test tubing

of all the tests i'm frequently subjected to, the MRIs are my favorite. not only do i get to zone out and catch some peaceful zzz's, but the results of this exam are one of the most important and influential in regards to disease progression. (what i don't enjoy is laying in the claustrophobic tunnel for hours on end- i have to squuuuueeeeeeeeeeeeze my eyes shut the whole time so that i can't see the tube i am in. that way, i can trick myself into thinking i'm sleeping on a wide open table!)

tomorrow it's yet another trip to Geisinger Medical Center at 7:15am for my 6 month MRI tests. the actual test doesn't begin until 8:30, but they require me to check in at 8:00- not sure what we will do for the extra 30 minutes.... freshly flipped omelets in the waiting room? doubtful. a quick game of Simon Says with the lab technicians? um, no. watch the Today show and drink steaming cups of hot cocoa? definitely not. reviewing the same insurance information they reviewed last time? totally.

the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an extremely important testing device in the world of MS. i just tried to count how many i've had in the past few years.... at least 17, but i lost count after that. MRIs are used in both the brain and spine, showing areas of demyelination (big white blobs on the x-rays- these are bad). by inserting a contrast into the patient's IV, the MRI can then show if any of those plaques are active (if the plaques "glow" this indicates active and usually a flare, which is also bad.) it's already obvious why this test is unique to tracking this disease- it can show both existing and acute plaques. most people with MS will have dr. ordered MRIs at least every year, if their disease is manageable and/or in remission. but if you have a more active form of MS, or have a treatment that requires frequent MRIs, or have a relapse, you will have more than 2 or 4 each year.

so tomorrow will be somewhat of a big day for me. yes, it is one day before my birthday, but i meant something even bigger (you didn't know there was something bigger than my birthday, did you? good answer.) the MRIs i have done tomorrow will be the first since i began the Tysabri medication. i did some quick search on the 'net to refresh myself with the results from the Tysabri trials. they are below:

"...an 83% reduction in the development of new or newly enlarging MRI-detected brain lesions. Tysabri also reduced the mean number of enhancing (active) MRI lesions by 92% after the first and second year."

obviously i'm not into a second or even first year, but the stats seem wildly successful. i always feel a bit nervous when i am put up against such proven success possibilities. what if i'm not? what if i'm the one patient who Tysabri doesn't help? what if i ruin others' chances to get Tysabri @ Geisinger? all b/c i didn't improve? but, it's normal to have those feelings, right? i want more than anything to be a success case for them, because that means they will allow more people to benefit from the medication, and that would be the biggest success of all.

so. i will go strap myself into that elongated tube and shut my eyes super tight for 2 hours. and i will keep everyone posted, although we won't have the results until early next week, esp with the Labor Day holiday. too bad they don't allow iPods in there- i could be brushing up on my French skills. so far, all i have mastered is "we are not Canadians."