Which MRI is Right? Are Lee's Headaches a Clue?

The nurse at the neurosurgeon's office listened to me yesterday--the first time I've really been listened to in a week and a half since Lee's pain began.  She said she would have the doctor look at Lee's chart, as well as tell him about the things that have been happening to him recently:

• Severe Head/Ear/Cheek/Mouth Pain
• Skin sensitivity on his head and face
• Two episodes of his line of vision turning upside down
• Throbbing Headaches as recently as yesterday

I also told her that I met with Lee's teacher Friday.  She has taught for 30 years, and says that it is typical for 7 year-old little boys to be forgetful, flighty, spacey, and disorganized.  But, if she were to lump all of her typical forgetful, flighty, spacey, and disorganized 7 year-old little boys, Lee would not fit in that group as typical.  His forgetfulness, spaciness, etc. is far more extreme.  He is quiet and kind--so much so that she strategically has him sitting beside a sensitive, shy girl who is safe with Lee.  But, he doesn't complete his classwork.

Lee explains it this way.  That his brain goes to sleep sometimes listening to music, or replaying movies in his head.

Anyway, not even 5 minutes after the nurse and I hung up, I received a phone call from the Physician's Assistant.  He had Lee's chart, and was reviewing his MRI from 2010.  He observed Lee's 10ml Chiari Malformation.  In order to be diagnosed as having a Chiari Malformation, it has to be 5ml or more.  The point being this:  It appeared significantly enough on the 2010 MRI, for the 2012 MRI that showed no Chiari to be suspect.  It would be irresponsible to not do a third MRI.  Thank you!!!!!!  

It was partially for this reason that we fired the last Neurologist.  She said, point blank, that Children's Hospital LA, the place where Lee received his MRI in 2012, is a far superior hospital compared to the smaller Community Hospital where he had his MRI in 2010.  Well, duh.  But because of the superiority of Children's LA, she deemed the 2010 community hospital MRI to be in error.  End of story.

The P.A. today said that since the 2010 community hospital MRI showed such a significant presence of the Chiari, we have to do a third MRI, and this time with contrast.

He went on to further explain that Neurosurgeons are far better equipped to determine whether there is a Chiari present, which is what Lee's new Neurologist said.  

So, this is the deal.  Lee will see the Neurosurgeon on October 2, the Neurosurgeon will order an MRI with contrast at Children's LA.  Then, we will go back to the Neurosurgeon so that he can tell us what he found.  So, hopefully we will have answers soon. 

Nothing about this process is quick.  But, at least we're getting somewhere.