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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have a private brain MRI?

85 replies

aNonnyMouse1511 · 08/01/2020 07:35

I have had a headache for over 2 weeks.

It is at the back of my head on waking then travels to the top of my head and forehead where it sits all day. Painkillers don’t resolve it.

My GP did a neurological exam and was happy it was normal to sent me away again.

I go to sleep with it, it’s there if I wake in the night and it’s there when I wake in the morning.

I am now very anxious about it.

I’ve found somewhere local that does a private MRI for £200 and sends the results directly to your GP. I don’t want my GP to think I’m going behind their back, but I am really worried that there’s something seriously wrong with a headache that literally NEVER goes.

OP posts:
LifeBeginsNow · 08/01/2020 12:27

I'd agree to go for it too. I begged for 4 years and kept getting batted away. I've now had 6 last year so perhaps if I'd had the first when I'd asked, I wouldn't be left with so many complications!

As a side note with regards to the scalp tension, I highly recommend an Indian head massage. You can explain your issues beforehand so it's nice and gentle but I had so much relief from that (different problem to the mri requirement). I was told I had a very tight scalp but afterwards I came away feeling all light and floaty. If anything, it's just a lovely pamper session.

lborgia · 08/01/2020 12:36

For that £200 you could check with a physio, osteo, dentist, and probably get a new pillow.

Def sounds like nerve pain - which would be true of shingles, but also cervical nerve involvement, or, excruciatingly, your splenius capitis.

Absolutely take it seriously because nerve pain is miserable, but I am not sure an MRI wil get you any further forward.

Yes, there are those on here who found they had a tumour, but with the symptoms you've got, sounds like the wrong tree.

Good luck! Flowers

QuestionableMouse · 08/01/2020 12:37

@TwistinMyMelon

Oh do fuck off dear.

It took me six (6) GP visits to get my anemia diagnosed and that only happened because I basically had a breakdown in the room and cried so the GP did the test to humour me. Turns out my iron was so low I was in danger of needing a blood transfusion. GPs are good but do miss things at times.

For what it's worth, my mam had a persistent headache, ended up at A&E and was diagnosed with temporal arteritis. GP had missed it totally.

Hope you're OK @aNonnyMouse1511

If it helps, I get headaches that sound similar if my bedroom is too hot, I haven't been drinking enough or my pillows aren't right.

Shibby86 · 08/01/2020 12:37

This sounds similar to the type of headaches I used to have. Doctor said it was tension headaches and I often went to sleep with them and woke up and they were still there. Starting at the back and moving round to the front during the the day. Sometimes I’d get to a point where I felt really spaced out/dizzy when walking. It was down to stress and the fact I’m a very anxious person and was going through some things at the time! Doctor gave me some tablets and they worked. Hope you get sorted!

chinateapot · 08/01/2020 12:46

You need to be aware that this is not a risk free thing to do. If you scan lots of people you’ll find abnormalities in around 1/10-1/20. The challenge then is that you don’t know whether or not it’s significant and what you should do about that abnormality in most cases. So you might end up with a lot more anxiety or even with treatment and side effects that you don’t necessarily need. If you do have one of those possibly significant possibly not significant things it needs an expert to assess and advise you - your GP will not be the right person to do that. I think you’d be better off discussing your concerns with your GP and then potentially asking for a private neurology referral who can then discuss with you whether a scan will be helpful.

SapatSea · 08/01/2020 12:55

If it would put your mind at ease then do it. I'd also get an eye test to rule out anything there and finall or intially (before an MRI), if you can afford it see a neurologist or better still a neurotologist. At a diagnosis initial appointment they will check your eyes, do the tuning fork test, maybe do some balance tests etc and get you to recount a detailed history and should then be able to tell you what they think. You may need a preventative migraine med or further tests. At a private consulatation you get much longer appointments than the NHS and feel listened and responded to.

GP's can be so reticent to refer, mine refused to despite a decades long history of problems and a head trauma inicident. He said it "was all in my head" (well, yeah but not the way he implied)The £290 I spent on a neurotologist appointment was the best money I ever spent, wish I'd done it a lot sooner. I see my consultant on the NHS now.

wheresmymojo · 08/01/2020 13:18

Definitely get your eyes tested too - changes in eyesight cause ongoing headaches.

In addition, the opthamilogist (sp?) also looks for other changes which can indicate health issues so worth going for that too.

wheresmymojo · 08/01/2020 13:20

Sorry just seen you had your eyes tested in October...

Zilla1 · 08/01/2020 13:26

putting aside where this is a sensible approach and sorry if I've missed it but have you asked them to put in writing what would be in the written report and whether/how it would be useful to a GP for treatment or referral to acute? It might be nice to be sure there would be some/any value in what you're paying for. I'm not sure all GPs would find the images useful unless there is something massively identifiable and if the written report doesn't contain what they'd get back from the radiographer interpreted by a neurologist or equivalent then you might be no further forward. I'd be surprised if £200 would fund what a GP would need to be told as well as the scan.

Good luck.

megletthesecond · 08/01/2020 13:30

Yanbu.
My headache started nearly three years ago. I did try less caffeine and went to the opticians but nothing helped. GP referred me for the MRI and IIRC it came through within a month. All ok.
Still got the headache, I hate it. I think it's a wisdom tooth root. They won't take it out though.

CSIblonde · 08/01/2020 13:38

I'd do it. Did your GP do the standard brain tumour test? My Dad had a brain tumour but it was missed even at his fail on the test (useless GP, my Dad knew he'd got one but was fobbed off with you're stressed). It was then seen clear as day by the Optician at his eye test . So we got a letter for our GP which I steamed open at home. (bolshy 19 Yr old). The test is stand eyes closed, arms stretched out to sides & try to touch your nose with each forefinger . Usual symptoms are sight probs, headaches, co ordination issues & seizures or blackouts. I also taught a girl whose mother had a blinding headache for half an hour & collapsed & died at 32 of a brain haemorrhage. Family were told sudden onset severe headache is usually only sign & nothing you can do.

HollowTalk · 08/01/2020 13:41

£200 seems incredibly cheap given the massively high cost of an MRI and the staff needed to interpret results.

Are you sure these are skilled practitioners?

NameChangeNugget · 08/01/2020 13:50

Worth every penny, even if it’s just for peace of mind. I’d go for it.

tootsey · 08/01/2020 13:51

I haven't rtft but both dp and I have had similar. After having neck Mri's both of us have 2 cervical disc herniations. These can cause headaches that start at the back and move forward. Painkillers won't touch the pain. Stress brings on an attack as well over doing at work. Both of us have physical jobs.

Sometimes with headaches, the problem lies with your neck.

Original poster
aNonnyMouse1511 · 08/01/2020 14:30

Thank you all for your insight. Much appreciated.

The place I am using is within a private hospital.

I saw a consultant today for a different issue and when I mentioned my headaches (and another issue we thought was related to the reason I am seeing him for - not a neurologist), he suggested an MRI on the NHS which he was going to refer me for. I told him I have a private one booked and told him where - he was impressed with the price but knew if the hospital so I expect if it was a bad idea he’d have said.

OP posts:
Retroflex · 08/01/2020 14:42

@CSIblonde what you're describing is not "the standard brain tumour test" there is no such thing Hmm What you went on to describe was a very small part of a typical neurological examination... Hmm

CSIblonde · 08/01/2020 16:32

Retroflex, It was 32 years ago when I assume tests etc weren't so advanced & my Dad stated that it was the term the GP hinself used : after asking about his other symptoms which my Dad had said he was worried were indications of a tumour. (later described as 'textbook symptoms' by his Hospital Consultant). I've no idea myself what a standard test would be 32years ago, by a village GP. Hopefully, it's a) more advanced & b) more accurate now.

lpchill · 08/01/2020 16:37

Don't know if anyone has suggested but try going to a chiropractor. I had similar head ache pains to the point of migraines. Doctors couldn't work it out for a while then I went to a chiropractor just to rule everything out. Found out it was because I had really damaged my neck muscles which then caused tension on my head causing the headaches.

Retroflex · 08/01/2020 16:52

@CSIblonde it sounds like his GP wasn't very knowledgeable when it came to neurology in that case.

There has never been a "standard brain tumour test", and the basic neurological testing I mentioned has been basic neurological testing for a lot longer than 32 years.

I wouldn't like to think that someone may try the very small part of the test you described and think that they had a brain tumour due to your misinformation...

CSIblonde · 08/01/2020 18:49

Retroflex, well it was the same surgery where his partner got disbarred for shagging his patient (standing weekly indiscreet Friday appt that was er, rather long ) so make of that what you will. Its a shame my Dad was treated with disdain & my post was accurate re symptoms not just with incorrect useless GP info. (whose uselessness I also stressed).

GrandmaSharksDentures · 08/01/2020 18:58

Does the £200 include a report of the MRI? Do you get a copy of the scan on email? Will the GP be able to view the report / scan? Are you SURE you don't need a referral? It sounds "well dodgy" that patients can simply request scan they want

madcatladyforever · 08/01/2020 19:11

If you want it have it. Don't worry about what your GP thinks. I would.
My friend who used to be a chronic alcoholic for 10 years but is now in recovery paid for a full body scan as he was so worried about the effects of alcoholism on his body and everything was fine.
He has complete peace of mind now.

Original poster
aNonnyMouse1511 · 08/01/2020 19:27

@GrandmaSharksDentures yes it includes an emailed report to my doctor from a radiologist.

You can self refer for pretty much anything these days. If you’re a consenting adult and everything has been properly explained to you then why not?

OP posts:
Catapillarsruletheworld · 08/01/2020 19:30

GPs get stuff wrong at times. Could you not ask to see another GP from your practice?

Mamabear144 · 08/01/2020 19:42

I used to get these, they started when I was 17 and sometimes I would sleep for days, I was put on a tablet called 'sibellium' which I took every night and it completely got rid of them, they were tension/stress headaches, they could turn into migraines and sometimes would be so bad that I'd throw up or couldn't open my eyes at all. It was a constant headache which would get worse if stress got worse but about a week after starting the sibellium they completely stopped and I would only get a small normal headache then