B
butterflydreams
Guest
A brain SPECT shows the blood flow of the brain and the actual functioning of the brain, versus the structure of the brain like a regular CT scan. Here is something I found that explains the test more:
"A SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography) brain scan is a diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging procedure that permits physicians to visualize brain function by obtaining three-dimensional images of the brain."
"A SPECT brain scan can show how well the various regions of your brain are functioning. This information can help your doctor make a more accurate diagnosis."
The use of the brain SPECT is so that they can see abnormalities relating to how the blood flows and if any part of the brain is not getting blood flow or what is functioning and what isn't, it is fairly new in use in the psychiatric field and very few doctors are trained to read it. There is a lot of controversy in using it for psychiatric reasons - but that being said it can be very helpful. They use this type of imaging on other parts of the body too.
I hope this was helpful.
I appreciate everyones prayers and we are all hoping for the best. I will keep everyone posted.
Christy
looking4hope
New Member
I'm glad that the scan picked this up. Many times our difficult child's behaviors don't get the right diagnosis because these tests are not typically done. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this stressful time.
Please let us know the outcome. I am hoping and praying for the best for your family. And do something for yourself, even if it's getting out for an hour to have a cup of coffee and read for an hour. If you take care of yourself, you can better take care of your family. HUGS!!!
Please let us know the outcome. I am hoping and praying for the best for your family. And do something for yourself, even if it's getting out for an hour to have a cup of coffee and read for an hour. If you take care of yourself, you can better take care of your family. HUGS!!!
timer lady
Queen of Hearts
Adding in my good thoughts for difficult child. I'm sorry I missed this yesterday.
Any updates????
Any updates????
Star*
call 911........call 911
Butterfly,
I saw your post and have avoided it for a day or so. I'm sorry I wasn't able to be one of the first to post to give you encouragement. I just didn't know what to possibly say to you since this is about your son.
I know what it's like to be scared over the possibility of doctors thinking you have a tumor as 2 years ago I had to undergo an MRI for the same thing. My tests came back negative. I cried all the way home.
So I will send you strength and courage that I have left over from that event and tell you to take one day at a time. You have my heart felt encouragement!
Hugs
Star
I saw your post and have avoided it for a day or so. I'm sorry I wasn't able to be one of the first to post to give you encouragement. I just didn't know what to possibly say to you since this is about your son.
I know what it's like to be scared over the possibility of doctors thinking you have a tumor as 2 years ago I had to undergo an MRI for the same thing. My tests came back negative. I cried all the way home.
So I will send you strength and courage that I have left over from that event and tell you to take one day at a time. You have my heart felt encouragement!
Hugs
Star
Your post is so interesting to me because SPECT and PET scans are often talked about on this site and I have been here long enough to remember, not so long ago, when they were completely dismissed as voodoo that didn't help diagnose anything important to our difficult child's. I disagreed and have hoped that more and more doctors would use them in our difficult child's as I know they provide a great deal of information that would not otherwise be found. Hopefully insurance companies will soon get on board and understand this also so that they become the standard of treatment.
I hope and pray that what they found in this scan is not serious and can be treated and perhaps even resolve many of his issues.
Nancy
I hope and pray that what they found in this scan is not serious and can be treated and perhaps even resolve many of his issues.
Nancy
B
butterflydreams
Guest
Thank you everyone for your support. This waiting is exhausting. Thursday can't get here soon enough so that the CT Scan will at least be done. The doctor expects to have the result on Friday.
Star, thank you for the encouragement, I completely understand where you have gone through something similar for yourself that it must have been like hearing it again.
We did have treatment team this morning, so I was able to talk to the psychiatrist, of course he doesn't know anything, he just kept repeating that we just have to wait for the scan.
We are at the end of our time with mental health coverage too. psychiatrist was going to be calling the doctor at the state facility again today and asking if there is a bed available - there was 2 weeks ago, but this week who knows. The nurse who handles all the insurance and placements and stuff is supposed to find out the final count today - I am supposed to hear on that tomorrow. The problem is he is not ready to go home yet, psychiatrist feels (and I do too) that if he goes home now that all of the progress they have made will be lost if he is home for any length of time before residential.
My son's hallucinations are getting worse, the figure he is seeing is different and they are now taking on a 3D aspect and he is even claiming that this "figure" that he is now seeing has scratched him, this figure also makes noise.
Of course everything could change depending on what the scan shows. I will keep everyone updated.
Christy
Star, thank you for the encouragement, I completely understand where you have gone through something similar for yourself that it must have been like hearing it again.
We did have treatment team this morning, so I was able to talk to the psychiatrist, of course he doesn't know anything, he just kept repeating that we just have to wait for the scan.
We are at the end of our time with mental health coverage too. psychiatrist was going to be calling the doctor at the state facility again today and asking if there is a bed available - there was 2 weeks ago, but this week who knows. The nurse who handles all the insurance and placements and stuff is supposed to find out the final count today - I am supposed to hear on that tomorrow. The problem is he is not ready to go home yet, psychiatrist feels (and I do too) that if he goes home now that all of the progress they have made will be lost if he is home for any length of time before residential.
My son's hallucinations are getting worse, the figure he is seeing is different and they are now taking on a 3D aspect and he is even claiming that this "figure" that he is now seeing has scratched him, this figure also makes noise.
Of course everything could change depending on what the scan shows. I will keep everyone updated.
Christy
Hound dog
Nana's are Beautiful
I could've sworn I posted on this thread earlier, but evidently I didn't. I'm so sorry.
Waiting can be dreadful. I'm the sort of person who just has to think of every worst case senerio no matter what the odds, so by the time I get the news I'm a wreck. Of course when it's good news I'm ready to jump up and dance I'm so releaved.
When Travis was going for the polycythemia diagnosis we kept hearing from all of the specialist how "impossible" it was for him to have it. Not to worry. It's a fairly rare disorder to begin with, far rarer for someone his age (19 at diagnosis). They just couldn't believe he'd have it. It had to be something else.
Blood tests were rushed through and repeated to be sure, while we waited on results. Then the bone marrow testing was done in a rush, and again the long wait for the results. I was almost in a frenzy by the time the docs confirmed the diagnosis of polycythemia. Odd things was though, after worrying about it and building it up so much in my mind it didn't come as quite the hard blow I expected.
But still I hate waiting.
Saying prayers and crossing body parts for you and your son. I am thinking he might have fell into the hands of this doctor for a good reason.
(((hugs)))
Waiting can be dreadful. I'm the sort of person who just has to think of every worst case senerio no matter what the odds, so by the time I get the news I'm a wreck. Of course when it's good news I'm ready to jump up and dance I'm so releaved.
When Travis was going for the polycythemia diagnosis we kept hearing from all of the specialist how "impossible" it was for him to have it. Not to worry. It's a fairly rare disorder to begin with, far rarer for someone his age (19 at diagnosis). They just couldn't believe he'd have it. It had to be something else.
Blood tests were rushed through and repeated to be sure, while we waited on results. Then the bone marrow testing was done in a rush, and again the long wait for the results. I was almost in a frenzy by the time the docs confirmed the diagnosis of polycythemia. Odd things was though, after worrying about it and building it up so much in my mind it didn't come as quite the hard blow I expected.
But still I hate waiting.
Saying prayers and crossing body parts for you and your son. I am thinking he might have fell into the hands of this doctor for a good reason.
(((hugs)))
