@change25, and all.
Pooh! What's a little IV in the arm? Just an itty, bitty IV with possibly a slight feeling of warmth over the body. That's all I have, no adverse reaction. Hopefully, you'll find it as easy.

Yes, actually. I was in the Mayo Hospital visiting my son who was admitted the previous day. He was finally asleep and I became ill, had an episode w/vision problems, hearing and understanding what the tv and other people were saying. It was similar to stroke or some kind of such issue. If you have to have an event like this, best place is in the Mayo Hospital.

I was taken to ED, unable to walk or talk clearly or communicate well. I had a brain MRI to ck for stoke or blood vessel issues or clot or whatever. I did not have a stroke, but the radiologist strongly suggested a referral to an ENT consult for acute, possibly chronic sphenoid sinus infection, possible fungus balls, and a cyst in the sphenoid. He also saw some new bone degeneration in the jaw, neck, cervical vertebrae, etc. He mentioned unusual blood vessel damage...

So, after 3 days in hospital, released the same day as my son who was 2 floors up, within 3 days I've seen an ENT specialist, diagnosed with sphenoid infection - probably picked up previously in hospital and quite serious; it is antibiotic resistant and I'm now using a nasal rinse 2x daily, with tobramycin formulated antibiotic, methadextrate sp?, steroid, and saline solution. In a week I visit the ENT surgeon and very likely sinus surgery soon to clean out the infection, remove some infected bone and the cyst. All found incidentally by the MRI.

This all led to an infectious disease consult, to address the multiple UTI and other infections, increased dramatically this year. Also, to a nephrology consult, after hospitalization w/UTI. So, this one little MRI led to Infectious Disease consult, ENT and Nephrology consults. Nephrology sent me to rheumatology consult, to verify her diagnosis of vasculitis. Yuck!

See what one little MRI did? It may have given me a few extra years, at least I think the time I have left will have much improved quality. Not good diagnoses, but good to get them since I do have the issues. And, the sooner I get started with some treatment, the better my chances for some remission and extension of my life.

This is all good and I'm thankful for the series of events leading to these findings. I believe God is in control, but I and the doctors are doing our part.

This is what I see for you, with hopefully less difficult findings. Every step is important. It truly is a process. Good for you to get started, following through, and insisting on finding answers. Smart, proactive behavior..

Blessings to you. Think good thoughts, follow through and find the answers that lead to diagnosis and treatment and healing. Good for you!
elizabeth