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Original poster

head MRI for 19 year old - we need to be there, right? in case it's really bad?

134 replies

ServantofthePeople · 29/04/2022 16:16

I'd appreciate some help from those with experience.
our student son is having some neurological symptoms investigated urgently, hopefully just from an infection.
my husband and I are debating whether one of us should be there. I was there for the last appointment and whilst the downside was that he picked up a bit on my anxiety the upside was that I asked some important questions and picked up that our local hospital had failed to forward on notes.
I appreciate that no mri technician is going to talk to him or us about results but presumably if they saw something obviously abnormal they would alert the radiolgist who would alert the doctors and things would happen pretty quickly? in other words we do need to be there? Plus I think it would be useful to have his dad there in case he finds the MRI experience scary. His dad is taking on the "not worried" role right now.

Experience from those in the MRI world/who see people in MRIs particularly appreciated.

OP posts:
OatSprout · 29/04/2022 16:53

I think ask him, as it’s perfectly normal to want a bit of moral support sometimes and it will be good for to know that he doesn’t always have to be brave and do everything alone just because he’s a grown up now.

redskyatnight · 29/04/2022 16:54

Will you be allowed to even be there? DD goes to 2 different hospitals and one won't let anyone accompany over 16s; the other 18s - due to ongoing Covid restrictions.

Original poster
ServantofthePeople · 29/04/2022 16:54

... also as a claustrophobe I got myself a sedative prescription before my own head MRI but when it came to it curiously it was actually better to just "obey instructions and go along for the ride" . So I don't think it would benefit to be in the room (and they wouldn't allow it). It's more being in the hospital to orient him.

He does get panic attacks in planes and it helps to have someone remind him that "this too shall pass".

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LetitiaLeghorn · 29/04/2022 16:55

I've had 3 MRIs as an adult - so, totally different to a 19yo. There was a nurse to make sure you had nothing metallic, basic health questions and show you a locker for your stuff.
Then you go in and they position you in the machine. No one stays in the room so you wouldn't go in the room with him.
The technician tells you what happening over a tannoy and reassures you over length of time.
And then you leave.
There's no radiologist there to read the results and the tech tells you nothing. It's like the nurse doing your mammogram. They don't tell you to wait outside whilst they ring the radiologist for a quick diagnosis.
However, my mum was having headaches and went to a neurologist on a Saturday morning at the local hospital. He sent her for a head scan there and then and gave her the results straightaway. The scan was part of her appointment with the neurologist. But that's totally different than being sent for an MRI appointment which is independent from a doctors appointment.
Personally, I don't think he needs you there but if you both want you to be there, why not? The hospitals (pre-covid) don't mind. But you need to be positive and reassuring, and not be a mummy-drag!

Greensleeves · 29/04/2022 16:55

ServantofthePeople · 29/04/2022 16:52

More thank yous.

It's not so much being in the MRI room. I've done a head MRI myself as a claustrophobe and would definitely send DH instead to be outside the room for that.
it's more that there will be a whole battery of tests which could get quite mentally exhausting.
He's very grown up and very not grown up at the same time - as you would expect from a teenager.
On Wednesday when I was there he was asking me things like whether it was ok to go to the gym after having his bloods taken.

This really resonates for me, my 19yo DS is also very adult in many ways, but still a teenager and quite vulnerable (and clueless!) in others.

You sound like really responsive and lovely parents, so I'm sure whatever you all decide between you will be what's best for him. I hope you get some answers soon Flowers

Somuchgoo · 29/04/2022 16:59

@ServantofthePeople I was there anyway as she was only 2 (low grade relatively large brain tumour), but I did have to make the call to my husband to ask him to leave his meeting and get a taxi in.

The likelihood of anything being wrong is small, but I can understand the urge to be close, just in case. Personally I think being in nearby town isn't a bad idea, though he doesn't even need to know this.

I hope it's nothing to worry about in the end!

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 29/04/2022 17:01

I had a head MRI a few years ago and what was really useful was I asked the technician to tell me how long each scan would be. I then counted down in my head - eg this scan is two minutes. 120-0 - and breathed along with the counts. That maybe sounds daft but someone passed it to me as a tip beforehand and I am sharing in case it helps. My DP did come with me and waited in the waiting room, but that was before Covid. The MRI people were really lovely and took me to “‘meet the machine” and explain how it all worked before I got undressed for it.

LetitiaLeghorn · 29/04/2022 17:02

Just to add to my previous post, the techs were absolutely lovely and really understanding so I'm sure if your son asked they'd accommodate you attendance as much as possible.

Somuchgoo · 29/04/2022 17:03

Ps: not there for the actual scans as she was sedated and fit the next, under GA, but just outside. I was issued to stay for the ct, because of her age, but given she was asleep, I decided i didn't need to stay. You wouldn't be allowed in the room.

CormoranStrike · 29/04/2022 17:08

Ds had an MRI at the same age (heart not head) and insisted on going himself, just borrowed my car and went then went straight in to uni right after it.

I think your son has to lead the way on this one - does he want company or not, that’s all that matters.

saraclara · 29/04/2022 17:20

Your son gets to choose which parent he has with him*. The other parent wanders round the town in case needed later. Or to just to join the other two for a post appointment meal out somewhere.

*I think it's fair to advise him that one of you needs to be. He doesn't yet have the experience of life to realise that you need an extra person listening, because you don't take everything in.

saraclara · 29/04/2022 17:20

No idea why part of that post bolded itself. This new Mumsnet has gone haywire.

Original poster
ServantofthePeople · 29/04/2022 17:38

Somuchgoo - thank you x.

OP posts:
Original poster
ServantofthePeople · 29/04/2022 17:39

SaraClara, thank you.
I think for the results appointment we will definitely play it that way.

OP posts:
Original poster
ServantofthePeople · 29/04/2022 17:40

this is useful - thank you.

I had a head MRI a few years ago and what was really useful was I asked the technician to tell me how long each scan would be. I then counted down in my head - eg this scan is two minutes. 120-0 - and breathed along with the counts. That maybe sounds daft but someone passed it to me as a tip beforehand and I am sharing in case it helps. My DP did come with me and waited in the waiting room, but that was before Covid. The MRI people were really lovely and took me to “‘meet the machine” and explain how it all worked before I got undressed for it.

OP posts:
Original poster
ServantofthePeople · 29/04/2022 17:45

SpaceJamTart that is really helpful.
Bacon thank you too.

OP posts:
ancientgran · 29/04/2022 17:51

I was there when DD had one, she was 8 or 9 so couldn't really go alone. Obviously they didn't discuss anything with us, as others have said the radiologist has to see it and report before you hear anything or at least that was how it was for us.

The nice thing was DD was the last appointment of the day, they told her she was the best patient that day and took her into their control room and showed her the scans. She was so thrilled, her teacher at the time had a habit of answering questions by saying, "have you got a brain in there?" (she was horrible) DD couldn't wait for her to say it so that she could say, "Yes and I've seen it." The technicians thought that was funny.

The best bit was that everything was fine and I hope you will also get a good result.

ancientgran · 29/04/2022 17:53

Don't know if it was just DDs age but I was allowed to sit by the MRI machine and stroke her feet so she knew I was there.

Might help if someone is nervous.

Cowardlytiger · 29/04/2022 17:56

It won’t necessarily happen super quickly even if it’s bad news - my daughter had a tumour seen on MRI and it was a couple of days before we got the results.

Carriemac · 29/04/2022 18:02

It's not an 'mri technician ' it's a highly qualified radiographer . Many of our adult patients bring someone with them for the appointment. And yes , sometimes you get the result immediately, thought that's rare .

swapcicles · 29/04/2022 18:12

Quite possibly you won't even be allowed in the hospital anyway due to COVID and him being an adult.
Dd 19 had to go to minor injuries recently due to concussion , felt really ill but I wasn't allowed with her even though she was the only one in there!
She got sent to a and e after that and again had to be alone.
Think it would help to offer a lift and hang around nearby just in case they need you, even if they say they are fine it's be nice to know you're there.

Happyhappyday · 29/04/2022 18:23

I had several MRIs at school & uni (head, knee) and was definitely alone for all but one, where I was too young to drive myself! The others I went to uni 3000 miles away from home so obviously no parent there but I don’t recall even vaguely thinking unneeded someone. I was fine, they are not a big deal unless he’s already nervous. And yes they tell you nothing.

Toddlerteaplease · 29/04/2022 18:32

I've had loads of MRI's it'll be ages before you get the results. Not much point in you going for the appointment. You might find that hospitals won't allow it away. And definitely don't go if you are going to make him more anxious.

Toddlerteaplease · 29/04/2022 18:35

@PastMyBestBeforeDate mine was 3 months. Though it was picked up on a research study.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 29/04/2022 18:40

I know Toddler, none of my routine MRIs are ever less than months.