Essential Tremor and High Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)

@lisalucier
Dear Lisa: Thank you for the info on
DAT SCAN.
Q: This article mentioned a Radioactive trader that contains Iodine. I am very allergic to I2. It
doesn't give any alternative nuclear medicine containing Gadolinium
at all.
I am wondering, who can help me w it? I.have essential tremors, which the.Drs think are Parkinson' while some think, its from Chemo
Therapy that.I had.for !y cancer.

I am very sick and tired of all these
Scans and scaredy tactics used by some drs.
I am.on Hospice at age 75 yrs and I don't want to live anymore. Its up to my God, to send me home, whenever God is ready.
Thanks again dear. Hope you are feeling well. May God bless you.
VJ

I was diagnosed with essential tremor many years ago and have managed symptoms with medication, which is becoming less effective over time.
I recently learned about focused ultrasound (HIFU) for essential tremor and would appreciate hearing from anyone with knowledge or personal experience regarding outcomes or considerations.

@vijay26 - you are welcome. I'm sorry to hear about all the health challenges you've had. The issue of the allergy you mentioned would be a really good question to ask your neurologist or primary care doctor. Surely they have run into an allergy like that before and had to determine what route to take.

Are you taking medications for essential tremor at this time, then? If so, what are you taking currently?

@lisalucier
I am not taking any medications
for my ET at this point, mainly because I cannot afford any more copays on my meds.:'(

My son takes Cogent in for his ET, caused by a combo of meds inside his body inter actions, they say.
More soon.
VJ

@vijay26
A DAT scan is not invasive, it is a nuclear medicine scan performed in a radiology center. A "tracer" (a safe radioactive isotope drug) is injected into your arm and travels through your blood stream. It binds to dopamine (transporters) an can be seen in your brain by the nuclear medicine equipment which is positioned close to your head. This allows doctors to see how much dopamine is produced by your brain and can determine if you have a deficiency of dopamine indicating whether you have Parkinsons.
Hope this helps, Joe

I am allergic to Isotope Iodine 137. When I had it for a
MRI scan, I Dr eloped respiratory failure.
What other Nuclear Medicine Isotope can they use on me?

Gadolinium is safe. I wonder of they use it at all in DAT
scan!?
Please reply.
Thanks.
VJ

@jflamini

The above post was made in response to yours
It should read," I developed respiratory failure"
That is why, I needed to know what other isotopes are used in DAT scan?!
VJ

@jflamini
Thank you.
VJ

@vijay26 I believe Gadolinium is used only for MRI scan and not for DAT Scans. Gadolinium has metallic properties that can be "seen" by the MRI magnet. By the way, Gadolinium is hard on some patients kidneys.
In contrast the radioactive isotope Iodine 137 is "seen" by the Nuclear Medicine DAT Scan because the scanner is like a large geiger counter reading the radiation flowing through your body. There are other radioactive isotopes with various levels of radiation to produce the best image depending on the type of scan. Your doctor and radiologist should be able to guide you to determine other options if you are allergic to Iodine 137.
Hope this helps, Joe

@jflamini
Thank you dr.Joe. I am learning new things daily here in this Support group pages.

I will ask my husband or my daughter to call my Neuro interventional Radiologist to find out exactly what would be suitable for me.
Thanks again.
W best regards,
VJ