MRI 5 weeks ago with no results.

[Shazzy46]

I had a heart MMRI 5 weeks ago and still haven't had my results. was Moderate/severe 16 months ago when I had my last echo and toe.they found an ascending aortic anuerysm 4cm. I wanted to speak to someone last year because I have an aberrant rca running through my aorta and pulmonary arteries. Previously I was told not to get stressed or it could cause sudden death. The anuerysm is really worrying me because it could be making the area smaller. I had the MRI and rang them over a week ago to ask why I hadn't had my results. The secretary said the letter was there and not much had changed but there was a lot on it. I have a echocardiogram next year and MRI in 5years. I'm so anxious because when I have read about asymptomatic aortic stenosis you only have -2-3 years but he was talking years when I spoke to him last February. It doesn't help not being able to get GP appts. Getting so down.

[Hidden]

Hello

Waiting is the worst bit I always think

And while we are waiting we do what you have done go looking for the answers and we are always going to find negative ones when we do

I know you will be struggling to see it but where it says nothing has really changed to me that sounds like a positive

Believe your Consultant and what they say they have done your tests and know how your heart is

I know it is dreadful when we are so anxious but phone again if you need to and keep phoning till you get the answers you need but meantime try and say Today I am ok and tomorrow I will deal with it when it comes and most of the time it is not half as bad as we think it will be

Please let us know how you get on x

[Shazzy46 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your good advice, much appreciated.

[Hidden in reply to Shazzy46]

Look forward to you letting us know how you get on x

[Theoldtrout]

I feel for you, my husband’s in the same boat, he had his heart MRI 5 months ago, heard nothing yet and cannot get to speak to anyone regarding it and his telephone appointment has just been cancelled and rescheduled for December! The worry cannot be good for you! I think you must believe that if any serious problem had shown up they would have been in touch straight away, good luck hope you hear soon.

[Palpman]

I gave up waiting for my results but then one day out the blue I received a message that I must have it redone. I did and that was over a year ago. Nothing back to date.My GP said it was due to nothing sinister found.

[Rosei]

I wait a couple of weeks, then I go to the surgery and ask the secretary to print out my results for me for everything, blood tests,the lot.V

I have two aneurysms one in my aorta and another on the sinus of valsalva just going into my heart, at the moment keeping my blood pressure low and not lifting anything heavy.

[wischo]

I have had 2 cardiac MRI tests in the last 5 years and always had an appointment from my cardiologist to discuss the results. To be fair I am sure it took longer than 6 weeks though from test to results. I found they are very reluctant to discuss these tests over the phone and prefer face to face meetings. On a more positive note if it was bad news I think they would have contacted you by now. Hope you get your results soon.

[Cliff_G]

Shazzy, your call to the consultant's secretary tells you that the result has been assessed (usually by the radiologist first, then your consultant), and it will also have been sent to your GP, since they are the keeper of your records. You have a right to see any letter, report, or whatever, about you. I frequently ask for my letters, bloods reports etc. as to get back to you routinely can take a while, just the pressure of work. What I would suggest is calling your GP's surgery, either the general enquiries, or the Medical Secretaries (or use the on-line system if there is one) to request a copy of the letter.

You can then read it for yourself and see if you understand it. You'll probably need to look up stuff in order to understand some of the terms. In the end you should ask to talk to your consultant.

One thing I would specifically ask about is the period to your next MRI. With an aberrant coronary artery running through the aorta and pulmonary arteries, I do wonder whether echos inbetween are sufficient. An echo will see that region fairly well, but an MRI is better. I would be thinking more like a couple of years to your next MRI, especially as you have been warned about "sudden death".

You mention aortic stenosis. Have you been told you have this?

There is alsp the risk of dissection. Your ascending aortic aneurysm of 4 cm is not particularly large. The classic diameter of concern is 5.5 cm, at which point the risk of dissection becomes greater than the risk of surgery. However, modern thinking is questioning this diameter, for various reasons, and Elefteriades, a top aortic surgeon in the US, now recommends 5 cm in the absence of any other indicator. Certain genetic conditions will reduce that diameter to 4.5 or even 4 cm. If there is aberrant vasculature, or, for example, a bicuspid aortic valve, there is a slightly increased association with aortic dissection.

Yours is a very particular case, and you should be able to get a good conversation with your consultant.

I trust you have been advised to keep your blood pressure under good control - which means 120/80, not 140/90 which is the figure at which treatment is indicated in the absence of aortopathy.