I just wanted to let my MM family know that I am scheduled for my cerebral blood flow test in Dallas on August 9th.  Dr. Steinberg got with my neurologist in Dallas and they both decided to schedule this (6 mos. after my stroke) to see how much the MM has progressed.  If it has progressed, surgery may be indicated.  If it has stayed the same (early stage) Dr. Steinberg and my neurologist agree to keep me on my meds another 4-6 mos and do another blood flow test then.  I just wanted to let you know so that you could keep me in your prayers.  You all know that we can't have too many of those.  I am just hoping that I get some info one way or the other.  I just hate being in limbo like I have since my stroke in Jan.  Thanks everybody in advance and I will let you know what I find out.  They said that it will take about l week after my scan to fine out any results.   Laura in Louisiana

Hello Laura, Tom G here and I'm in your same position,  Had a bad stroke (I guess you could call it a stroke of bad luck ) sorry but you have to learn to laugh it really helps,  Anyway Dr. Conolly says that I dont need the surgery either and that I'm doing fine with good blood flow and no symptoms.  Now I can't say that I'm praying for negative results so you can have the surgery.  But I'm floating in that same  awful limbo.  Yes I would welcome the surgery but I have tremendous faith in my doctors and believe that the ultimate surgeon is god and he is guiding all of this.
Take care and god bless  Tom Gallucci

Hey Caras mom, I just got home tonight from Dallas, so I am sorry that I haven't replied sooner.  No, the test that I had is different from the SPECT scan.  I wasn't sure, but I spoke with Tricia ( from this site) while I was in Texas and she said that they are different.  The cerebral blood flow test is done on a CT looking table.  They put a snorkle in your mouth so that no air gets in.  Then they put a clothes clip on your nose so that you can't breath in through your nose either.  It is  not very fun at all!!!  Then they run neuclear medicine through the snorkle and you breathe through your mouth.  The first part of the test is done without diamox.  Then the second part is done after injecting diamox into the veins.  If you are at all clostrophobic, you probably could not make it through the test, because you don't feel that you can breathe at all!!!  The test lasts about l l/2 hours.  It gives you a HORRIBLE headache during and afterwords.  I had the test run six months ago after first being diagnosed with MM.  I haven't gotten the results back yet to see if the blood flow is any worse or not from the last one.  I should hear back next week.  I don't know if any of you have had this perticular test done, but I haven't read that any of you have.  I believe that right after my stroke in Jan. that the right side of my brain only was getting 30% blood flow and the left side was getting about 50%.  I am anxious to see what it is now..............This waiting part is hard!!!  Laura

Mandy had her surgery by Dr. Steinberg but never had a cerebral blood flow test so I can't help you out there, sorry.
                    Nancy