Handhold please… possible overthinking

[HelpWhatIf]

Name changed for this as it’s outing.

and yes IABU posting here for traffic.

i found a lump in my head/neck last week. Booked a doctors appt as I was having some neurological symptoms alongside it. I got shipped off to the nearest an and e dept due to said symptoms. Turns out I had a rare type of migraine coming on which mirrors a stroke and this was witness at the hospital by the professionals, luckily I had my DM with me who also has these migraines and she helped me explain that it must be these migraines. Anyway they wanted a CT which was fine and I had to go back for an MRI. They have now sent a letter asking to see me at the dept.

i was told by some people you’re only called back if it’s bad news… My immediate reaction is cancer/a.n.other type of bad news because when they were assessing the lump they said it’s not a typical cyst just from feeling it.

I don’t actually know what I want from this thread, I think I just need to vent.

Vent away...

These things are scary, but they're not always as serious as it feels.

Have they given you a date to see them?

sooner the better, get it over

I hope it's just part of the archaic NHS communication

xx

Yes my scan was Sunday, seeing them Friday. @SuperbSummer2023 thank you for replying I appreciate it. I don’t normally have health anxiety but I have my late DGM in my head, when she was diagnosed with a type of cancer after a scan she said “I knew when the letter said I had a face to face appointment it would be bad news, if it’s nothing serious they do it as a phone call or letter” and I just feel so blah about it all.

It might be that they need to redo part of the scan if they didn't get a clear image.

Hopefully that is the case @Un7breakable, however when I went for the MRI the radiographers (is that their job title?) said before we pull you out we will do a quick check to make sure all scans are clear… yep ok let’s get you out.

I don’t want to belittle how you’re feeling and obviously none of us know if it’s suspicious, but when I was diagnosed with something nasty it all happened really quickly. So, I’d hope if your appointment isn’t until next Friday then that’s a good sign.

Good luck OP.

It doesn't matter what it is

If it is ok its ok
And if it is bad its bad

You can worry all you want right now but it won't help you

Run a few scenarios through your head perhaps

The fact they are asking you to come in so soon would implicate that they have found something they need to discuss with you in person.

Keep breathing. Head up.
You dont know what it is. Try to remain half calm until then...

It will be simply to explain results and agree a way forward on your migraines

My scan showed lots of tiny, ischaemic scars all through my brain due to repeated migraines. They showed me my results and explained that it was better than all in one spot, etc. The types of migraines I have are similar to yours and I am now on meds to try and stop them, while also limiting my stroke risk via lifestyle changes (I needed to lose weight, and if I had been a smoker they would have told me that I needed to stop. If I had been taking an oral contraceptive pill that would have needed an immediate stop too.)

Oh wow thank you all for all the replies. I know it’s a waiting game, I’ve tried ringing them for any kind of hint and I was basically told they haven’t looked at my scan yet, they’ll look Friday while I’m there and decide on a plan of action. I am hoping for the best 🤞🏻

I was asked to go back after an MRI to have it repeated with contrast. I was terrified. I went to the nurse practitioner as I was having headaches and she said "oh they must have found something, you're not silly are you"
FFS
Anyway, no-one could tell me why they wanted it repeating but after it was done they said it was all fine, no issues, discharged me!
I then spoke to someone else who said if it had been really bad news or urgent they would tend to phone you rather than send a letter.
Really hope that reassures you in some way x

Thank you, that does help! I’ve had no phone calls so that must be a good sign.

There's no way of telling - I was told of my cancer diagnosis two days after my scan by telephone call. I've also been called in for face to face for something relatively minor that they wanted to do a few further checks on.

Hoping everything goes OK op, it's shite waiting on results.

i have awful migraines i feel like im going mad for a few days after the migraine

My husband literally just had an appointment to discuss results of a biopsy on a suspected cancer where they just told him it was nothing to worry about and they didn’t need to see him again, so face to face appointments definitely don’t always mean bad news.

@HelpWhatIf

i hope you've found most of the messages reassuring. Your poor Gran would probably be feeling terrible that she's made you feel this way.

if they don't want to see you until next Friday, I'm sure it'll be just to go through a plan for migraines, anything 'serious' I'm sure they'd have called you & wanted you in immediately .

I don't know if stress will bring on a migraine, but it can't help

TRY to have a good weekend 💐

Thank you all. Yes @SuperbSummer2023 she certainly would be, and I know it’s not her intention it’s just where my mind went. I wish she were here now, she was like my third parent and if anyone could calm me down and make me see sense, it would be her. Having processed some more and reading everything you lovely folk have said, I’m going to stop thinking the worst because right now there is nothing I can do to change it all.

My dad had an appointment this week, arranged by letter. He got the all clear.

Good luck, OP.