To be worried about this extra fast referral

[Purpleheather0]

So my dd age 15 has had awful headaches on and off for several years. There was a gap for a year or so but they started again intensified about 10mths ago. Several GP visits later we had a telephone consultation yesterday afternoon with a consultant paediatrician. She referred her for an MRI scan. This morning I've had a call from our local hospital and she has to go tomorrow. Obviously I've been concerned about her headaches anyway but thought they may be migraines? But now she's clearly been referred as urgent I'm starting to panic.
Plus I'm worried about going into a hospital with the current situation too. They asked if we had any symptoms but I forgot to ask them how dd will be protected against them iyswim?

People are worried about going into hospital, so it's likely that they've just had loads of other patients cancel so can squeeze you into a slot.

Yep, very likely that's the reason. A lot of paeds depts are virtually empty at the mo.

I had to visit A&E last week (not Covid related) and was given a mask to wear plus the Drs were top to bottom in PPE, Receptionists also had facemasks on. Sanitiser everywhere and signs to use it when coming in going out etc. They question you as soon as you go in about any Covid symptoms, if you stated any symptoms they would not let you in you had to go to the Covid area of hospital. It was immensely thorough and felt very safe although of course hospital is the last place anyone wants to go to at the moment. It was also incredibly quiet (saw one other person in there and this is a city hospital). So agree with comment that they can fit you in more quickly. I hope your daughter is OK but from my experience the visiting hospital part was totally fine.

I work in a hospital, I don’t want to overly concern you, as I can’t speak for all trusts and departments, but work is cancelled because we are minimising footfall in the hospital to prevent the spread of Covid, all appointments that are able to be done over the phone are being done that way, any non urgent appointments are being cancelled. We are only physically seeing urgent patients, so I would be very surprised if they have fit you in because they’ve had cancellations, given they’ve cancelled appointments to try to minimise footfall. I personally, would call the department back and ask them if it’s anything serious.

Try not to panic too much. Obviously your daughters symptoms fit a particular criteria and since this is one of the few investigations (a lot of types of scans are) still running they’ll want to get it done.

There has been a massive drop in referrals from people avoiding their GP and A&E so there’s also the very good chance your hospital simply has the capacity to move quicker than they would do normally.

I spoke to the doctor last Tuesday and she said she was referring me for an ultrasound, I got a call the next morning asking if I could go in that afternoon. Panic stations, I got myself into such a state and it turns out that they had cancelled all non essential appointments and a lot of people when they ring to rebook just don't want to go to the hospital at the minute (I did because I wanted to know what's wrong with me) there was plenty of hand sanatiser, social distancing in the waiting area etc and the nurses are in full PPE. Easier said than done but try not to worry.

My DD is supposed to see her consultant next week. They’ve changed it to a telephone appointment. They usually test her at each appointment but I’m guessing they won’t this time because of CV (her condition hasn’t changed).
In your position I’d be pleased she was getting the test and quickly. Unless you should be shielding, please take her.

Also find out if she’s going to the children’s hospital. Ours is completely separate to the other buildings.

This is very good news though, in that it is a good idea to screen out any physical neurological problems before it is assuming it is migraines.

It's better to do this now than later.

It might be worrying, but I don't think they can tell anything from outside, that's why you need an MRI- yes, there are symptoms which are more alarming, but you can have stroke-like symptoms with hemiplegic migraines so having additional symptoms isn't always a sign of anything wrong.

I think this is one of those things where sooner really is better, and I bet they have got a lot of slots right now.

Either- all is fine, or all is not fine and you need to know NOW. So, I know the next day will be hard for you, but it honestly is better to crack on now than worry about it for ages.

I had this when diagnosed with IIH. They acted really fast and it panicked me but really they were just being extra cautious.

Also most wards are dead at the moment. I'm in hospital 3 x a week (pregnancy related) at the moment and hardly see a soul.

Thank you. It's not a children's hospital no. Just the main radiology dept. Let's hope the results are quick too. And praying all is fine too obviously

Hoping everything ok. It's totally different but I rang up on Tuesday to book an appt for my daughter's preschool booster and got one the same day, normally it would be weeks. Obviously with the symptoms she's presenting they need to do some further checks and wouldn't not put her forward for them just because of Covid, but BECAUSE of Covid they are not doing as much routine stuff (plus people cancelling) so were able to get you in quicker. Try to stay calm. There's a hundred less scary things it could be before it is something horrid.

Also, I presume you've had her eyes tested?

I had appendicits a couple of weeks ago, which involved a CT scan to confirm it in the early hours of the Sunday morning. When I went down, I was literally the only person there. It was important I had an urgent scan which they did straight away and were able to do so quickly because all non-urgent scans had been cancelled.

I was in hospital for 2 nights, on a non Covid ward and the hygiene was scrupulous, for example, my aesthetic was done in theatre (which had been deep cleaned before I went in) rather than the aesthetic room they usually use to minimise my risk.

Of course you're anxious OP and I really hope it's nothing serious, but it's great that they are seeing her so quickly and they will obviously do everything they can to keep her safe.

I had similar symptoms, mine were diagnosed as migraines. I had a face to face appointment (this was last Autumn) because some of the things they will want to look at is physical - like gait, strength etc. I agree with pp that routine stuff has been cancelled so when they do need to see people, they can fit you in quickly. Hope it’s nothing to worry about.

Try not to panic. My son had a hospital app booked for yesterday which was cancelled last week. I had a call this morning and it's been re-booked for Monday. I assume no one wants to go there! Best wishes to your daughter x

Hope it all goes okay and she’s rid of the headaches soon!

@purpleheather0 if the report and images show anything urgent you will be contacted and any other appointments would be on an urgent basis. This type of thing usually needs a scan just to rule out anything serious

Yes she's had her eyes tested. Borderline long sighted so she was prescribed glasses when and if she needed them.
Thanks all

Tgis current situation is going to continue until we get a vaccine. At the moment there's less people in the hospitals, so less risk of transmission. I'd say it's better to go now than towards winter.

The hospital is empty here, they cancelled ops for the rush (that thankfully never came) I suspect they had a cancellation