CCSVI and Slovakia, Europe

ErikaSlovakia · Post by **ErikaSlovakia** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 11:54 pm

Good news for Slovakia.
I had the long trip yesterday because of Doppler.
Dr. Valasek also found it. I could even hear the problem in my left jugular. When I breath out and stop the breath the blood flow in that vein is 0. The noise of the Doppler machine stops. He could also see it. We checked it three times. To be honest I do not like the feeling to know that exactly that my blood flow stops to 0. He was explaining me everything during the test. He could also see and measure the problem with my right jugular. It is not so bad. He also said, of course I had to go for MRV. He is sure CT is for nothing.
Bad news is, there is NO 7 Tesla machine in whole Slovakia. If yes, only may be in the only research center in Bratislava.

On the other hand, prof. Stvrtinova - angiologist who knows Dr. Simka sent me an e-mail. She has really order an MRV and Doppler for me for next Thursday. I will find out how many Tesla.
Erika

whyRwehere · Post by **whyRwehere** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 12:56 am

The bus forgot to stop...that must have been very frustrating!! Glad you were able to confirm your problem...now the harder part.....

ErikaSlovakia · Post by **ErikaSlovakia** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 10:32 am

whyRwehere wrote:The bus forgot to stop...that must have been very frustrating!! Glad you were able to confirm your problem...now the harder part.....

Well, the bus line is not completely official. They do not have any information about it at the bus station. I found it on the internet. I called the owner of the company. They managed the next day to come. This is normal with me. I know things earlier then it becomes official. It has been whole my life like this.

I did not want to confirm my problem. I am sure about my problem since August the 7th, 9:30 am. Dr. Simka was in the middle of the Doppler ultrasound. I was sure I would go for a treatment to Poland as soon as he and his team are ready to operate me.
Dr. Valasek was interested and I want to inform these kind of doctors.
I will have 2 more Doppler in September in Bratislava. I am the only MS patient in Slovakia with exact diagnosis from Dr. Simka. I have chance to teach the doctors my way. I do not think Dr. dake or prof. Zamboni had patients from Slovakia.

There is no 7 Tesla MR in Slovakia or Czech republic for sure. I think I will dream about Mr. Nikola Tesla tonight. He was also studing in Prague, of course he left to the USA.
Erika
Hm, why do I think the harder part was?

CureOrBust · Post by **CureOrBust** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 9:47 pm

ErikaSlovakia wrote:Bad news is, there is NO 7 Tesla machine in whole Slovakia. If yes, only may be in the only research center in Bratislava.

Why the obsession with the strength of the MR? I would GUESS that the vascular structure they are looking for is not as small or detailed as a brain. Also, I would GUESS that a 1.5T MR machine would provide a lot more detail than a CT.

ErikaSlovakia · Post by **ErikaSlovakia** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 8:17 am

CureOrBust wrote:Why the obsession with the strength of the MR? I would GUESS that the vascular structure they are looking for is not as small or detailed as a brain. Also, I would GUESS that a 1.5T MR machine would provide a lot more detail than a CT.

I found it in more posts here that 7Tesla is the ideal solution for the diagnostic. 3Tesla with combination with SWI brings also high quality.
I am not sure if 1,5 T is enough. I would have to ask for simple explanation Dr. Haacke.
I will know more after Sept. 24. They will finally do an MRV for me in Bratislava. I do not know yet with how many Tesla.
1,5 T MR is definitely much better than CT.
Erika

CureOrBust · Post by **CureOrBust** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 5:31 pm

I think Dr Dake is using 1.5T, and I am sure I have read one of Dr Haacke's papers where he implied 1.5T's provided enough detail for SWI. I myself am hung-up on trying to find a 3T MRI that isn't booked out

for the next 3 months; being outside of standard protocol / medicine, I go to the end of any queue.

I did however read a story from a few years back, how one of the MRI centres were renting out the machine after hours, to perform tests on pets, at double the charge. Maybe... But, that was a centre with 1.5T, and I think the article was confused if it was outraged at a human medical device being used on animals, or if they were outraged at the "unfair" fees the little critters were being slugged

ErikaSlovakia · Post by **ErikaSlovakia** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 10:21 pm

Hi CureorBust!
Well, Dr. Dake is smart enough to use 1,5 T. I mean he has got really a lot of knowledge about CCSVI. Nobody has the knowledge in Slovakia.
Dr. Simka can also do it with 3 or less Tesla. I will see.
As for SWI - I know about it. The software must be very expensive. My country is poor country. I do not believe we have that. E.g. in my town is quite big hospital. There has been no hot water for over 5 months.
They have some "boiler" in the room where babies are born to have warm water.
This is of course not normal in Slovakia, but it happens. I am scared to get an attack. I would have to go to the hospital with no hot water for 5 days!

I just want to say with these words that we (my country) have other priorities.
Erika

Rokkit · Post by **Rokkit** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 6:34 am

ErikaSlovakia wrote:As for SWI - I know about it. The software must be very expensive. My country is poor country. I do not believe we have that.

Erika, I'm pretty sure Cheer said that the creator of the SWI software has made it freely available for download. Knowing you, it will be no problem to get a center in Slovakia to download it. Probably by the end of the day.

cheerleader · Post by **cheerleader** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 6:46 am

Dearest Erika....
I can't believe all the hurdles you must overcome!!! We should never, ever complain in America about anything...to not have hot water is simply heartbreaking, and yet I know it happens everyday, all over the world.

Here is the SPIN software to download for free- it has SWI capabilities
http://www.mrc.wayne.edu/download.htm

And here is information on SWI and the brochures for the software
http://mrimaging.com/

Maybe Dr. Haacke could consult with your imaging doctors. He is very approachable and eager to help in the battle against MS. His e-mail contact is on the mrimaging site.
all that is needed for this software is a 1.5 machine.-
know that we are all with you in this-
cheer

ErikaSlovakia · Post by **ErikaSlovakia** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:41 am

Dear Joan!
Thank you so much!!!
I will inform my doctors in Slovakia for sure. Excellent!
You made me happy.

I will have another trip to Bratislava on Thursday. I will meet prof. Stvrtinova - Mrs. - angiologist.
After, I have my MRV - I am going to send them the information from you right now, and after, Ultrasound. I will come home the same day but very tired.

Well, yes, life is not very easy in some countries. People in Ukraine have it even harder. But I did not want to complain, just explain the situation a little bit. I was in the USA, I watch CNN every day, but you people can not watch Slovak news so it is may be hard for some of you to imagine our everyday problems.
Erika

Jamie · Post by **Jamie** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:37 am

It's fantastic that the software is free.

If anyone can get doctors to look at it Erika can!!

ErikaSlovakia · Post by **ErikaSlovakia** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:43 am

Good news!
Dr. Valasek is on Slovak MS forum in CCSVI part.
I was already scared I would have to start my third University - to become a doctor.

He can now explain many issues for Slovak MS people.

I am still happy about the SWI software

Joan is helping so much!
Erika

ErikaSlovakia · Post by **ErikaSlovakia** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:09 am

Jamie wrote:It's fantastic that the software is free.

If anyone can get doctors to look at it Erika can!!

Hi Jamie,
I sent an e-mail already to prof. Stvrtinova (angiologist) and I asked her if the radiologist would be so nice and would install the software before my MRV.

I hope he does.
Just not many doctors speak fluently English here. I could help him with the installation if he does not mind.
If nothing works, I will force him to learn English within 24 hours

.
Erika

ErikaSlovakia · Post by **ErikaSlovakia** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:04 am

Rici`s OP in Poland has been postponed. Some important machines are coming 3 weeks later.
Erika

ErikaSlovakia · Post by **ErikaSlovakia** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 7:44 am

My next trip tomorrow.
I go by bus to Bratislava.
1. Meeting with the angiologist prof. Stvrtinova
2. another hospital - MRV
3. the same hospital Ultrasound
4. social insurance company
5. back home
I always travel by myself. I do not know if I make it without any problems because it is really a lot of action.
Please, send me some energy for my trip.
Thanks!
Erika