How long to hear back after NHS MRI (brain)?

[PenguinsRabbits]

Had brain MRI today and wasn't told when I would hear back.

All radiographer said was he didn't think I should be going home alone as I seemed very dizzy. I was assuming it will be all clear and no contrast was used but a little puzzled by the very sympathetic radiographer. I had my husband there so he took me home. Have had an emergency CT scan of brain and nothing found but that was no contrast and they said that just ruled out active bleeds and big tumours.

Asked receptionist and she suggested after 2 weeks phone them but didn't really appear to know. I know normally the longer you wait the more likely it is all clear. NHS online seems to say up to 2 weeks. If its bad news do they phone and does it happen quickly? Going to assume its good news. Has anyone been told not to go home alone and it was good / bad news. Checked online and 3 people told that all had tumours but I guess if you just had nothing you might feel silly mentioning it. Thanks very much.

V quick reply- the RADIOGRAPHER was nice, not necessarily the Radiologist. They are consultant doctors. You are highly unlikely to have encountered a radiologist.

And- HCPs can't win, can they? If they're deemed 'nice', you assume a tumour that'll kill you in a week (rather than they've seen nothing but have to do all the imaging the 'protocol' dictates! But are naturally 'nice')- but hearing more sound from one side than another means NOTHING. I am sticking my neck out here to try to reassure you- I have a MN stalker, can you believe!

Thanks - sorry that's me getting words muddled.

I’ve had so many health situations where I’ve over read and analysed what radiographers etc are secretly trying to tell me. It’s always been absolutely fine.

I have radiographer work colleagues who try to second guess the expression on the (if not known to them) HCPs' faces if they've had to have a scan.

Futile.

We're thinking 'job thoroughly done'... tea break?

Just to put your mind at rest, when my DD had her first MRI scan we were told immediately that they’d found something (as in 10mins) but for the last scan she had to check the progress of her treatment we waited around 6 weeks for the scan results (luckily her treatment plan is working)

Thanks for the messages. So sorry to hear about your DD hennipenni glad her plan is working at least.

I just called MRI reception and the lady who answered said it will come back from neurology and she seemed quite confident it was always from neurology for brain even if it came from A&E. Didn't appear dependent on outcome either, just all brain referrals go through neurology.

Shouldn't you register with a GP? Then at least there is a point of contact for all your tests, and someone who can take an overview. Bit puzzled why you have not registered.

I have annual MRI brain, the last report took 10 weeks to come through NHS, however that is for disease monitoring rather than for a diagnosis.

My original MRI for diagnosis was done within the private sector, took 3 days, had the scans Weds morning and saw my Neurologist Friday night for the results.

Sorry, just realised you have registered but have not been to see your GP yet. I would make an appointment and ask your GP to chase up your results. Mine did for a recent MRI, and I was very quickly given results (all fine).

Called today and A&E say all results go back to GP but didn't check my details. Phoned MRI and lady checked my details and said my results are done and said to phone the consultant for them and read out the A&E lady's name. Said she works in A&E and lady said to phone her secretary. Not sure that is going to work but at least has established results are done and no-one has called me yet.

Phoned GP, they don't have or the blood test result from 17 May.

Phoned and the consultant hardly works there and doesn't have a secretary. They've taken a message but didn't sound very hopeful but he had no idea who it might be other than its often someone else than the named person.

Yogagirl yes, if you can afford to pay the, say £1850 my friend has just been quoted for an MRI head and spine, possibly with contrast; you can possibly afford the £350 a pop consultations, then it's days, not weeks.

Penguins - How about you ring PALS? Not because I think you 'need to complain' 😊 but to ask if you can get some clarification as to who you need to see to get your results?

I am an NHS defender, but I do feel someone should be able to tell you who will give you your results- not just read them to you as a) more or less no one will as the medico jargon is either meaningless or scary and b), no one should give results without interpretation.

Miljah I agree. OP, I'm a HCP . I don't think you have been given clear info about the scan and whose responsibility it is to read and interpret plus give info to you, as the patient. I think after 2 weeks if you have heard you could contact Pals, even if it's just to find out who you will be hearing from and the time frame.
It's possible the AE doc is sending results to GP, but they haven't been processed. As GP is seen to be the central person, it sounds like you have had mixed messages.
I had to have a brain tumour ruled out 10 years ago, had visual disturbance sudden onset etc, and the consultant radiologist phoned me that night to say the MRI scan was negative, much to my relief. In my experience, bad news is very quickly acted upon. I really hope you get some answers soon, it's awful waiting

Thanks very much - GPs surgery said to ring PALS but hospital have been excellent so far and they have in theory left a message for A&E doctor who only works there occasionally (she's a university academic) so will give it a bit longer and then try calling PALS and/or MRI again. I would imagine if there was something seriously wrong they would have alerted someone in neurology but never know in NHS if its just lost. I would imagine as I called them its either more minor issues (well not a brain tumour) or all clear.

Though was odd when I called they insisted I had phoned them at the weekend about my MRI report and left a message asking for that consultant who is hardly there. My memory is bad but its not that bad. I was in France at the weekend so definitely not me but guy asked me 3 times.

OP the dizziness is caused by rapid, shorts breathing that we’re not even aware of. I felt dizzy and very ‘off’ after mine. I was cycling home and just had to wait a bit to feel stable enough to get on the bike.
I told DH, who is a GP, that the MRI really got to me... the sounds, the Jason hockey mask I had to wear, the anxiety of having a brain scan. We take shallow breaths under those circumstances. Shallow breathing, combined with lying down inside a claustrophobic, loud machine, would account for your dizziness. Your good news will come. Good luck!

Thanks - I think dizziness after is pretty normal, its the 2 years constant off-balance feeling before I am more concerned about but if its clear maybe there isn't a neurological explanation. Will see what MRI says.

I did e-mail PALS and Contact Centre in end, inpatience got the better of me though PALS is closed until 5/7 at the moment. Bet contact centre will just give me MRI number and will go round in a circle again. Though if its you contacting them rather than vice versa always a good sign.

Phoned MRI reception again - the results have only gone to that A&E consultant and have not gone to doctors. They said I can get GPs to request a copy but I definitely need to speak to a consultant and the consultant should have contacted me directly.

She said to keep calling A&E until I get someone more helpful. At least I know where to call though don't really like bothering A&E.

Just got doctor on the phone. It's not clear but its just showing something they don't know what it means and can't do anything about - something like scattered white matter on the brain. There were no tumour, no stroke, no signs of MS in brain. She said their best guess for scattered white matter is early small stroke but they really don't know. So just goes back to GP now and they send me the full report too.

Oh OP glad no tumour etc but a shock being told that ! Are you going to make an apt with GP to find out the plan ?

They are sanding report through to GP and direct to me - once I have that if it doesn't have a follow-up which don't think it will as I went via A&E will make appointment with GP. Will try and get referred to neurology. I asked an online neurologist - don't know how good they are but he said its a normal result for an elderly patient but not normal at my age and a neurologist should do further tests. He said it could explain all my symptoms but would need report to know more accurately but at least its a possible explanation. Thanks.

I was having weird dizziness for a year and had every test you can think of to try and find out what was happening. My MRI showed white spots which they said weren’t MS but could indicate silent migraines (where you get the symptoms of a migraine regularly without the pain). Maybe it’s something like that which you have been suffering with. Hopefully you can speak to a neurologist soon