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

[ServantofthePeople]

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.

I've taken paediatric patients for urgent MRI's. Even then the results take a good few hours.

Do you know if they are doing contrast with the MRI?

If they are he will have an IV and get injected with dye for the scan. It can make you feel like you have just wet yourself, give you a funny metallic taste in your mouth and sometimes you can feel dizzy and vomity afterwards.

I would go if he was having contrast and probably still go if he wasnt. I would also probably tell him that I was going because I am a Mum and Mums just worry, its in the job description! He would probably roll his eyes publically, but privately be quite glad I was there. I would also take the opportunity in the waiting room to ask him lots of silly questions about whether he was getting all his work done and doing his laundry every week..to distract him.

If he's having it done as an outpatient, it's most likely not going to be reported on the same day.

However if your son wants you there, then go ahead. You'll probably be allowed to sit in the waiting room and wait for him.

thank you.
it's good to have something practical/logistical to worry about instead of what's happening symptom-wise. hence this thread, so I leave him alone with his friends.
he can't drive, go to cinema, probably shouldn't be on his bike (hadn't thought of that).

Second point - DO NOT LET YOUR CHILD PICK UP ON YOUR ANXIETY - that's parenting101 surely

FFS he is 19 not 9, of course he will be aware of his mother's worry about him! Why are you shouting at the OP when she is in this tough situation, or giving her "parenting 101" lessons? Leave her alone.

I hope all goes well OP.

For those saying you won’t get results there and then. I went for a MRI for some neurological symptoms and was not allowed to leave the waiting area until the results were read which took all of 10-15 mins then I was sent straight to A&E for admitting! The radiographer had picked up a cyst that was pressing on something important!

Ask him! I attend appointments with one dd with multiple health issues, I've also got medical power of attorney for when she's too unwell to make good decisions (mental health), my other dd wouldn't want me there, she's got a serious boyfriend/partner and very close friends who she would turn to at university, she doesn't like me fussing (and knows I have enough to deal with her sister)

thank you Apricote x.
thank you Majestic. "something pressing" is precisely one of the possibilities. A cyst or abcess is precisely one of the less bad variants of that.

Fuck it, I'm going to that-town even if I lie about it to DH and DS2 (I can fake a business meeting). It's my day, my money, my time, no one need ever know. It would be awful if something like the two examples listed above happened and I couldn't go there. I'd always feel disoriented during what followed. And we already know a lot is going to follow even if the MRI/xrays/bloods are ok.

Urgent MRI head scan results usually take a week - unless it's a CT scan in A and E in my experience if you are not admitted. They go to be reviewed by the Radiologist, then the Neuro Team (who have to match up findings with previous records) and then GP chases. Some of my "urgent" MRIs have been done immediately but the appointment for results hasn't been for 6 weeks later and my GP is happy to give them to me even if "bad".

If he can't drive then he should probably be careful with anything at height and swimming, plus the bath.

Good luck.

thank you Pandemelon.
I was thinking about a week for the follow up appointment.

I’m in my 30s and I always want someone with me at a hospital appointment. I got

My daughter had an mri the results took a few days to be typed up and sent to the doctor.

DS (21) had an MRI (and other scans) in the past couple of weeks. We weren’t allowed to accompany him. He wasn’t told anything during the scans. We were allowed to be with him for the consultant discussing the results.

Wishing your boy all the very best, it’s horrible seeing your child undergo tests and scans, and they are always your child regardless of age.

Hugs to you all 🤗

YABVVU to let your DS in on your anxiety. Let him decide who, if anyone, goes with him.

Does he want you to be there?
When my ds had one( not head), I was there because he was a minor. When my dh had one on his head, I wasn't there, because I was working and he didn't particularly wanted me to be there. I am an anxious one too. I know my dh didn't want me being there to be fueling on his worry.

I hnrtft but it would be good if someone was there when he comes out - the magnets can make you feel sick / dizzy for a little while afterwards. My DS 17 had one a few months ago which is why I'm saying this!

Go. I would.
I have accompanied my DS to appointments when he was 24 and had a heart problem.
If you are allowed to just sit in the waiting room it will help. Definitely for the follow up appointment. I'm 64 and still value a second pair of ears at an important consultation.
I second the tip about timings in the MRI (I've had a lot).
If you know each bit is x minutes you can count and it's really, really helpful.

I hope it's nothing serious

I need a change of parents! Had an MRI, told I needed emergency surgery before I was paralysed so rang parent before I went for surgery
Parent "sorry, other parent has been diagnosed today with (none emergency) condition and is upset, can't come"

Post op, they didn't visit and I had to get a bloody taxi home and ask the taxi driver to carry my case inside as I wasn't allowed to lift

This is a fantastic reply. I had been going to say similar, but you've said it for me, and better.

Do you know if they are doing contrast with the MRI?

If they are he will have an IV and get injected with dye for the scan. It can make you feel like you have just wet yourself, give you a funny metallic taste in your mouth and sometimes you can feel dizzy and vomity afterwards

Or it might not. I have an MRI once a year, always with the dye and I've never had those effects. In fact, apart from the nurse coming up to the machine, I wouldn't even know the dye had gone in.

Hope all goes well OP. I also have a teen (slightlyyounger at nearly 18) but he is so old in some ways but then can be so trusting and naive...

thefirstmrsrochester damn you that’s the first time I’ve cried today.

I’m sorry about that MrOllivander.
families are strange beasts

I am a specialist radiographer who works in mri. In the uk it is radiographers and not technicians who carry out mri scans. In our hospital you would be allowed someone to accompany you to the scan but not into the actual scan room.
Even if i saw something on the scan i would still send you away if it wasnt life threatening and you would get the results in a few days. I would highlight my concerns to the consultant to make sure the scan was reported quickly.
They may well inject a contrast dye for the scan but that doesnt mean they have found something sinister, it can mean that something is unclear in the scan and they want to rule things out. Mri contrast dye has no side effects. The side effects mentioned before like a funny taste and a warm feeling is the dye given for CT scans which i wanted to make clear. I wouldnt want him to worry about that when it would not happen. Hope this helps. Any questions please just ask. I have been scanning in mri for 22 years so should be able to answer any queries!!

How did you come to be kind enough to reply to a stranger on a Friday night? :)

Thank you for setting my mind at rest re dyes.