)  I wish you well in June for your trip to the TOG!

Sue
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: jerseygirl on April 29, 2009, 09:34:34 am
Debbi,

Congratulations! All MRIs should look this good! I am sure you are a happy camper now and very relieved to find the good news, too! Your smile is beautiful in your picture. You sure have come a long way. Continued health and improvement to you!

      Eve
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: wendysig on April 29, 2009, 10:09:27 am
Hi Debbi -

I wrote earlier and apparently didn't hit "post".  I'm so happy for you that the MRI went well even if you had a little help from Valium.  Love the pics -- I'm glad to see there is no trace of Ethel anywhere.!  Congratulations!!!

Wendy
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: Debbi on April 29, 2009, 11:29:28 am
Thanks everyone!  What a difference a year makes.  Hey, wait, one year ago today at this time, I was still in surgery and my poor husband and parents were pacing fretfully around NYU biting their nails.   ;D  It is just amazing how different things are a year later!!

Pooter, I know exactly how you feel - I was getting pretty anxious these last few weeks.  I suspect that Jan is right that the first is the worst. 

Nance, I told Dr. Golfinos that I had seen you recently and that you look fantastic.  He's quite pleased with himself (as well he should be.)  BTW, he's got a new Gamma Knife unit just for the brain patients that he is pretty excited about.  (Not that we ever want to see it!)  He's also now the Chair of the Neurology Dept - he seems less excited about that.   ;D
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: NancyMc on April 29, 2009, 12:11:47 pm
Well, congratulations again (on other thread)!  I didn't read the labels at first and thought, I wonder if she noticed all that weird stuff in her head.  I've never seen fat on an MRI before.  So that's what it looks like.
For some reason my neurotologist wants an MRI in a year, but my neurosurgeon wants in three months, so I'll be seeing the old FATHEAD in July.
You must have the biggest smile ever on your face after seeing your films.
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: yardtick on April 30, 2009, 09:48:05 pm
What a BRAIN  ;D


Anne Marie
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: leapyrtwins on April 30, 2009, 09:55:45 pm

For some reason my neurotologist wants an MRI in a year, but my neurosurgeon wants in three months, so I'll be seeing the old FATHEAD in July.

Well, you may and then again, you may not.

My doc has ordered both my post op MRIs with fat suppression so even though I'm a fathead, that's not evident from my MRI films.

My films also don't show any of my titanium either - mesh and screws from my AN surgery and abutment from my BAHA surgery.  Truth be told, I was a little disappointed by that.  I kind of wanted to see the "hardware" inside of my head  :D

Sorry for the hijack, Debbi.

Jan
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: anissa on April 30, 2009, 11:04:36 pm
Congrats on the clean MRI, I loved the before and after pictures, thanks for posting them!
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: Pooter on May 01, 2009, 03:14:33 pm
My turn in the tube 'o gloom next week! 

Will this be your first MRI post op, Pooter?

I found myself really stressing before my first one, but strangely calm for this one (2nd post op).  Maybe I'm just falsely confident, but I'm finding I'm not worried at all.

Best of luck to you.  Did you put your "date" on the AN Calendar?

Jan

Yes, it will be my first MRI since diagnosis.  And, yes, I did put it on the calendar.  How else am I going to make it to the big leagues of the weekly update?  :)

I've been too busy to stress about it all that much this week.  I'm sure next week will be different.  I want confirmation that it was all taken out.  And, I hope they find a brain like they did on yours! ;)

Brian
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: leapyrtwins on May 01, 2009, 04:35:59 pm
Pooter -

I'm fairly confident they'll see a brain; but I'm no doctor so don't hold me to that  ;) 

Can't wait to see your feature in David's weekly post  ;D

Jan
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: Kaybo on May 01, 2009, 04:43:09 pm
Deb~
I guess I missed this one!  Looks to me like there is a LOT more going on in the 2nd pic than the first (minus the big white spot) - I bet you are a LOT smarter now!! :D

K
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: Rich56 on May 01, 2009, 04:50:35 pm
Hi Debbi,

Happy anniversary, and congratulations on a clean MRI :)

Thank you for starting The Magic Scarf ;D

Rich & Scarlett
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: Kate B on May 01, 2009, 06:47:04 pm
Cool shots...If I may ask, how did you upload the pics so clearly?
Title: Re: OneYear MRI
Post by: wendysig on May 04, 2009, 10:12:17 pm
Jan,

I was also disappointed to hear that our titanium hardware doesn't show up in an MRI -- I was also hoping to see what it looked like, especially since I can feel it under my skin.  It definitely feels different from the bone on the other side of my head and was really curious to see what it looks like.  I guess I'll just have to stay curious.

Wendy 

Sorry for the hijack Debbi  :)