MRI Image Progress

[m4tthall]

So, I recently received my MRI scan data. After shifting through the thousands of images contained on the CD (I think they need to modernise), I managed to extract a bunch from a certain view at approximately a similar point to visualise the progress. Being able to see how things have physically improved in a fairly substantial way is certainly something that helps keep you feeling positive on days you don't feel that great. Anyway, I thought I'd share, although not sure whether it will be of great interest. Saying that, if anyone else needs help on how best to do this I have a bit of expertise now

Needless to say, as most people on this forum know, this doesn't tell the whole story, as the ongoing symptoms continue. Although they are improving at a frustratingly slow rate, it is moving in the right direction and as I said, being able to visualise the journey you have gone through helps bring some perspective. I have also found writing a journal also assists with being able to appreciate progress when seeing it becomes more difficult.

Anyway, hope you're all managing to find some level of optimism through these challenging times.

[Lulu_Lollipop]

Well done on narrowing the images down to the ones that show progress. Excuse me for asking - what was your situation and what treatment have you had? I had a brain aneurysm clipped and I found the CD of images overwhelming. I've narrowed those down to a few. As you said, the ongoing symptoms continue. I had no symptoms with the aneurysm, it was found by chance, but of course 9 and a half hours of brain surgery can leave one with issues. I'm grateful that the thing was found and sorted. Good to look on the positive side I'm happy to share a couple of my images, but I have no idea how to put photos on here.

[m4tthall in reply to Lulu_Lollipop]

Hi Lulu_Lollipop ,

Not a problem sharing whatsoever. I had a brain abscess at the end of April. To summarise (feel free to read my more detailed post healthunlocked.com/headway/..., my treatment involved burr hole aspiration and antibiotics, quite a lot of them as you are most likely familiar with.

To deal with the CD images I used a free piece of software on Windows 10 called Athena DICOM Essential, which allowed me to import the DICOM files and navigate more easily. It was then relatively trivial to work with those to compare.

Not sure how you can share images on replies to posts on this forum, it doesn't seem obvious as I am typing this, but it is fairly obvious when you create a new post.

[Lulu_Lollipop in reply to m4tthall]

Gosh, a brain abscess sounds very painful on top of everything else. I wish you well. As far as photographs go I will create a new thread with a couple of my photos on then if I can manage it.

[cat3]

Wow, what a big difference in size from 27th to 30th April. And what a hellish time you had, not only with the pain and symptoms from the abscess, but with the dental work, the uncertainty and the seizures ......and all during the height of Covid !

It's so reassuring though isn't it seeing evidence of such good progress. As you say Matt, on down days it's a reminder to feel thankful. My mental picture of my brain's 'before & after' scans still makes me smile.

Stay as well as after-effects allow, and best wishes for even better days ahead.... Cat x

[m4tthall in reply to cat3]

Hi cat3 , thanks for the kind words. Yes, the rapid growth between those two dates led to the neurosurgeon to make the decision to conduct the burr hole aspiration rather than rely solely on antibiotics, which they had preferred.

On the covid point, there is an interesting aspect there. Although it obviously brought some extra challenges, I also believe it could have been a blessing for me. From my understanding, time is of the essence with these things and due to a greatly reduced number of people going to the hospital for non-covid issues at the time, I believe I managed to go through the process more quickly. I therefore think my residual symptoms, although still a challenge at times, have improved more rapidly than originally expected, as the damage was reduced.

[cat3 in reply to m4tthall]

Keep up the positivity Matt ; it's a massive healing tool ! x