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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.

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ServantofthePeople · 30/04/2022 08:02

Thanks Linden

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ServantofthePeople · 30/04/2022 13:51

I’m going to name-change now just in case ds1 sees this whilst googling.. Thanks for the practical tips everybody. I suspect I will be posting a lot during this wait so if anyone recognises me I’d be grateful if you could avoid outing.

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ginislife · 30/04/2022 14:10

It's taking 4 weeks to get mri reports written at our hospital and the scan person won't know a thing.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

whatdodos · 30/04/2022 23:42

The hindsight I guess because I was young and thought it wasn't a big deal but it turned out to be the start of a chronic life long condition and it would have been helpful for her to be there from the start. Also being a mum myself now I just feel guilty looking back that I may have left her feeling worried or guilty that she wasn't there and feel sad she may have been sad that I didn't want her there but that's just me projecting!

ServantofthePeople · 01/05/2022 11:48

I name-changed but I’ve name-changed back to acknowledge whatdodos.

she probably felt much as I do/would: anxious yet proud x
dont feel guilty, unchannelled guilt is a waste - (though I guess you are channelling it into helping me :) ).

PS it’s nice to hear from a 19 year old with significant MRI results who is now a mum :)

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ServantofthePeople · 05/05/2022 23:05

Well, I decided to stay at home.
got a call at 9.50am “they need to do an operation because there is fluid on my brain”.
cue chaotic/unsafe car journey......
apparently they started discussing the op whilst he was still in the scanner.

should have gone for the cafe option.......

spent tonight being shown the mri and ct scans for “consenting”.

I guess there’s an exception to every rule

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newyeardelurker · 05/05/2022 23:20

I hope your DS is OK. I don't have many words but didn't want to leave your last post unanswered. I hope the op is / was successful and I'm glad the mri found the fluid. Best wishes 🌷

ServantofthePeople · 05/05/2022 23:31

Me too x 2 and thank you.
for future readers/curious radiographers it’s a subdural haematoma. In the world of neurology and neurosurgery-surgery that’s good news.

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HumourReplacementTherapy · 05/05/2022 23:55

Sending your boy all the best for the procedure and big hugs to you. Flowers

ServantofthePeople · 06/05/2022 06:25

:)

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TwoShades1 · 06/05/2022 06:32

I think it would be nice for him to have someone there to support him. Whether that’s you or his dad or another family or friend, it should probably be his choice. Whoever goes with him should be someone who can be supportive, if you think you are likely to be visibly stressed or upset then you probably aren’t the right person.

TokyoTen · 06/05/2022 06:44

Does he want you there? I wouldn't want my parents there especially if they were anxious.

ScottishBeeswax · 06/05/2022 08:27

Hope all goes well and he's on the mend soon @ServantofthePeople Flowers

altiara · 06/05/2022 08:39

Hope the operation went well OP.

ServantofthePeople · 06/05/2022 08:53

People keep arriving in helicopters and jumping the neurosurgery queue.
may need to start a parking thread with compulsory diagram…..

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Somuchgoo · 06/05/2022 10:16

ServantofthePeople · 05/05/2022 23:31

Me too x 2 and thank you.
for future readers/curious radiographers it’s a subdural haematoma. In the world of neurology and neurosurgery-surgery that’s good news.

I'm sorry that it did turn out to be something, but I'm glad its treatable and he's in good hands.

I hope surgery and recovery goes well.

ServantofthePeople · 06/05/2022 11:00

Much appreciated somuchgoo.

did you have a lot of “hurry up and wait” during your neurological journey?

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Somuchgoo · 06/05/2022 13:23

ServantofthePeople · 06/05/2022 11:00

Much appreciated somuchgoo.

did you have a lot of “hurry up and wait” during your neurological journey?

Yes, and no.

For initial surgery:

She had a CT scan late morning on the Wednesday.
Results 20 minutes later.
Blue lighted to a specialist hospital that afternoon.
MRI to get more precise imaging followed immediately by 6hrs of neurosurgery (ie they didn't wake her in between).

It was less than 24 hours from diagnosis to surgery.

But I suspect that was because they felt they needed to move that quickly with her.

She had some further surgeries which were also brought forward as emergencies, but more 'at the top of the list/moved to today' type of emergency, not a crash one, it that makes sense.

I think we were often the ones pushing other people down the queue tbh.

There were times though for more minor surgical procedures (she had 7 GA's in as many weeks) where we knew we were going to theatre that morning, and were gowned up and ready, for it to be a few hours later than anticipated.

Btw, if they give you a time estimate for surgery, add a couple of hours on, as sometimes it takes longer, and that doesn't mean anything has gone wrong.

Neuro wards can feel scary at first - but bear in mind that people can be in there for a thousand different reasons, and everyone's journey is different.

Even with my daughters tumour, she was in hospital for nearly 2 months and had every complication going, others with the same thing walked out within a week.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 06/05/2022 14:44

Sorry to have muddied the waters Servant. I hope he makes an excellent recovery Flowers

Fantasea · 06/05/2022 15:27

@ServantofthePeople thinking of your son and wishing him a speedy recovery Xx.

Sirzy · 06/05/2022 15:33

Just read your posts. Glad your able to be there now hope all goes well.

make sure you look after yourself too

LoveSpringDaffs · 06/05/2022 16:36

'Hurry up & wait' sums up the journey so well.

Hugs & best wishes for the best outcome possible!!

ServantofthePeople · 06/05/2022 18:33

Somuchgoo, if you want to, please post picture of her.
we’ve just been set back again and it would to think it’s for the sake of some precious poppet. :).

do you still think “what a journey!” or have you absorbed it now?

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Somuchgoo · 06/05/2022 20:06

I'm sorry it's been delayed again. I really do feel for you and hope he gets in soon.

I'll send you a pm (if they work any more)

ServantofthePeople · 06/05/2022 20:34

I think they do

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