Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

MRI Results - How long to get results - feeling scared

38 replies

Chimpannazee · 14/05/2025 11:46

Hi everyone.
I had an MRI scan of my head along with orbit to check my eyes on the 21/4/25.
long story short I seemed to develop a feeling of heaviness in my left side of my face back in November and developed a slight squint. The eye clinic at the hospital said it was stress related.
fast forward to know and I am going through what is possibly the loneliest, most stressful time of my life as I am seperating my husband and he has been really really unkind. I hit the wall about a month ago and my mental health was awful and was overwhelmed and crippled with anxiety….
i had an MRI just to rule anything out but am currently petrified that there is going to be something seriously wrong. I had a CT scan about a month ago aswell and that was clear. However the symptoms I feel in my face I can’t work out whether it is anxiety / stress!!
is there anyone out there that can reassure me that no news is good news? I’m so scared of going it alone and then being given a diagnosis of something awful 😥
Any advice or reassurance is very welcome …

OP posts:
Hazlenuts2016 · 14/05/2025 12:10

From my experience in trying to get my son's results for a head and neck MRI, I was told they flag any serious results very quickly. This was backed up by my sister who is a medic and asked some friends who deal routinely with results. I would say from my experience it's likely that no news is good news, but since its causing so much anxiety I would try and phone the MRI dept and see if they can get someone to call you with results or tell you anything over the phone. If you are under a consultant maybe try and find out the number of their secretary. I took a similar approach after a repeat chest x ray and they were able to tell me that no request for a ct scan had been made, which would have been the next step if there were concerns. They cant always tell you the results but may be able to give you an indication. I feel for you, fingers crossed all is OK.

Original poster
Chimpannazee · 14/05/2025 12:32

Thankyou. I have called and they have said it’s been partially reported and is now under verification which they have assured me is standard for all MRI’s. I’m just so scared the wait is horrible 😥

OP posts:
Hazlenuts2016 · 14/05/2025 12:41

I understand. Hoping for a speedy and good result for you. Sorry you're having such a hard time.

march654 · 14/05/2025 12:50

My experience of MRI results is that the consultant does his letters one day a month (so I was told) so depending on when your MRI was, you could be 3-4 weeks for the letter to arrive. It’s horrible. But I agree that had it been anything serious you would have had a phone call. Hope it’s all fine for you.

Original poster
Chimpannazee · 14/05/2025 12:53

Thankyou so much. I think I’m now so anxious that I have convinced myself that it can’t be anxiety related 🤦‍♀️ I just need to know either way now..I think I’m frightened of MS to be honest x

OP posts:
Original poster
Chimpannazee · 14/05/2025 12:56

You’ll notice from my other posts that I’ve had a tough time mentally lately. I also had Prostap injections back in July and August last year to shut down my ovaries as I have PMDD but it sent me into an awful downward spiral…this is when the numbness and my left eye laziness started so wonder if it’s related!

OP posts:
mummytoonetryingfortwo · 14/05/2025 12:59

My sister had a CT scan on Friday.

She was told by the technician that she probably won’t even get told that the results are in, so to keep checking her NHS app!!! It’s horrible

annonymousse · 14/05/2025 13:04

I had a brain tumour. I had an mri and was called for a second mri with contrast within 2 days and had an appointment with the consultant for the diagnosis within a week. My experience is that if it's bad news you hear quickly. Hope you get your results soon and that it's good news.

Original poster
Chimpannazee · 14/05/2025 13:08

Thankyou so much for this. It is reassuring and I’m so sorry to hear this xxx sending so much love xx

OP posts:
autumn1610 · 14/05/2025 13:10

Not quite the same but I did eventually have an MRI (never saw the scans till my discharge) but I had a lump in my neck and had an ultrasound at the hospital and I was called by my gp the following day saying I have a tumour and will be referred for more scans. So I think if they see something which could be sinister you hear back fairly quickly

RatherBeOnVacation · 14/05/2025 13:13

Agreed that if it’s urgent they tell you VERY quickly. I had an outpatient MRI because of ongoing severe pain in my back and legs and was told I was a medical emergency and was to be admitted straightaway.

The second time I had something seriously wrong I was told two days after.

Happy to say that mine were just two fluke things independent of each other and I am 100% fine now.

No news is usually good news.

Original poster
Chimpannazee · 14/05/2025 13:13

Thankyou for the reassurance. I’m sorry to be such a worrier 😥

OP posts:
sandrevolutionary · 14/05/2025 22:57

I can't give you the answers, but I just wanted to say I know how excruciating and lonely it can be waiting for results and I am wishing the best for you. Flowers

Strollingby · 14/05/2025 23:24

I had an MRI a couple of years ago and it showed something....I heard about it very quickly (but it actually isn't a problem). I have follow up MRI each year and they take 2/3 months before I get the results

My conclusion as pp said is that if there is a problem you find out quickly, if there is nothing to worry about then it can take a while to hear.

Fordian · 14/05/2025 23:43

mummytoonetryingfortwo · 14/05/2025 12:59

My sister had a CT scan on Friday.

She was told by the technician that she probably won’t even get told that the results are in, so to keep checking her NHS app!!! It’s horrible

  • radiographer. Not ‘technician’.

I know this isn’t the point of this thread, but you know what? A ‘technician’ presses flashing buttons. A radiographer observes what they’re imaging. And should flag, for priority reporting, an unexpected finding.

Decapitatedsausage · 14/05/2025 23:47

I had an MRI and they very casually asked me to wait in the same day emergency ward as I was leaving the scan, they told me I’d had a stroke. Equally though, I’ve had many scans connected with my cancer diagnosis and am currently on a 6 week wait for results from that. I think no news is very much good news in these situations!

Original poster
Chimpannazee · 15/05/2025 11:58

Thankyou everyone…I’m really struggling with the anxiety this is causing 😥

OP posts:
mummytoonetryingfortwo · 15/05/2025 12:09

Chimpannazee · 15/05/2025 11:58

Thankyou everyone…I’m really struggling with the anxiety this is causing 😥

Have you given them a call?

Original poster
Chimpannazee · 15/05/2025 12:12

I’ve called them it’s still being reported on 😔

OP posts:
mummytoonetryingfortwo · 15/05/2025 12:15

Chimpannazee · 15/05/2025 12:12

I’ve called them it’s still being reported on 😔

Okay so you can probably take some comfort from that. The NHS is rubbish when it comes to things like this, but emergency situations are usually handled very fast. That includes cancer, strokes etc.

Original poster
Chimpannazee · 15/05/2025 12:16

I’m terrified I’ve got Ms I think. Somehow got that in my head and it’s panicking me terribly 😥

OP posts:
mummytoonetryingfortwo · 15/05/2025 12:17

OP it doesn’t sound as though you’re having any symptoms of MS.

Original poster
Chimpannazee · 15/05/2025 12:21

Do you really think so. I have been through the most stressful situation of my life for the last 3 months. I know my body has been under a lot of stress so I just hope it’s that I’m terrified

OP posts:
mummytoonetryingfortwo · 15/05/2025 12:27

Chimpannazee · 15/05/2025 12:21

Do you really think so. I have been through the most stressful situation of my life for the last 3 months. I know my body has been under a lot of stress so I just hope it’s that I’m terrified

You say it’s just the stiffness in your face and your eye? That doesn’t seem to align with symptoms of MS

SutekhsEars · 15/05/2025 12:27

Try not to worry. I was told to expect a 10 day wait for my results but got a call back within 2 hours. No news is good news.