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MRI scan of head

Jenny Butterfly

Just wondering - would an MRI scan of the head for the purpose of checking for aneurysms also give other information regarding brain structures such as the amygdalae?  I've just had one done but think that the report will probably only focus on the medics' original purpose.  I'd like to know whether my amygdalae have been affected by the "anxiety years", or indeed whether they were larger to start with (so that I was always going to be prone to anxiety, irrespective of being autistic/in a neurominority).     

  • in reply to Jenny Butterfly

    I understand completely where you are coming from and that seems natural to me but I suspect it is ' closure '  ( American therapy talk that means very little ) you may be seeking on a deeper level. Many of us want to know exactly what is wrong with us and we want it explained with 100% clarity so there is absolutely no doubt. We just want the suffering to end and it would be nice if someone on the outside could come along and ' fix us ', like a superhero for example ( sadly another American myth of movies ). 

    I'm not reading into your own situation with any of the above as only you will know you best but what would change if you got all you wished for ? What would change if nothing abnormal was found and what would happen if they said, yeah there is a certain abnormality in this part of your brain ? 

    With the gazillions of variables in brain science would anything they told you satisfy you or bring ' closure ' ? Would an abnormality found not just bring with it 100's or 1000's of additional variables and torturous questions ? 

    Of course, if that is your thing and you wish to pursue a career from your findings then that is admirable. Otherwise, I'm not convinced of what a scan could benefit an individual ?

    Good luck in your proceedure btw Smiley.

  • in reply to Plastic

    No contrast media.  However, I did have another scan around 25 years ago so if there is a difference I think it'd stand out.  Plus I'd like to know whether my amygdalae resemble Temple Grandin's.  

    That said, it could be like my heart, which I'm sure will also be normal but which, from the earliest days, i thought I must be wearing out through high stress levels which sent it pounding for long periods each day.  

  • in reply to Turtle

    Ah, after decades I'm managing OK now and there's no need for any procedure or treatment (well, maybe a few edibles from time to time).  I just think it would have some explanatory value and I'd feel validated that I was, in fact, always somewhat different in that regard.  Moreover I've been told many times over the years that "Everyone gets nervous" or "We all get butterflies sometimes" by people who were basically wanting me to just shut up and put up and keep persisting because they felt that was what they did and I just didn't have the gumption for it.  Proof of a physical difference would therefore be very interesting to me and, since I've gone through the procedure for a different issue, it might just be easy to obtain.    

  • You would only be able to spot differences if you've got a series of MRIs taken over the years to compare with.     Did they use any contrast media like Gadolinium?     

    Have a chat with the neurologist when you see them afterwards.

    I've had lots of MRIs - and my neurologist says my brain is very, very normal after decades of crazy stress..

  • I have thought about this myself and what a scan could tell you but then thought, what would it matter what it told you ? What could you gain from it ? You would still be in the same position with or without it don't you think ? I understand we all want to know why but at the end of the day we have to live with how we are unless there is some procedure or treatment proven beneficial to the condition.