Brain MRI anyone?

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MargaretEleanor
MargaretEleanor Member Posts: 42
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I rarely post and when I do it's about reconstruction, the procedure that restored my sanity and led me to the path of cancer recovery. Now I find myself on back on the cancer roller coaster. I have been blessed to receive my care at Mayo Clinic where all testing and imaging is done in house, there is minimal wait for test results, and all my doctors have access to all my medical records and test results and I don't have to coordinate a thing! I visited my psychiatrist three weeks ago because I am stepping off my antidepressants, YAY. He happened to notice a tremor in my bottom lip, which I hadn't noticed. Of course he made notes of it, which my oncologist's NP, who is amazing and I absolutely adore, read before seeing me yesterday for my routine six month check up. Now I find my self being scheduled for a tour through the noisy tube. She wrote me some Ativan yesterday which I filled before even leaving the clinic. Anybody ever win a trip through the noisy tube for facial tremors? Will it come with the grand prize of contrast? Just to add I was HER2+ and received Herceptin which does not cross the BBB and there is some research to suggest those treated with Herceptin may be at higher risk for brain mets. Is my Ativan wearing off???

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited April 2013

    Hi there, I did not have a Brain MRI for lip tremors but for facial numbness. Its not bad at all with the ativan and I'm a big clostrophobic.  I took the ativan they didnt feel like they were doing anything, but I was fine in the MRI. Could almost even fall asleep if it weren't for the noise.

    You'll find the MRI easy to do with ativan. My facial numbness was a result of bell's palsy and a constricted 7th facial nerve.

    Good luck, I hope you're fine.  Keep us posted.

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  • nancyh
    nancyh Member Posts: 2,644
    edited April 2013

    MargaretEleanor,

    I love your description of the brain MRI as a "tour through the noisy tube", too funny and very accurate.  I get brain MRIs about every 3 months or so and they always give contrast near the end of the scan.  Sometimes they use the power injector for the contrast, other times the tech comes in to do a manual push.  Manual push is kinder and gentler in my opinion, so if it won't hurt the quality of the images, you might ask for that.  The contrast (gadolinium) gives me brief nausea that lasts for about a minute, but I don't think that happens to most people (the techs usually look at me like I'm crazy when I mention this).  If you're taking lorazepam, that will help.

    As for the lip tremor, I'm glad they are checking it out, but it seems like there are probably lots of non-cancer explanations.  Hoping so!

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  • MargaretEleanor
    MargaretEleanor Member Posts: 42
    edited April 2013

    Thank you ladies! I am so grateful for your support! I'd much rather ask questions here than to ask "Dr. Google". My scan is scheduled for May 9th at 12:30. Orders are with and without contrast so I did win the grand prize. I am so blessed to have the team of doctors that I have looking out for me. I know the scan is being done because I have a history of cancer and that more than likely the tremor is nothing. I also know that if there is something there that I have many more options if it is caught sooner rather than later.

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited April 2013

    I recited my times tables to myself as I had a brain MRI Laughing (I still knew them.)

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  • Barbie7
    Barbie7 Member Posts: 386
    edited May 2013

    I'm having a C-spine and brain MRI this morning, with contrast.  I mentioned neck pain, numbness in my lips, and hands last Friday.  What concerns me a bit is that they scheduled the MRI and the neuro consult within a week of my visit to my onc.  We folk with cancer history do not like to wait, but we also don't like it when docs jump into action. 

    I too practice deep breathing and visualization whilst in the tube.  Hopefully there won't be too many breath holds.

    Best of luck to you on the 9th.

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  • kathleen1966
    kathleen1966 Member Posts: 793
    edited May 2013

    I have had two brain MRI's, one about six years ago (had to be taken out and given more meds to help me relax) and one at diagnosis because I asked for one (better, but I think the general terror at the time numbed my senses). The mirror helped me in that it tricked my mind into thinking I was not in an enclosed space.  Make sure they also have the fan on, or it will get hot or will at least feel like it is hot.  I asked my oncologist about Her2 and the brain and she told me that the higher chance of Her2 going to the brain is with women who are currently in treatment for metastatic breast cancer. I know there are exceptions to this and there have been a few women on here with mets to the brain only with Her2+ breast cancer. I think that in your case they are being overly cautious.  There are soo many reasons your lip could have been trembling that are not cancer. I wish you good luck and peace of mind soon!  

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  • MargaretEleanor
    MargaretEleanor Member Posts: 42
    edited May 2013

    Had the brain MRI yesterday. The Ativan and the multiplication tables made it a breeze. Got the results about two hits after finishing the scan and...there's only brains in my head!! Woo hoo!! Thanks so much for your tips and support!!

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited May 2013

    very good news. Did they identify the reason for your symptoms?

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