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I am having a brain scan on Wednesday

21 replies

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 03/05/2010 18:27

Can anyone tell me what will happen and if I will be told there and then if all is okay?

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deaddei · 03/05/2010 18:32

I don't know the answer fab, but just wanted to say I hope all is well.

TotalChaos · 03/05/2010 18:33

Can't tell you what will happen but unlikely to get the result immediately - I assume it's an MRI scan - the person doing the scan will write up a report, and send it through to your consultant, who may need to ask for your medical notes - so it can take up to several days, particularly if nothing is found (as ones with problems get prioritised iyswim)

NomDePlume · 03/05/2010 18:41

what kind of scan ?

An MRI ?

You will be asked to take off all metal things (jewellery etc) as it can overheat from the radiation (MRI uses magnetic radiation). You will be asked to lie very still on a bed and the radiographer will then slide you headfirst into the scanner. They will check you are comfortable and talk you through the scan, what will happen, how long it will take and what to do if you want them to stop. They will give you eardefenders as the machine is loud. Then they will leave the room to perform the scan.

MRI scanners are claustrophobic and noisy, lots of clunks, pops and bangs whilst it takes the images it needs. It usually takes around 25 mins but it depends on what the consultant has requested and how you cope. If you panic and they have to stop and start again it will obv take longer.

I doesn't hurt at all.

You will not get the results straight away. The results will be sent to the radiologist who will analyse the reports and write them up, they will then be sent to he clincian who requested them and then s/he will make a diagnosis and see you in clinic. Normally results tale anything from 5 to 14 days to come through.

Does that help ?

NomDePlume · 03/05/2010 18:43

sorry for typos I am typing in the dark

GoingPostal · 03/05/2010 18:46

i had an MRI last year and heard that they could be claustrophobic, was a bit worried about that. so I closed my eyes before I went into the scanner, and kept them shut the whole time. fairly noisy but had some music on the headphones and was so knackered I pretty much dozed off for a while!

hope this helps a bit.

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 03/05/2010 18:53

Thanks all.

TBH I have no real idea what is happening and I don't have a consultant. The GP referred me but another GP was trying to get me to cancel it.

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NomDePlume · 03/05/2010 18:57

pk, well what i said still stands, just insert GP where I typed consultant

NomDePlume · 03/05/2010 18:58

i meant ok.

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 03/05/2010 19:03

Why are you having one fab?

The MRI scanner is basically a giant magnet, that's why you can't wear any metal (it pulls it rather then heats it up). It takes about 20-30 minutes, it's not enclosed, it looks the same as a CT scanner (like a giant polo), you won't go all the way into it but you will have a cage covering your head and your head will be inside it. It's quite noisey so the radiographers will give you some ear phones if you want them. You won't get the results right away, you'll have to pop back to see your GP in about 10-14 days (this depends on how fast the hospital is at processing the results though so it will vary between them).

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 03/05/2010 19:18

I have been having trouble with my arms, hand, wrists as well as banging my head a lot, very hard and feeling very sick/cold.

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BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 03/05/2010 19:31

How worrying for you. Any pins and needles?

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 03/05/2010 19:37

Sometimes. I have been better since I saw an osteopath privately but some of the problems were from before I hit my head.

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BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 03/05/2010 19:55

There's a few things that can cause pins and needles, a spinal cord compression, migraines and MS so try not to worry. I have MS, there's different types and the effects are different for everyone. I work in a radiography department aswell so I've seen them fix spinal cord problems, alot of illnesses sound scarier they they really are. Google doesn't help as things like tumours come up for every medical condition. I bet you could diagnose yourself with a tumour for cold symptoms on some sites.

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 03/05/2010 20:57

I agree that google can be scarey.

The pins and needles are not very often. More pain and limbs failing.

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BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 03/05/2010 21:22

It will be OK tomorrow, it's easier to go with the flow and detach yourself from it all. It's always better to know what you are facing so you can deal with it head on. If it's a migraine condition then they won't find anything on the MRI. They may find nothing at all so try not to worry about it.

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 05/05/2010 14:08

I hope it went OK

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 05/05/2010 18:06

Thanks Belle. I have been taking a break from here but came back to fill you in as a thank you for all your support .

I was wrong. I wasn't having a brain scan. The Doctor did lots of tests, some I had never had before and the result is I am on medication for migraines and have to go back and have a CT scan on my neck, an MRI scan on my brain and nerve testing as he thinks there is a problem with my elbows.

I feel so sick, physically and emotionally, can't cope with noise or light and have only been on here a minute or 2 and already feel sick, so might have to give the laptop a miss.

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NomDePlume · 05/05/2010 20:47

The CT will more than likely be to check the blood flow in your your carotid artery (sometimes they do a carotid doppler test instead).

The MRI will be to check for any abnormalities/signs of weirdness in your brain

The nerve tests will be Nerve Conduction Studies, designed to check that all your nerve pathways are working ok.

Has your GP referred you on to a consultant now in light of your diagnosis ?

What medication are you on ?

What you describe - the nausea/sickness and intolerence of light & noise are normal for classic migraine. The best thing you can do is lie down in a quiet, dark room and attempt to sleep it off.

I suffer migraines too and unfortunately pain-wise when I get one there is nothing I can do about it. Nothing works to take the edge off meds wise for me (I have tried everything, over the counter, GP prescribed, consultant prescribed, you name it). I am now on a drug for Topamax (Topiramate is the generic name) which is actually an anti-seizure drug used in epilpsy sufferers but they discovered that the brain and body behave very similarly during a migraine attack to how how they behave during a classic grand mal seizure, and so in lower dosages the drug has been found to reduce the frequency of attacks (and in some patients eradicate completely). It is a serious drug though awith serious side effects and it is one you simply cannot run the risk of getting pregnant on (high birth defect risk) but for me it has really helped my migraine symptoms which were very debilitating and incredibly frustrating.

Best of luck Fab.

NomDePlume · 05/05/2010 20:48

called Topamax, not for Topamax!

catinthehat2 · 05/05/2010 21:06

As you are a bit on your own in the scanner, and it's very noisy, I took a tiny metal free stuffed toy for company which I held outside the machine. It was surprisingly comforting to have a small friend there.

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 06/05/2010 08:11

Hi everyone.

It was a consultant I saw yesterday at the hospital. He was lovely.

He has prescribed Amitriptyline but my husband is unsure about me taking them. I am going to start a new thread to ask about them.

Thanks again.

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