If maybe you could spare some pixie dust...

[faline]

So far, so good! Still keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[DizNee143]

yay! hope the next call with results is just as good!!

[pianobabe]

Have you heard from the MRI yet?

[DisneyorBust]

Thoughts and prayers for you. Hope that your MRI results are favorable.

[handmaidenofprincesses]

So it's been a little over a week and I haven't heard from anyone yet. It's getting slightly annoying, so I called the doctor's office this morning and guess what- she's still on vacation from Thanksgiving last week! They said "she'll call me when she gets back next week." I'm very annoyed. I mean, I know doctors deserve a vacation as well, but still... There's a bunch of doctors in that office, I wish they'd just have someone else look at it and tell me whether or not they expect me to keel over anytime soon.. > Sorry, now I'm grouchy lol

[handmaidenofprincesses]

From bad to worse.. the doctor's office just called me back. The doctor wants to refer me to a neurosurgen. Won't tell me why, she just left a message for her staff to call and set up an appointment for me with this surgen, and to tell me "she'll call on Monday to explain" That was just mean. If I thought I was scared before, it's nothing to the new thought of brain surgery. I'm terrified, to be entirely honest.

[faline]

I understand the waiting is hard. Hang in there!

[Tinkermom]

That is mean! I cannot believe a doctor would do that to someone. I am so sorry. Lifting a prayer for comfort and that you get some answers SOON! Can you call back and demand to talk to someone?

[daparish]

I know it is hard but try not to worry. I know the waiting is horrible. I was really sick a couple of years ago. My dr ran tons of test and blood work which showed I had a problem with my throid. He scheduled a catscan. On my next appt he then told me the scan showed something and that I had to see an endocrinologist immeditely and he suspected it could be cancer because of the blood work and scan. The endocrinologist did an ultrasound and it turns out that I just have a misshaped thyroid and the numbers were elevated due to medication that I was on. It was the worse couple of weeks of my life just waiting to get answers. I will be keeping you in my prayers.

[crazypoohbear]

Sending you pixie dust. The doctor on vacation might be hedging on the side of caution and the neurosurgeon is just a safety measure to rule out anything. IT is not in your PC doctors expertise so he wants to make sure you get the best advice and treatment if that is what is needed.

[citizensnoopy]

From bad to worse.. the doctor's office just called me back. The doctor wants to refer me to a neurosurgen. Won't tell me why, she just left a message for her staff to call and set up an appointment for me with this surgen, and to tell me "she'll call on Monday to explain" That was just mean. If I thought I was scared before, it's nothing to the new thought of brain surgery. I'm terrified, to be entirely honest.

I'm really sorry to hear about your problem. I know that it is really scary to deal with the unknown. My dad was recently diagnosed with something terminal after a long period of waiting for test results, MRI/CT scans, etc. That was really horrible for your doctor to leave you hanging without any explanation. She should have let you know as soon as she heard anything.

I'm a resident physician training in neurology at the moment and just thought I'd try to shed some positive light on your particular situation.

1. The fact that you're being referred to a neurosurgeon could mean that your doctor thinks that there's something that can be done about whatever the finding is.

2. If it is something bad, it's possible that it was caught early --- for many entities, by the time symptoms develop, diseases are pretty advanced. That concussion you had could be a blessing in disguise.

3. I'm not sure what kind of doctor you've been seeing, but perhaps the finding is beyond her level of expertise and she is referring you to the neurosurgeon for a second opinion of sorts. A family practictioner or a general internist probably does not have much experience with something as obscure as a pineal lesion.

Anyway, I'm not trying to downplay the situation --- I know that I would be really scared, too, if I were in your shoes. I will definitely be praying for you. Keep us updated!

[handmaidenofprincesses]

First of all, thanks to everyone for all of your prayers and comments.

I just got ahold of my doctor today (finally) and she told me that I have a 9 mm pineal cyst. It doesn't appear to be pressing on anything important and unless it grows, it shouldn't be an issue. (Thank God!) However, she did say that once a cyst reaches 10 mm they usually consider taking them out, which is why I have to go to the neurosurgen. It's esentially and if-this-grows-what-are-my-options sort of thing. Nothing like giving me a heart attack over nothing! So anyway, I have an appointment with the neurosurgen on December 22, at which point he'll look at the films and make his reccommendation. Till then, it's just more waiting really, though not so scary.

Thanks again for all of your help and support. I would've gone crazy without all of you!! Much love, Robin

[beksy]

That's wonderful! I'm sure it's a big relief...Merry Christmas early!

[DVC2004]

I am glad to hear things are looking optimistic!

[PAYROLL PRINCESS]

I'm glad to hear it's not anything too serious.

[faline]

Whew! Sounds like good news!

[handmaidenofprincesses]

Well, I saw my neurologist again today and it seems there was a bit of a misunderstanding. My doctor was assuming that this cyst was something I had been born with and that they had just discovered it. That's not the case. I had an MRI and EEG done a couple of years ago because I get migraines, and there was no cyst (My PCP was supposed to have sent over those films.. I asked 4 times.. but apparently they never did.) The fact that it wasn't there a few years ago changes everything apparently. For a cyst to grow 9 mm in two or three years means it's very aggressive and will probably keep getting bigger and causing problems.

So my doctor says that even if the neurosurgen decides not to take it out, I'll have to go in for an MRI at least every three months to keep tabs on it. The most upsetting part of all: she says to prpare myself for the possibility that I won't be able to go to FL for the Disney College Program in January. I'm supposed to start 1/25. Now, it's not so certain.

My dad's only comment was "Well you're rather calm." But I guess I don't know how to react. This stinks!

[faline]

If you do miss out on the college program, that really stinks. I know the uncertainty is difficult. You're clearly a strong person. You will work through this!

[mrsgaribaldi]

I'm sorry that they found anything but at least it's treatable. Maybe it won't grow anymore, we can hope for that. Loads of and prayers on the way.

[handmaidenofprincesses]

First of all, Merry Christmas!

Second of all... :fanfare: I still get to go to the college program! Woohoo! The neurosurgen says he wants to keep an eye on things but he doesn't think it'll grow fast enough to be a problem till after I come back in June. Yay!