Thank you Maria. I really thought my symptoms were indicative of MS, so the cyst was quite a shocking find on the MRI for me. I was fully expecting the MRI to show lesions.
The doctors referred to my cyst as "large," but it's only 2 cm, so very small compared to yours. Nonetheless, I'm taken aback by the fact that 2 of 3 neurosurgeons think it's asymptomatic when I presented with visible symptoms. It doesn't make sense that it's an incidental finding, and I'm also wondering why further testing wasn't done before those two doctors dismissed my symptoms as stress-related.
In the meantime I'm dutifully taking the vitamin B6/magnesium combo that was recommended for my "stress" and will start a symptom log. I feel much further along in the game than many sufferers in that I already know a surgeon who is willing to operate. It's just scary to follow-through with surgery at this point. Adding to the scariness is the fact that I'm in Casablanca, so perhaps a bit harder to track down a surgeon experienced in treating Arachnoid cysts.
I also agree that it's important to understand the brain and how it's wired. Interestingly, the 3rd neurosurgeon I saw showed me why he felt the cyst was asymptomatic, which was the MRI reveals that the cerebellum protrudes towards the cyst cavity, versus the cerebellum taking on a convex position from being compressed. He also suggested that were the adjacent cerebellum being compromised, I wouldn't be able to move my eyes upwards. (Um, is that all?)
In the end, I find it very disturbing to hear an array of neurological symptoms are due to stress. I fully believe in the mind-body/psychosomatic connection, but I know this is entirely something else.
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Thank you Maria. I really thought my symptoms were indicative of MS, so the cyst was quite a shocking find on the MRI for me. I was fully expecting the MRI to show lesions.
The doctors referred to my cyst as "large," but it's only 2 cm, so very small compared to yours. Nonetheless, I'm taken aback by the fact that 2 of 3 neurosurgeons think it's asymptomatic when I presented with visible symptoms. It doesn't make sense that it's an incidental finding, and I'm also wondering why further testing wasn't done before those two doctors dismissed my symptoms as stress-related.
In the meantime I'm dutifully taking the vitamin B6/magnesium combo that was recommended for my "stress" and will start a symptom log. I feel much further along in the game than many sufferers in that I already know a surgeon who is willing to operate. It's just scary to follow-through with surgery at this point. Adding to the scariness is the fact that I'm in Casablanca, so perhaps a bit harder to track down a surgeon experienced in treating Arachnoid cysts.
I also agree that it's important to understand the brain and how it's wired. Interestingly, the 3rd neurosurgeon I saw showed me why he felt the cyst was asymptomatic, which was the MRI reveals that the cerebellum protrudes towards the cyst cavity, versus the cerebellum taking on a convex position from being compressed. He also suggested that were the adjacent cerebellum being compromised, I wouldn't be able to move my eyes upwards. (Um, is that all?)
In the end, I find it very disturbing to hear an array of neurological symptoms are due to stress. I fully believe in the mind-body/psychosomatic connection, but I know this is entirely something else.
May 8, 2010 - 2:17pmThis Comment
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