3rd Mri in as many months. Is this normal ??

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

Dd1 (13) has scoliosis. I spotted it last year and after a wait of over 6mthsd and a complaint she was seen in January and we wee told that it was highly likely she would need surgery.

The consultant said that as a preauition and to rule out and brain or spinal cord abnormalities she would also have an mri.

She had the first one in March, this was a full spinal x-ray inc neck. 2 weeks after that we get a letter for another mri in 2 weeks, this time for an mri of head and of neck.
I rang up at the time thinking it might be a mistake but was told that the radiologists report had requested more pictures.

Today we have had another letter for another mri, again of head a neck.

I don't understand whats going on. Obviously i am going to ring on tuesday and see if i can speak to someone about it, but surely this isnt right. I mean the original mri was done to rule things out, so presumably it hasn't, but what i dont know. I also don't understand why they now seem to be focusing on her head and neck either.

I think this has turnedd into more of a rant than a question, but if anyone does have any experience of having to have repeat mris in such a short space of time, i'd appreciate your opinion.

[saggarmakersbottomknocker]

Hi Nutty - they finally got moving on this then?

Sorry that she might need surgery. No advice re the MRIs though perhaps the first head and neck wasn't clear and they need to repeat it ? I know dds last MRI didn't give them the pictures they wanted.

How does she manage when she has them? dd is due another this year and is dreading it.

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

Hi, yeh i got my mp involved in the end and very shortly after we were given an appointment.

DD doesnt seem to mind the mri's tbh. She's not keen on the head and neck bit though as the thing gets so close to her face.

I am just worried that they seem to be focusing on her head and neck without telling us why.

I am going to ring on tuesday and see if i can speak to someone to clear things up a bit.

How is your dd doing ?

[saggarmakersbottomknocker]

She's fine Nutty, thanks. We're transferred over to adult services now so no more visit's to the Children's.

I'd call and find out what's going on - it's horrible when you feel out of the loop.

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

Are the services any more organised as an adult ?

I went into outpatients with a patient at work the other week, and it was packed and very noisy. Must be hell having to wait in there for any length of time.

[saggarmakersbottomknocker]

Not at the moment because cardiac is split between Selly Oak and the new QE - tests at the QE and OP at Selly Oak so you don't get everything done in one day like we used to at the children's. Hopefully it will all be in one place at some point in the future. I only had to go to the main OP once or twice at BCH and it was grim.

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

Well I spoke to staff in the mri dept, and the lady I spoe to said that she also thought it that odd, that she shoved the new request under the radiologists nose, and asked if it was a mistake and the radiologist said no, it needed doing, but didnt say why.

I then rang the consultants secretary and she also said 'oh no, that is very weird, 3 mris in as many mths, thats not right'.

She said maybe it is a mistake, but clearly not according to the mri dept. Anyway she is going to look into it and ring me back next week, becaue the consultant is away atm.

I am getting more worried by the day as it is like they have seen something on the head or neck scan, and want a better look, but won't say what is going on.

[activate]

they probably did the head and neck one wrong - or she moved and affected the information they got so they need to repeat it - maybe they should have been doing a contrast MRI and didn't follow the requests

I wouldn't worry because MRIs are quite benign (I have one 6 monthly)

not sure what you mean by the head and neck being closer though?

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

Sorry, i meant that when she has the head and neck mri, she has to have a big plastic brace thingy over her face and she doesn't like that.

I spoke to the consultants secretary again today as when I spoke to her last week, she was going to try and find out if the request for another mri was a mistake.
Anyway, she had left a note for the consultant asking just that, and if the mri was needed and all he did was write Yes! next to her question.

I am really quite upset and angry and confused now. Evry time i speak to someone at the hospital they all say how odd it is for her to be having her 3rd mri within nearly as many mths, so I now it isn't normal and I am worried to death what it might be.
The general consensus is that she might have moved during the scan, but dd is adamant she hasn't as she knows how important it is to be still.

As the consultant originally said that the mri was to rule brain and spinal abnormalities out, i am worried that they have seen something on the scan and are rechecking it.

Have to wait for the mri on 23rd june now and then hope that we finally get to see the consultant again.

[MarianH]

I was told when DD had (yet another MRI) that if they found anything alarming, they tell you straight away. I would guess that she might have moved or they need more detail, but I am shocked that the consultant was so dismissive of you - surely they know that you are concerned, given the fact you have contacted them.

Perhaps try again, but if they do not help, remember the hospital will have a PALS department who are there to deal with any concerns that patients have about their treatment. They also deal with complaints. It's an awful thing to feel powerless in the face of your child's treatment. Good luck with it all.

[MarianH]

My brackets are poorly placed. I am ashamed!