Should i get this mri tomorrow of brain?

[bensmith]

It will make me sick af. I cant imagine a scenario where it leads to improved quality of life from said mri.

 

[Tammy]

Why has your Dr. ordered an MRI?

 

[bensmith]

Went to neuro. Thought seizures, but he said he thoght anxiety. Then he ordered brain wave mri. But like, what will that theoretically accomplish.

 

[Tammy]

Went to neuro. Thought seizures, but he said he thoght anxiety. Then he ordered brain wave mri. But like, what will that theoretically accomplish.

Couldn't really say what he is trying to accomplish. ????? He should have explained to you more the reason for the MRI.

 

[bensmith]

Hm

 

[Heartl]

I was in the same boat 2 months ago. I’m glad I got it just to make sure nothing abnormal in my brain. The MRI came back normal.
I have terrible sound sensitivity so the loud banging really drove me crazy. My sound sensitivity was a lot worse for about a week after the imaging and overall felt really sick for a couple of weeks. I’m now back to my baseline illness. I’m glad I got it but I also need a spinal image but have anxiety about it because of the noise. Good luck to you, it might be worth getting just for piece of mind😊

 

[Wolfcub]

I guess they have to see what's going on in there @bensmith As usual, it's a diagnostic procedure to eliminate something that just might be happening. They have to cover all bases.

While not exactly an MRI, I had a brain CT scan about 18 months ago. It was easy as pie. I worried about it beforehand, but there was nothing to worry about. It was over quite quickly. I almost fell asleep while in the scanner. It was nice to lay down and relax. It was a bit hypnotic.

The only thing that bothered me was having to drive myself to the hospital and back in pouring rain on busy roads, and get up way too early. That did crash me for a few days.

Would you have some easy transport to the appt.?

 

[Rvanson]

Went to neuro. Thought seizures, but he said he thoght anxiety. Then he ordered brain wave mri. But like, what will that theoretically accomplish.

It makes money for them. Never heard of anything like it helping with ME.

 

[Wishful]

It makes money for them. Never heard of anything like it helping with ME.

That's my guess too, that it's for the doctor's benefit rather than yours. AFAIK, no one knows how to interpret scans for ME. If the stress of having it done will make you crash, you may want to explain that to the doctor and ask whether it's really likely to reveal something useful.

 

[YippeeKi YOW !!]

I think you have to follow your own instincts on this one @bensmith , tho I tend to agree that having a baseline brain MRI might be useful in the future, and could rule out a whole lot of other deeply useless diagnostics down the road.

Is it an MRI or an fMRI?

Is insurance paying for it?

Will it help you deal with your Dr down the road? As in "I did what you asked on the MRI, could you do what I need on (fill in the blank)...."

 

[Pyrrhus]

Although a brain MRI can't diagnose ME or other neuroinflammatory conditions, it can rule out a lot of other problematic stuff.

It's a tough decision for you, but a brain MRI is often essential for ruling out lots of neurological problems and it will probably come in handy for future medical investigations.

 

[Zebra]

Hi, @bensmith

In my experience, going on 7 years now, most doctors are quite reluctant to order MRIs. So, I suspect your doctor put some thought into ordering this study.

Because you are asking for input, I want to reiterate what others have already said: at the very least, the MRI may rule out certain conditions or establish a baseline for future brain imaging.

 

[valentinelynx]

It makes money for them

Any money the neurologist would make off of ordering an MRI would be from the clinic visit in which he ordered it and any follow-up visit to discuss it. The MRI itself makes money for the radiology facility and the radiologist who reads it.

 

[Alvin2]

For ME it does not usually accomplish much but it does rule out some other non ME diagnoses. I've had several, i have multiple white matter lesions. Could be MS though at present they don't think so.
For long covid i have no idea if it would prove useful for not. I doubt anyone can answer that yet.

My instinct is to say get it done, its a noninvasive test and its good to rule things out. If the exertion is going to cause permanent harm then you might consider declining but if that is not the case i suggest doing it.

 

[dave11]

For long covid i have no idea if it would prove useful for not

An MRI can show if a covid-19 patient's brain shows leukoencephalopathy and other abnormalities.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/ne...covid-19-patients-exhibit-leukoencephalopathy

 

[Alvin2]

An MRI can show if a covid-19 patient's brain shows leukoencephalopathy and other abnormalities.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/ne...covid-19-patients-exhibit-leukoencephalopathy

Egads

 

[pamojja]

I cant imagine a scenario where it leads to improved quality of life from said mri.

I had the same hesitancy when a neurologist wanted to order a brain MRI. How could that improve the non-existing treatment?

The MRI found an old brain infarction in my left cerebelium. How was that even possible to have happened, without ever having had the symptoms of a stroke? All MDs asked only shrugged.

But in retrospect, with a condition like ME/CFS without any physical lab-markers, something like a stroke on MRI does sound impressive, and might come useful if one needs to apply for disability.

 

[Learner1]

@bensmith I believe you had COVID? Neurological damage is a known effect. Hopefully, you don't gave anything serious, but sounds like your doctor is covering all the bases.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-hidden-long-term-cognitive-effects-of-covid-2020100821133

 

[bensmith]

Update.

Thanks everybody.

I went but after waiting for an hour i had to leave i got really sick. Blah. Prob should have stayed but just a really bad day.

 

[Strawberry]