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Original poster

Neurology consultant has phoned to request DD come in for an urgent MRI - worried!

63 replies

YoScience · 29/02/2016 20:28

DD (15) has been having pretty severe migraines over the past year or so. Last week we had an appointment with a neurology consultant at the children's hospital she seemed satisfied that DD was on the correct course of treatment now (with a minor tweak) and gave a formal diagnosis of severe migraine with aura and also tension headaches.

Today I got a phone call at work from the consultant we saw last week to say she had been discussing DDs case with a more senior colleague and they wanted to bring her in soon for an MRI as there was 'something in her auras that they are concerned about'

Was actually feeling really reassured after her appointment but now feeling really worried. Googling to try and find out which of her symptoms might be causing concern. Obviously now I've totally scared myself too.

The rational part of me is trying to be sensible and that it's better for everything to be checked thoroughly. The other part of me is panicked.

Realise there's nothing I can actually do, but just feeling really worried now Sad

OP posts:
BlackSwan · 01/03/2016 00:02

Only natural to be completely freaked out by this - but it's completely the best thing to check and make sure the diagnosis is correct. Your daughter is at an age where she can manage this awake, so it's going to be very manageable to get through the actual scan. Just to say I feel for you - not an easy thing to go through as a parent & I hope this rules out anything more serious. x

dratsea · 01/03/2016 05:59

I cannot think of any clue in the nature of an aura to suggest an MRI be needed so hope that will reassure you. But remember an MRI is no radiation, painless, and hopefully you will get reassurance. But at worse this could be an early diagnosis of something too rare to have been seen by the junior consultant, if so, full credit to him/her and so professional to have discussed it with an oldie. Flowers

Original poster
YoScience · 01/03/2016 07:51

Thanks both, I know that it is better to get things checked than to potentially miss someone so in a way it is reassuring that the consultant took concerns higher.

DD seems completely unfazed just annoyed that her piercing will have to come out, so at least she isn't worried Smile

I don't know what it was about the aura, I probably didn't ask enough questions, I was at work and quite taken aback.

From googling all the symptoms she gets seem to be pretty standard the only thing a bit unusual I can find is that she gets hiccups as a very first early sign. While that is a recognised migraine aura it seems it can also be a sign of a tumour. But now I'm just guessing?!

I wish I had asked more!

OP posts:
lucjam2105 · 01/03/2016 12:09

Good luck I know how you feel I'm taking my dd age 13 to the gp today. We've been before and were told to keep a migraine diary which we've done. They are more frequent recently and on Saturday dd had one and couldn't talk for a while. Really scary.

Hope yours turns out to be nothing worrying.

Original poster
YoScience · 01/03/2016 16:53

Thank you. It is really scary, and such a horrible thing, your poor DD too.

Have you been given any medication for your daughter to take? DD was given Propranolol (I think that's the spelling) to take every day as a preventative at the end of January and it has seemed to make a difference.

The hospital phoned me back today and they want DD in for the MRI on Sunday, part of me feels really worried that it is so quickly and they are obviously treating it as an emergency, but I am also pleased that it is quite quick and less time to worry!

OP posts:
BlackSwan · 01/03/2016 20:08

The sooner the better - waiting just feeds anxiety. I hope all goes well on Sunday. xx

Runningtokeepstill · 01/03/2016 20:16

I know something of how you feel, as aged 10, my youngest ds was sent for an emergency MRI scan. In his case his pain and weird way of walking suggested the possibility of something seriously wrong with his spine. This turned out not to be the case, but it needed ruling out, even if it wasn't the most likely scenario, as he could have needed urgent treatment. My ds was terrified at the thought of going into the MRI machine but in the end coped very well.

It might be worth bringing a favourite CD. Our local hospital let you bring in your own music or otherwise they put the radio on. DS opted for his CD and found it helped him to cope with keeping still as they had to do 3 scans to cover all of the spine and then needed to repeat one.

TheFairyCaravan · 01/03/2016 20:27

DS1 suffered with severe migraine as a teen after years of suffering with Cyclial Vomiting Syndrome. He saw a neurologist who got him in for an urgent MRI, thankfully it didn't show anything up. He took Propanolol daily, too. He's much better now, he gets the odd one now again (he's 21).

FWIW I suffer with very severe migraine (I have Botox and take 3 preventative drugs) and get hiccups sometimes as my aura, I've never had an MRI on my head.

Good luck, I hope it goes well.

lucjam2105 · 01/03/2016 21:06

Took DD to gp. She has prescribed 50mg of sumatripan to be taken at onset of migraine along with paracetamol and ibruprofen. We are to go back after easter. She gave 6 tablets so hope they last.

Next stop is blood tests. I asked for consultant appt but she wants DD to try meds first.

Good that MRI is so soon. Keep busy. Here to chat if you want. Unmumsnet hugs op.

Wardrobespierre · 01/03/2016 21:12

Good luck for Sunday. It's brilliant that they're being so thorough.

DH gets hiccups with his aura sometimes btw. Or reflux. Always has.

TheFairyCaravan · 01/03/2016 21:14

I take Sumatriptan 100mg lucjam. It's an excellent drug although it does make me feel really sick so I have other drugs for that.

I take ibuprofen with lysine, it's faster acting than ibuprofen alone. It's marked under "express pain relief" or "migraine relief" and is about £1.50 in Wilkos or Tesco. It's ideal for when you have a migraine because the absorption in your stomach slows down. I've just checked a packet and over 12's can take it.

AnyFucker · 01/03/2016 21:15

If it helps, they often open up weekend lists for tests like MRI scans at the last minute and will contact people on a waiting list to see if they can attend at short notice.

Good luck with everything.

Wardrobespierre · 01/03/2016 21:16

DH is a rare beast. Triptans make him worse and cause chest pains too. Ibuprofen Lysine is good for milder migraines but DH's meds of choice are soluble aspirin and ergotamine tartrate.

Carlywurly · 01/03/2016 21:43

An Mri like this saved dps life at roughly the same age as your dd. He was very lucky to have seen a thorough gp and had the referral for the scan which meant something nasty could be dealt with.

He's absolutely fine now. Smile

I hope this weekend brings some peace of mind for you and your family.

Original poster
YoScience · 02/03/2016 09:24

Thanks so much everyone for the reassurance. It's good to hear of others getting hiccups too, as that was the one thing that i thought had perhaps triggered the MRI, but I am only really guessing. I do know it is for the best and the quicker it is done then the quicker we will know the results.

Good tip about the CD I will bring one along if that is an option. Dd is completely laid back about the scan, which is quite good, her main concern is having to take out a piercing that she got done at Christmas time in case it wont go in again! Smile

Lucjam that is what DD was given initially, at the onset she was to take 2 paracetamol, a sumatriptan tablet and an antisickness tablet. I have to say I don't think the sumatriptan worked for DD at all, or didn't seem to make much difference anyway.

At the hospital last week she was prescribed sumatriptan in a nasal spray instead of tablet, as apparently this works better for children/teens than the tablet. Although thankfully haven't had to try that out yet.

She also takes 20mg in the morning and 20mg at night of propranolol as a preventative, which is a fairly recent thing, but seems to be working so far!

Thanks again everyone Flowers

OP posts:
twinkletoedelephant · 02/03/2016 09:30

I get bad migraines and was on propanal up until 19 when I weaned myself off.

D's has had loads of MRIs and ct scans he was found to have a urgent problem which was very rare in a child so young it was fixed and he's fine now.
He use to quite like MRIs as no needles :-)

lucjam2105 · 02/03/2016 12:31

fairy thanks for the tips, will look into the lysine.

lucjam2105 · 02/03/2016 12:34

yo I'll ask for nasal spray if tablets make no difference, thanks for info. Good luck for the weekend.

Original poster
YoScience · 06/03/2016 10:29

Scan day today, feeling a bit nervous, but will be glad to get it over with.

Hope everyone has a nice Mother's Day Thanks

OP posts:
BlackSwan · 06/03/2016 11:10

Good luck Yo.xx

Original poster
YoScience · 06/03/2016 18:39

Thank you. Scan went well, DD was great, totally laid back. Should get the results in around a week.

It's going to be a long week!!

OP posts:
QOD · 06/03/2016 18:44
Flowers
quicklydecides · 06/03/2016 18:45

Good luck

TheFridgePickersKnickers · 06/03/2016 21:04

Fingers crossed all is okay.

Hope the week does not drag on too long for you.

Shapebandit · 06/03/2016 21:12

Good luck. Hope the wait goes quickly x