Finding a neurologist who understands medication-induced damage

[squirrel]

Today i went to see a neurologist. I had seen him 2 years ago.I got referred to him again because I am 6 years and still having problems.His opinion was that my symptoms are still related to Seroxat, he did a neuro examination and said I was no worse than last time.He said to take vitamin D and I was coping well!!! ( yeah right). My nervous system is very sensitive but there is nothing that can be done to help.

[stan]

I am 6 years and still having problems.His opinion was that my symptoms are still related to Seroxat,

My nervous system is very sensitive but there is nothing that can be done to help.

 

hi Squirrel,

he tell you this, maybe to make you pleasure (we do not know what they really think)

my GP who prescribes all day antidepressants, as i told her i will no more , since do not prescribe me (but her thinking are the same)

it is their job to reassure patients

that said,

it is seroxat related...because before meds you were sensitive but not this high

apparently brain recover but to reach 100% is not won

i think i will too have difficult to reach 100 % (today totally broken at 2 years)

as nothing can be do, we have to live with and waiting possible improvements (do we improve at 9 years ???)

for a first step, i would be happy to be 80% because three years 20/30% is not life

[Altostrata]

Today i went to see a neurologist. I had seen him 2 years ago.I got referred to him again because I am 6 years and still having problems.His opinion was that my symptoms are still related to Seroxat, he did a neuro examination and said I was no worse than last time.He said to take vitamin D and I was coping well!!! ( yeah right). My nervous system is very sensitive but there is nothing that can be done to help.

 

Well, at least he treated you with respect. And, neurologically, you're not deteriorating.

 

Fact is, even neurologists don't know what to do for autonomic instability.

[dunerbug]

I'm not sure who's been keeping up with my journey but I saw a Neurologist yesterday.

 

He was pretty old school. I asked (even though I already know the answer...just wanted to see what he'd say) if the przac could have caused all these problems.

 

He said that the new class of ssri's are as safe as taking a tylenol. I about wanted to s**t myself.

 

When I mentioned the *withdrawal experience* He quickly came in with "it's not withdrawal it's discontinuation syndrome hub bub* 

 

I took what he said about the meds with a grain of salt.  I expected that, so no big shock.

 

Outside of that, at least he listened to all my symptoms and the took time to talk with me. 

 

He wants me to have an MRI. I don't know if we can afford it yet. I feel like it will be a waste of time and money.

 

I even asked him if he thought it interesting that most of my symptoms showed up after usage.  He still didn't think prozac could do this. He said it was a very good drug. 

 

What I'm dealing with as far as timing is a coincidence. 

 

He said if we can't find anything wrong then it's simply a psychiatric issue. He was respectful of my wish to stay med free for the time being.

 

He's pretty old school and mainstream. With that being said he was interested and caring. 

 

So I'm pretty torn about the MRI. A part me wants to keep searching for answers and a part of me already knows..... I'm thinking that maybe if I exhaust these avenues I can eventually just rest.

 

He did mention dysautonomia, but ultimately  he doubted it because of how rare it is. He did say that if that is the case, it could explain my daughters symptoms as well.

 

All my daughters blood work was normal. So I'm at a loss. She still continues to experience blacking out upon standing.....All damn day! among other symptoms. 

 

Ugh.

 

So who here has had an MRI during withdrawal? ... and what did it show?

[Barbarannamated]

I had an MRI. It showed white matter hyperintensities (demyelination) that had been forming for awhile (chronic) and were presumed to be related to damage to microvasculature. My endocrinologist said it is due to autoimmune disease attacking brain -- cerebritis/vasculitis associated with lupus (SSRIs and other drugs can cause drug-induced lupus though he did not being this up).

 

However, SSRIs are also known to effect vasculature and blood parameters, especially platelets, throughout the body and have been associated with bleeds (strokes). I don't know if causation has been established.

 

I've given a lot of thought to this topic and often wish I never had the MRI. I know other people (unrelated to withdrawal boards) who've had similar results on MRIs and doctors attributed it to migraine activity and weren't concerned about the white matter hyperintensities.

 

Aside from slight apathy and amotivation, most of my symptoms coincided with withdrawal and are very similar to others', especially those who did a rapid taper or CT. I have not seen a neurologist. I know I should, but I'm so emotionally fragile that any more bad news or diagnoses will put me over the edge. The MRI results can be due to several different things and it seems that each doctor interprets the same set of symptoms and lab findings /scans according to their respective specialty and prescribe accordingly. EX: the lupus / Sjogrens researcher diagnosed me with Sjogrens despite inconclusive findings (common in rheumatology, I later learned). The OB/GYN who happens to know a lot about the MTHFR genetic polymorphism can explain how all of my medical problems and symptoms can be traced to that.

 

I've been prescribed steroids, immunosuppressants (chemo agents), an antimalarial. I only tried the steroid and had a bad reaction.

 

To anyone considering an MRI, I would suggest:

- what is the doctor suspecting and ordering the MRI for?

- what is doctor attempting to rule out? Tumor?

- what treatments are available for suspected conditions and will you be willing to comply with any recommended treatment, especially agents that may produce additional neuropsychiatric symptoms while only possibly delaying progression of suspected disease state? Taking that a step further... antidepressants and antipsychotics are sometimes used to treat the neuropsych side effects of the primary treatments (steroids, immunosuppressants/chemo, antimalarials). I'm not familiar with biologics, but they seem to be the new frontier for immune suppression and many diseases.

 

This is the tangled web I'm stuck in: to treat or not to treat? Is this withdrawal that will get better in time? Or is it a progressive, degenerative disease that will worsen? If I had not gotten the MRI, I would bet that it's withdrawal and will resolve. However, with each symptom or fuzzy day, I wonder if it's another brain bleed or some additional damage.

 

I don't mean to be dramatic, but to honestly convey the very difficult questions that I've been grappling with since getting my MRI results. Of course, there's always the possibility that your MRI will show nothing and provide relief to you.

 

I apologize... I have not kept up with your thread so please take whatever might apply.

[dunerbug]

Please don't apologize.

 

I appreciate your response.

 

I had the thought that if something comes up on the MRI, what am I willing to do about it?.....especially since I'm so sensitive.  

 

I think, at this point, I will go ahead with it if our insurance covers enough. (have to check into it) I am of the mind lately that I just need to know.

 

I'm so sorry for what you have and are dealing with. I can totally understand why you would feel that way.

 

It wouldn't surprise me a bit, if something is found, that I end up experiencing similar emotions.

 

I already feel so helpless. 

[dunerbug]

He said the MRI would be to rule out the major but common problems that can show up on an MRI. 

 

He brought up Ms. Don't think he was saying I could have that, so much as just giving an example of what could be ruled out.

 

I'm wondering If I can see that my brain is ok , if I will settle into allowing myself to heal. I'm hoping it could help me accept that it is withdrawal related and that I will be ok.  

 

My new life is so foreign to me and honestly, there are days when I loathe everything. I feel I'm mourning all the time. I hate the way I am. I feel like a sniveling, complaining, pathetic excuse for what I used to be like.

 

It doesn't help that I have a well meaning family member that jokingly calls me a hypochondriac. I know this person is kidding but I've often thought....."Am I imagining all this?"  "Is this all just a mental issue...and do I really just need to be back on medication?"

 

I know I must really work on how I feel about myself.

[Barbarannamated]

Your post reminded me that my endocrinologist described the lesions I have as "similar to MS, but in a different pattern".

[Barbarannamated]

Dunerbug,

 

Did you decide to have the MRI? If so, did the results show anything? I hope you'll keep us posted.

[btdt]

I had an MRI. It showed white matter hyperintensities (demyelination) that had been forming for awhile (chronic) and were presumed to be related to damage to microvasculature. My endocrinologist said it is due to autoimmune disease attacking brain -- cerebritis/vasculitis associated with lupus (SSRIs and other drugs can cause drug-induced lupus though he did not being this up).

 

However, SSRIs are also known to effect vasculature and blood parameters, especially platelets, throughout the body and have been associated with bleeds (strokes). I don't know if causation has been established.

 

I've given a lot of thought to this topic and often wish I never had the MRI. I know other people (unrelated to withdrawal boards) who've had similar results on MRIs and doctors attributed it to migraine activity and weren't concerned about the white matter hyperintensities.

 

Aside from slight apathy and amotivation, most of my symptoms coincided with withdrawal and are very similar to others', especially those who did a rapid taper or CT. I have not seen a neurologist. I know I should, but I'm so emotionally fragile that any more bad news or diagnoses will put me over the edge. The MRI results can be due to several different things and it seems that each doctor interprets the same set of symptoms and lab findings /scans according to their respective specialty and prescribe accordingly. EX: the lupus / Sjogrens researcher diagnosed me with Sjogrens despite inconclusive findings (common in rheumatology, I later learned). The OB/GYN who happens to know a lot about the MTHFR genetic polymorphism can explain how all of my medical problems and symptoms can be traced to that.

 

I've been prescribed steroids, immunosuppressants (chemo agents), an antimalarial. I only tried the steroid and had a bad reaction.

 

To anyone considering an MRI, I would suggest:

- what is the doctor suspecting and ordering the MRI for?

- what is doctor attempting to rule out? Tumor?

- what treatments are available for suspected conditions and will you be willing to comply with any recommended treatment, especially agents that may produce additional neuropsychiatric symptoms while only possibly delaying progression of suspected disease state? Taking that a step further... antidepressants and antipsychotics are sometimes used to treat the neuropsych side effects of the primary treatments (steroids, immunosuppressants/chemo, antimalarials). I'm not familiar with biologics, but they seem to be the new frontier for immune suppression and many diseases.

 

This is the tangled web I'm stuck in: to treat or not to treat? Is this withdrawal that will get better in time? Or is it a progressive, degenerative disease that will worsen? If I had not gotten the MRI, I would bet that it's withdrawal and will resolve. However, with each symptom or fuzzy day, I wonder if it's another brain bleed or some additional damage.

 

I don't mean to be dramatic, but to honestly convey the very difficult questions that I've been grappling with since getting my MRI results. Of course, there's always the possibility that your MRI will show nothing and provide relief to you.

 

I apologize... I have not kept up with your thread so please take whatever might apply.

". EX: the lupus / Sjogrens researcher diagnosed me with Sjogrens despite inconclusive findings (common in rheumatology, I later learned). The OB/GYN who happens to know a lot about the MTHFR genetic polymorphism can explain how all of my medical problems and symptoms can be traced to that. " 

 

If I were in your shoes I think I would needs some science based medicine before I would take a med to treat a disorder they are not sure about.

Has the medication treated any symptoms you had?  Have you improved?

 

biologics some at least can cause cancer be very careful in your research.  

 

I guess if the drugs are treating some symptoms you have and are working for you there is some sense in it.  The real reason to do anything is to improve our health and life while we are still here. 

I have about the same test results as you migraine may be a cause as well as vasculitis which was not tested for further... so who knows nothing to get too excited about I guess as no treatment was offered.  or even suggested. 

 

I had a further issue last years since the mir a cat scan showed a calcium deposit in my brain... guess that was nothing too... my symptoms were after having a lidocaine injection  I could not see right or walk properly for a few months... testing for allergy to lidocaine got me the suggestion I had a Transient Ischemic attack just happened to be at the same time the dentist gave me the injection.  O so I am told three days later I was leaning to one side and my puples were not reacting to light so I had a brain ct.... found the calcium depoist which I am assuming was not there previously.  nothing further has been done or found. 

[btdt]

I think it very important to post our tests results we may just hit on something and we have no other way of finding out if there is a common denominator here 

[Barbarannamated]

I think it very important to post our tests results we may just hit on something and we have no other way of finding out if there is a common denominator here

I agree. It could be enlightening to show commonalities and the various interpretations by doctors. I have not proceeded with any of the suggested treatments. I tried low dose hydrocortisone for adrenals (high dose is used for immunosuppression) and had bad response with mood. I suspect many of those who took multiple serotonergics would show vascular changes on MRI but that's pure speculation on my part.

[GiaK]

I had an MRI a couple of years ago...about maybe 1 year post withdrawal...it was normal...

[Barbarannamated]

I had an MRI a couple of years ago...about maybe 1 year post withdrawal...it was normal...

Well...that shoots my theory down. Gia, I know you've said elsewhere, but.... were you on high doses or multiple SS/NRIs or other serotonergics in your cocktails?

[GiaK]

yes...to all of those...high doses, multiple and both SS and SNRIs...

 

and as you know I've been impaired in various excessive ways for a long time...though it's clear I'm healing and currently going through accelerated healing...

 

it does seem that even those of us who have it really bad can heal 

 

and of course generalizing is not always helpful...it does seem we're all different...one theory may work from one person but not another. 

[Barbarannamated]

Thanks, Gia.

[dunerbug]

I haven't had it done yet. It will be pretty expensive. 

 

It will not happen now, til after tax return time.

 

I am still pretty torn.

[btdt]

I was sure I made a post here stating my results last time and the new cat scan I had last year with a calcium type deposit post reaction to lidocaine at a dental appointment and supposed tia immediately after... maybe it was on another thread.  The results of my MRI were the same as Barbs.

[btdt]

sorry same area white matter and not the demylenation but vascular and mirgraine likely causes never looked any further..

[Barbarannamated]

MRIs are not as cut and dried as I once thought. One doc told me that they are subject to "over reading" or overinterpretation. Different radiologists can look at same scan and interpret as diseased or normal. I also think it might depend on the reason it was ordered. My results said that the micro vascular changes may be result of vasculitis or cerebritis. The indication (billing code) my doctor wrote on MRI order was "cerebritis / vasculitis". I wonder, if there had been no mention of cerebritis by my doctor, if the radiologist would have even mentioned.

 

A neuroradiologist has my scans now. It is an unofficial 2nd opinion arranged through a friend. I hope I'm not sorry I opened up this question again.

[btdt]

MRIs are not as cut and dried as I once thought. One doc told me that they are subject to "over reading" or overinterpretation. Different radiologists can look at same scan and interpret as diseased or normal. I also think it might depend on the reason it was ordered. My results said that the micro vascular changes may be result of vasculitis or cerebritis. The indication (billing code) my doctor wrote on MRI order was "cerebritis / vasculitis". I wonder, if there had been no mention of cerebritis by my doctor, if the radiologist would have even mentioned.A neuroradiologist has my scans now. It is an unofficial 2nd opinion arranged through a friend. I hope I'm not sorry I opened up this question again.

As far as I know the neurologist who ordered my MRIs was looking for MS and or Parkinsons because of the symptoms I was displaying at the time I went to see him... I was still on Effexor when this was done so I should not have put it here  I just noticed your asking for MRI since getting off the drugs.  I quit Effexor I think just before or just after the MRI I can't quite recall which came first the MRI or the Qutting they were close together... The CT scan which found the calcium deposit was 5-6 years after being off Antidepresants.. but it is not and MRI

[btdt]

sorry I see I posted here already I forgot or could not find it..
 
and sorry to Barb I thought you were taking a steriod for the immune issue... I now see your not...
 
"CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormones"

[UnfoldingSky]

I have had two MRIs, and a CAT scan.  Both normal, or so I was told.  And my drug issues have been severe (I had very severe memory loss for a number of years, among other problems.)  I also have signs of tardive dyskinesia.

 

The MRIs I had were used to reinforce the idea that I was crazy and the drugs weren't dangerous.  A doctor I met who was not treating me also told me they are open to interpretation, so, if somehow the drugs have done something to your brain that they can see, with your doctor already having said Prozac is wonderful the chances the drug would ever be blamed are about nil.  Just so you know though, I've read on withdrawal boards like this one for years and only seen a very few people report MRI findings, and the general consensus on other boards seemed to be that whatever the drugs do do, it doesn't show up on MRIs. 

[Barbarannamated]

Question for those who had normal MRIs: did you see the reports and, if so, did any show white matter hyperintensities? I'm hoping that mine may have been a case of overinterpretation.

 

Agree with UnfoldingSky that using MRI to prove drugs caused problems is highly unlikely. There are too many other possibilities and variables.

 

There is a woman in Denmark whose MRI was used in court to show damage. I'm not sure how that turned out. She was on Prozac, I believe. The newspaper article is on the forum somewhere.

 

I know of a handful of people who had white matter hyperintensities that were deemed "normal" aging of the brain.

 

I am curious as to what this new neuroradiologist will say about my MRI and MRA. He will get in tonight. I'm not sure when I might hear back from him. I do have a missing artery branch as shown on MRA.

[UnfoldingSky]

Barb,

 

No, I didn't see the reports.  I also was very adamant that my problems were drug-related, and given that the doctors I saw were quite adamant they weren't (and this in spite of the fact that two doctors actually initially said I had drug-induced problems) I honestly would not be surprised if I was lied to.

 

A friend of mine had severe tardive dyskinesia, and though four doctors diagnosed it, none would attribute it to drugs, even though he'd been on a boatload of pills known to cause it.  He said they would tell him that he had other neurological conditions, which it turned out were easy to disprove, as they were genetic.  No history in the family. 

 

So because of that and other maddening experiences with doctors I honestly would not put it past them to flat out lie if there were findings in a case like mine.  And from your post above it sounds like they look for what they expect to find--but what in the world could they expect to find if there is no pool of scans done on people with iatrogenic issues to compare them to???  If that's how things operate, then there's no point in getting a scan save to rule out other problems.

 

Anyway I hope your second reading goes in your favour. 

[UnfoldingSky]

I wonder, their idea of "normal aging", was it derived from people who were drug naive?

 

Oh and one more general point--for anyone who doesn't want to have a scan, if you can manage this, you can try telling them to diagnose you without one.  Someone I know did that because they couldn't actually handle getting the MRI done.  The neurologist did as asked.  There's no reason they should have to rely on scans given that back in the day they didn't exist.

[Meimeiquest]

I had one in 2004, age 43, 5 years into my 2nd round of Prozac. It was follow-up of ambiguity on a CT scan after a car accident, so dr. said it was essentially random, and he said there had never been a study of random results, so it might be that 30% of people my age might show the same thing and I should forget I ever had it. To myself, I attributed it to being overweight: "There is mild white matter disease with a few scattered areas of high FLAIR and T2 signal bilaterally. An additional questionable tiny lesion anteriorly in the pons on the right. These are nonspecific and could relate to demyelination disease in this relatively young patient. Clinical correlation is recommended. (Irrelevant stuff about accident). Other possibilities include migraine related white matter changes, vasculitis or advanced small vessel disease. No major vascular infarct. A few small peri vascular spaces are open. Ventricles and sulci are WNL for age. No acute infarct on the diffusion sequence."

[Barbarannamated]

I had one in 2004, age 43, 5 years into my 2nd round of Prozac. It was follow-up of ambiguity on a CT scan after a car accident, so dr. said it was essentially random, and he said there had never been a study of random results, so it might be that 30% of people my age might show the same thing and I should forget I ever had it. To myself, I attributed it to being overweight: "There is mild white matter disease with a few scattered areas of high FLAIR and T2 signal bilaterally. An additional questionable tiny lesion anteriorly in the pons on the right. These are nonspecific and could relate to demyelination disease in this relatively young patient. Clinical correlation is recommended. (Irrelevant stuff about accident). Other possibilities include migraine related white matter changes, vasculitis or advanced small vessel disease. No major vascular infarct. A few small peri vascular spaces are open. Ventricles and sulci are WNL for age. No acute infarct on the diffusion sequence."

Very interesting and detailed report, Meimei. Did your doctor interpret this as problematic or in need of any treatment? This is where the confusion comes in for me.... a lot of the verbage in your report is similar to mine (vascular emphasis), but my doc jumped in with steroid treatment for assumed autoimmune attack on brain (vasculitis/cerebritis) that would continue to worsen. It sounds like yours had different response (that I like much better!). This scan, report and treatment approach has caused me tremendous distress and hopelessness.Dunerbug, is this discussion helping you at all?

[Meimeiquest]

The big difference between yours and mine was that mine was not done for diagnostic purposes. I had vertigo 2 days after the car accident and because I was in the hospital caring for my daughter I was sent to the ER. They wanted to rule out a bleed, which the CT scan did. But it showed an "old infarct." I went for a second opinion on that, which is how I had the MRI. The neurologist couldn't find any neuro abnormalities, just my long-standing pain and fatigue. He said, "I think aspirin is a good idea for anyone over forty, otherwise forget you ever had this." He said I was much too old to have early MS.

[Barbarannamated]

Just got word from Neuroradiologist who is reviewing my MRI and MRA. He wants to confer with a few colleagues and will get back to me Thursday or Friday. Just what I wanted for Christmas.

[btdt]

The big difference between yours and mine was that mine was not done for diagnostic purposes. I had vertigo 2 days after the car accident and because I was in the hospital caring for my daughter I was sent to the ER. They wanted to rule out a bleed, which the CT scan did. But it showed an "old infarct." I went for a second opinion on that, which is how I had the MRI. The neurologist couldn't find any neuro abnormalities, just my long-standing pain and fatigue. He said, "I think aspirin is a good idea for anyone over forty, otherwise forget you ever had this." He said I was much too old to have early MS.

"The neurologist couldn't find any neuro abnormalities, just my long-standing pain and fatigue"

Are you implying he could see something on you MRI could see this...or something relating to this?

[btdt]

I have had two MRIs, and a CAT scan.  Both normal, or so I was told.  And my drug issues have been severe (I had very severe memory loss for a number of years, among other problems.)  I also have signs of tardive dyskinesia.

 

The MRIs I had were used to reinforce the idea that I was crazy and the drugs weren't dangerous.  A doctor I met who was not treating me also told me they are open to interpretation, so, if somehow the drugs have done something to your brain that they can see, with your doctor already having said Prozac is wonderful the chances the drug would ever be blamed are about nil.  Just so you know though, I've read on withdrawal boards like this one for years and only seen a very few people report MRI findings, and the general consensus on other boards seemed to be that whatever the drugs do do, it doesn't show up on MRIs. 

For a time I was keeping a list on people with these type of issues in the white matter who were in withdrawal I think before I came to this site I had 6 including myself. I also did have a study long ago of the effects of antidepressants on the brain a quick google search says an MRI can detect changes in the brain caused by ssri they use this as a reason to take the drugs.

[btdt]

Barb,

 

No, I didn't see the reports.  I also was very adamant that my problems were drug-related, and given that the doctors I saw were quite adamant they weren't (and this in spite of the fact that two doctors actually initially said I had drug-induced problems) I honestly would not be surprised if I was lied to.

 

A friend of mine had severe tardive dyskinesia, and though four doctors diagnosed it, none would attribute it to drugs, even though he'd been on a boatload of pills known to cause it.  He said they would tell him that he had other neurological conditions, which it turned out were easy to disprove, as they were genetic.  No history in the family. 

 

So because of that and other maddening experiences with doctors I honestly would not put it past them to flat out lie if there were findings in a case like mine.  And from your post above it sounds like they look for what they expect to find--but what in the world could they expect to find if there is no pool of scans done on people with iatrogenic issues to compare them to???  If that's how things operate, then there's no point in getting a scan save to rule out other problems.

 

Anyway I hope your second reading goes in your favour. 

We are of the same mind on this.  I agree. 

[btdt]

Just got word from Neuroradiologist who is reviewing my MRI and MRA. He wants to confer with a few colleagues and will get back to me Thursday or Friday. Just what I wanted for Christmas.

I am wondering if you did take any steroid suggested to treat the supposed attack on the brain?  Are you having a second opinion to make sure that dx was correct?  I feel like I am missing something here.. tho I don't know what.  

The place your at in withdrawal is known for health worries and stress as so many things are going haywire all at the same time any one would worry but at that to withdrawal and you end up with health anxiety.  So they call it....

What kept me going during that time was walking.. and deep relaxation I found online.  My options were very limited but that may have been a blessing as I needed to slow down to heal.  I hope you try some deep relaxation 

I like this one 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyy0ra2WcQQ

it is followed by a healing meditation which come on automatically 

[UnfoldingSky]

For a time I was keeping a list on people with these type of issues in the white matter who were in withdrawal I think before I came to this site I had 6 including myself. I also did have a study long ago of the effects of antidepressants on the brain a quick google search says an MRI can detect changes in the brain caused by ssri they use this as a reason to take the drugs.

 

 

Do you have a copy of the list still?  Did they have any other health conditions that would explain the findings?

 

I just googled MRIs and antidepressant and found a rather creepy article, of dubious origin no doubt, that stated that the actual use of MRIs alone produced an "antidepressant" effect.  Similar to what they apparently find on MRIs of people taking drugs.  Would like to know where that research is. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Barbarannamated]

 

Just got word from Neuroradiologist who is reviewing my MRI and MRA. He wants to confer with a few colleagues and will get back to me Thursday or Friday. Just what I wanted for Christmas.

I am wondering if you did take any steroid suggested to treat the supposed attack on the brain? Are you having a second opinion to make sure that dx was correct? I feel like I am missing something here.. tho I don't know what. The place your at in withdrawal is known for health worries and stress as so many things are going haywire all at the same time any one would worry but at that to withdrawal and you end up with health anxiety. So they call it....What kept me going during that time was walking.. and deep relaxation I found online. My options were very limited but that may have been a blessing as I needed to slow down to heal. I hope you try some deep relaxation I like this one

it is followed by a healing meditation which come on automatically

I never saw a neurologist or any doctor who could look at the actual scan and explain it. I'm not willing to take steroids, chemo agents or antimalarial I've been prescribed.  This opportunity came out of the blue....to get a 2nd opinion from this neuroradiolist who specializes in difficult cases. Friend of friend kind of thing.