And maybe some of the MS people who DON'T improve with abx may be like so many diagnosed Lymies----- wrong abx or not addressing co-infections or not staying on long enough.

We KNOW that that's just some of the reasons chronic Lymies don't get better with just a year or so of abx.

But I have to point out that Fluffy's explanation of T2 is correct as far as anatomy is concerned.

But the T2 mentioned in almost all our MRIs is something different. (Sorry, Fluffy--- just wanted to straighten this out. )

Here are two definitions of what T2 means in MRIs, one simply and one more complicated. And I learned something about T2's that I didn't understand completely.

T2 MRI has a very high sensitivity for detecting tissue changes and the contrast enhances the visibility of certain tissues or blood vessels.

***************************

Excerpts:

T2 weighted imaging relies upon local dephasing of spins following the application of the transverse energy pulse.

*******************************

The contrast of a T2 weighted image is predominantly dependent on T2 and the T2 dependence will be increased by using a long echo time.

Fat has a shorter T2 time than water and relaxes or decays more readily than water. Since the amount of transverse magnetization in fat is small, fat generates very little signal on a strong T2 weighted contrast image and appears intermediate to dark.

The T2 weighting is stronger with a longer TE. Water has a very high T2 constant, therefore has very high T2 signal and thus appears bright on a T2 contrast image. Cerebral white matter (fat containing) is less intense than grey matter.

Flowing blood (flow effects) and haematomas (haemoglobin, haemosiderin) have a variable signal intensity on MR images.

Images created with TR's and TE's to enhance T2 contrast are referred to as T2 weighted images. Both T1 and T2 weighted images are acquired for most medical MRI examinations.

You mentioned that there are certain imaging centers that have more experience with Lyme than others. Do you know if there is a list somewhere or how I can find out?

I know I am having CNS involvement but my MRI came back "clear"...whatever that means...My doc said that doesn't mean I can't have CNS involvement but, again, I am trying to build a case for IV abx and want to know if it's worth it to have another MRI done sometime in the near future with a different lab or something...IDK! I'm so frustrated!

I'm just relying on memory here (!!!!!!)

And it's older information (several years) so perhaps things have changed a bit.

At that time, there were just a few imaging centers/hospitals that 'were to be relied upon'.

One was on the east coast--- Columbia?

Another was in Irvine CA.

Then my llmd in S.F. (with connections to California Pacific Med. Center in S.F.) asked/pushed reliable MRI testing for Lyme. And 'trained'/worked with the head radiologist there as to what was needed to get the best imaging for Lyme.

At the time (as I said this was a while ago) there was only machine/head type that was used. That may be different.

I had several MRIs taken, and they kept updating the software to 'make it better' and more sensitive.

I have no idea what a person might ask of an imaging center to make sure you're getting the best.

All I know is that even if the center tells you 'yes, we have the latest technology'------I wouldn't trust that to be true for Lyme.

One suggestion might be to ask your llmd to get in touch with my llmd and ask the question.

Or with Dr. Stephen Bunker, who was the head of imaging at CalPac in S.F then.

But it might all boil down to the radiologist reading the MRI AND the wording of the lab request.

I'm sorry I can't give more up to date information, but it's a starting point, I hope.

I am in the process of switching from my current doc (God bless him) to an LLMD as I, as you may or not already know, have recently discovered the chronic nature of my infection after a postpartum crash.

My current doc seems very supportive and I think he will provide my new doc with all my case notes and results dating back to 1999. I hope that's the case because I can't remember that far back.

I'll pm you for your docs name if I need to.

Thank you very much!

Dharma, IDK for certain the answer to your question about variations in MRI's, but I BELIEVE I've been told that they don't really change from day to day, but are relatively stable over time. That is to say that they can change over a short period of time, say a few days, but not necessarily from one day to the next, if that makes sense. I know that if you are very ill and in the hospital, you may be subject to repeated CT scans, but relatively, only one, maybe 2, MRI's...It seems that from recall, I was told at one point that an MRI is fairly stable. If I remember correctly anyway. Cave may recall better? CT's seem to be more variable and closer to time-sensitive?

My brain's a little fried, it's majorly in pain, but you may wish to talk to your LLMD and be sure. I'm sure they can answer that question better. And when you do find out the answer for sure, can you relay it to all of us to confirm, unless someone else can come up with the answer for sure? LOL

That does makes sense!

I have seen so many doc's with many diff. opinions! I believe that they like to read your history and ping pong off each other unless you find a good dr. who will step out and look at your reports from scratch and give his own advice!

Although i have been led down the wrong path of "possible MS" - i have learned alot along the way!!

I was retested for lyme a few months ago and it was positive! So that takes me back to the very first visit to the ER - when they said - LYME, ms or lupus......and since the blood tests are not always accurate - here i am ........ with a lyme diagnosis - Brain lesions and trying to redirect my thinking to this new probability!

My doc is wonderful - he treats the body as a whole and he has explained MS to me as being - (multiple= many, sclerosis= scaring)

which means many scares on the brain - as to why - it is from the lyme that has traveled to the nervous system......

so in saying all this Lyme if left untreated can cause MS! he also thinks it may have a connection to alzh, parkinson, als???????

But i did call my last neurologist - just today- and told her of the "new" diagnosis and she wants to see the tests!!

I also asked her if there is a difference between the lesions from ms and those of lyme?? (would a radiologist be able to look at them and tell a diff. ???? and her answer was "NO" they would look the same!

so there has to be a cause of the - unknown cause for certain diseases!

Lyme can take over your whole body !!!

We all hope for the research to reveal some of the questions that we all have - and who knows - the answers may already be out there!

just covered up!!