MRI Results (Good News)

Hello all,

Here is a quick post to update you on the findings of my MRI.

All the pituitary results were good!

Apparently my pituitary is being somewhat pushed aside by cerebrospinal fluid and they call it "partially fluid-filled sella".

The sella is a little bony bowl or saddle at the base of the brain that the pituitary sits in.

The little bony structure can fill with fluid, which pushes aside the little round pituitary gland.  Apparently mine is not normal, but is not in imminent danger, so no treatment is required.  

I was dreading a more serious problem, or surgery, but secretly hoping this was the answer to all my headache issues!

I will have to pay attention for symptoms in the coming years, if any develop, saying that the pituitary has become compromised (which it may or may not do, depending on whether or how this progresses).  I will also get more regular MRI's.

They were able to see all this on my so-called "Enhanced" MRI (they inject you with a dye and then take the pictures).  On the preceding MRI, it just looked like a big mass, which was the scary bit that I didn't want to think about for the past month! 

The other news is that the radiologist noticed some "spots" on my brain that he wasn't happy with and has requested I get a full-head MRI.  The MRI I had was only a slice of my head (for the pituitary, which sits in behind the eyes), so now they want to see the whole catastrophe.

I don't think it is anything to worry about but who knows.  Other than crushing headaches, terrible back pain and the desire to jump off a bridge most days, I feel perfectly fine.

So I will keep you posted if anything eventful arises on the next MRI. 

Lately, my Beastly Headache (which I have taken to calling it, since it is one long continual experience) has ranged from very bad to quite good in the past month, so I never know how each day or week will unfold.  

A reduced work schedule since January is helping.  With more days off, I become less exhausted and can now ice, medicate, stretch (for my myofascial pain), and sleep as needed, rather than only being able to tend to my pain properly on weekends.  I was simply unable to work any longer in pain 5 days a week.

I have also begun to face facts:  I cannot keep the pace of a normal person.  This sucks as I am a driven person with a racing internal engine.  However, I have had to adapt myself to my illness and have begun in the past year, reluctantly, to accept my limitations.  I have to pace myself, rest more, medicate more, and sleep a lot more.  

This leaves less time for fun and accomplishing things, like staying well-read, well-dressed and becoming independently wealthy as I'd planned.  Now I find myself with nothing to say, badly dressed, and listless from medications.  

I am, however, catching up on all the daytime television I missed in the past three decades. 

So in closing - thanks to all who have shown such sweet concern and caring.  Your thoughts and words have meant a great deal to me.  

xo Terri

(All photos from Pinterest. I was too lazy to track back to find the original attribution so if this photo is yours, thank you!)