Generalized brain atrophy

Hi to everyone. I am new to the forum and not diagnosed yet. I read almost everything on the forum and I do not see any of you reporting brain atrophy. I just did brain MRI and besides a few hyperintensities in ‘corona radiata’…enlarged laterar and third ventricle…incidental cisterna magna I also have ‘mild generalized brain atrophy’. Two years ago (2011) Brain MRI stated ‘normal study’. I have appointment with neuro in 3 weeks and I also have my old MRI films on CD to compare.

Pelase if you have any input regarding my findings let me know. My greatest concern is atrophy.

I have sooooo many symptoms that I am not sure should I take your time (I would like to :)) and write them down.

Thanks in advance,

Lina

Hello Lina and welcome,

I can agree I have not heard about brain atrophy on here either have you thought of calling the society help line, to see if they can throw any light on it for you xx

Hi Lina,

Welcome to the forum.

Atrophy anywhere in the body generally means the tissues are dead/lost but I always thought that atrophy of any kind was the results/effects from a disease of some sort? Im no expert though just hazarding a guess as I have villous atrophy in my small intestine caused by coeliac disease.

Anyway, please do share symptoms with us if you feel you need/want to, I have lots too but not been dx’d yet.

Karen xx

Hello Lina

I was diagnosed last august with MS. I have multiple brain lesions.

Now, I’m no expert on the brain and could be wrong. But as I understand it I must have some generalised brain atrophy.

This would account for my short term memory problems, word finding etc. If the lesions don’t find new pathways, then damage occurs.

Phew!! sounds good

Thanks everyone.

My symptoms started in March 2011 when I woke up with terrible vertigo accompanied with whole body shakes. Went to ED, not much help there, just ECG and I was discharged with no diagnosis…probable ear problems. My GP was very relaxed and said no need to follow up on anything ‘just one vertigo, nothing to worry about’…so I was sent home.

My vertigo never went away. It just transformed itself into sort of dizziness, unbalanced, unsteadiness…occasional vertigo. After a few months I realized that the right side of my face is sort of numb or better stiff. I can feel touch but it is like being frozen…I can feel but it is still numb. Again my dr. said nothing to worry about. Two months later I started getting strange ‘electrical shocks’ from my head down to the chest. Hundreds of them in one night. My dr. said again nothing to worry about and offered to me antidepressants. I did not like the idea because I know myself and I was sure that it is not depression but I took them. Those jolts are very scary and I taught that maybe it will help. After 3 weeks of taking antidepressants I started to shake even more. Every day more. Went back to dr. and he decided to increase the dosage. Then I realized that it is useless. He is no more dr. than me. I took myself off antidepressants…slowly…I googled how. Went again to emergency dep. and somehow got an MRI of my brain. Summer 2011. MRI came back normal and I wasn’t sure anymore do I imagine things.

From summer 2011 to Dec 2013 my symptoms gradually got worse. Every day something new.

As I mentioned above dizziness, unbalanced, unsteady, inner tremor…I feel like shaking inside all the time. Sometimes my arms and hands shake but most of the time it is in my chest.

Those jolts that I call ‘electrical shocks’, buzzing sensation in my legs as many of you say like cell phone on vibrating. Weak legs…jelly…I can walk but only with shoes on…otherwise I feel like I can’t control my legs. Sometimes I have boots on the whole day even inside, at home.

I get sudden high blood pressure accompanied with tachycardia and whole body tremor. In about 15-30min everything goes back to normal by itself. I am aware of my heartbeats 24/7. My mouth and around mouth is numb but again I feel it on tuch. I ask my husband do I sound OK because I have feeling that something is wrong with my talking and that I have excesive salivation. I started to blink much more than ussuall.

In December I suddenly almost was blind. Foggy vision for about 3 days. And again I went to ED and finally somebody took me seriously. Thanks god after almost 3 years. There were several situations when I wasn’t sure that I can live like this much longer.

Anyways I got CT scan, MRI, cardiologist, neurologist etc.

CT scan did not mention any brain atrophy but 4 days latter MRI did. I am not sure did my brain shrink in 4 days or CAT scan can’t diagnose brain atrophy.

My neuro app. is in two weeks. I don’t expect much. MRI did show few hyperintensities in deep white matter of left corona radiata, but I guess this is not enough to diagnose MS. I just want to get any understanding and not being sent away with no explanation for any of my symptoms and not even listening to me.

I feel tired of myself and very disappointed and scared. What if my brain atrophies more and I end up having dementia. Oh my god then I realize that I want to have many other things just not dementia and then MS is just nothing…

I am 45 with two kids…17 and 11. My husband is OK but I can see that everyone is getting tired of me. Sometimes I cry every day….and nobody cares. Actually they get upset, and there is always a comment like ‘what now…so many doctors checked on you’ or ‘you got so many tests. What do you want now’ etc. Then I cry even more. This is so frustrating.

I apologize for long post and grammar mistakes. I grow up in another part of the world where I do not speak EnglishJ but I do my best.

Good luck to everyone!

Lina

I’m so sorry you are suffering so much, I do hope you get some help at your next appointment.

Its a shame your husband and familly aren’t supporting you as much as you would like. It is difficult for them I think, not knowing what’s wrong, and being unable to make it better for you. My husband is pretty useless at the moment too, and it does hurt. I nursed him through a serious heart attack and long recovery, and worry about him constantly, but if I’m ill for more than a day or two, as I am now, he gets cross! Then I try to ‘‘pull myself together’’ do too much, and end up back at square one!

Anyway, wishing you all the best

Let us know how you get on?

xx

Hi Lina.

you mentioned below as symptoms…I get this alot after haveing an episode of Veritigo last October…I have lost alot of hearing and eyesight too. I am due to see Neuro next week, if he comes to any conclusions I will share on the forum.

As I mentioned above dizziness, unbalanced, unsteady, inner tremor…I feel like shaking inside all the time. Sometimes my arms and hands shake but most of the time it is in my chest.

all the best,

Catherine xx

Thanks everyone for your time and interest.

I actually had very nice day today. I hate supplements but I had to start taking vit D (very low on my blood work), omega3, gingko biloba, vit C, natural iron with little vit B in one pill….and hate to admit but after 3 weeks of taking them I feel a little better.

Does any of you take supplements and if so which one are recomended.

Lina

Thanks everyone for your time and interest.

I actually had very nice day today. I hate supplements but I had to start taking vit D (very low on my blood work), omega3, gingko biloba, vit C, natural iron with little vit B in one pill….and hate to admit but after 3 weeks of taking them I feel a little better.

Does any of you take supplements and if so which one are recomended.

Lina