My wife has had three hip operations (two new and a revision) and following these she had two overnights in hospital. If her experience is anything to go by your mobility will be still be considerably impaired just over a week after the hip operation, likely still on crutches, and needing lots of rest to allow your body to heal, let alone pain killers etc. How all of this will affect your heart might also need to be taken into consideration. My personal view, without knowing any of your circumstances is that you wont be fit enough to have the MRI. So if I were you I would be considering which of the two procedures is more necessary for your wellbeing and choose to go ahead with that one, and get the other postponed. But what ever you do make your decision quickly to give the system chance to offer someone else your slot, should you decide to postpone.
Not really sure what you are expecting people to say TBH, only you know how the hip problem is affecting your mobility at the moment? if it's not causing you problems have it done at a later date on get the MRI scan done as it's more important.
hi thanks. I'm more interested in people's people experience of the MRI scan. How comfortable is it lying on the scan trolley. Can I have a pillow. That kind of thing.
It isn't a bad procedure (the scan). They do MRI's all the time for inpatients so are used to dealing with people with impaired mobility etc. Yes, you can have a pillow. It doesn't take long, about ½ an hour, if I recall. If you can get to the hospital after the hip op (sounds like a song theme), have them both - I would anyway 🙃. It's a big risk delaying anything with the NHS these days sadly
I had a MRI scan yesterday. It took about 20mins and I felt comfortable during the process. There was a pillow, the only issue is the noise, but they do give you ear defenders to lessen that to some degree.
I had a cardiac MRI last year after diagnosis of LVSD. I had to do a lot of holding my breath on exhale (typically for 10s) with many repeats over a period of about 30mins. I’m not sure if that is typical of a cardiac MRI or if this was a specific sequence for me. I’ve had about 8 MRIs/CTs in the last 18 months for cardiac, brain and prostate. The experience is not uncomfortable, but I am a big lad and I’m pretty snug in the scanner! That said, they will usually give you a pillow under your knees to make you comfortable. The rooms are usually air conditioned and the scanner can blow cool air directly to you if you need a bit of extra cooling. The radiographer and team are there for you and will answer all your questions and concerns. They are quite noisy and you will be given ear plugs and maybe a headset for hearing instructions. CTs are a bit quieter and I think they get their images a bit quicker. If it’s a “with contrast” scan they will need to put a line in your arm to inject the contrast dye. Your appointment letter should indicate that. As to whether to defer, I’m not going to comment, but I hope this has helped you regarding the overall MRI experience. Best wishes.
thank you OldPlymothian1965. Yes your reply has been really helpful and really helped me to decide what to do. The appointment letter does say I'll have a line in each arm - one for the contrast and one for the stress test. Can't wait !!!
I'd contact Cardiology again , remind them you've already asked and they said they'd get back to you.Remind them how close it is and that you are up to the wire now about knowing which thing to rearrange if you need to.
If you ring the Secretary for your Cardiologist , rather than just the general number for Cardiology you usually get a better response. You can get the direct number by ringing reception or the Department.
Ask the Secretary to get the Cardiologist to call you back or pass a message through her today if possible.
Also ask if it's possible to rearrange the Cardiac MRI in these circumstances to be done before the hip replacement, even if it's feasible when your are admitted into hospital for the operation.
You can't be sure how you will be after a hip operation, it's not as easy as a knee. It's likely that you wouldn't be able to get on the MRI table and lay in a position that would not affect your healing , often you need to remain in a pretty static position for a while after having a hip done.
Therefore, if they can't fit it in before you need to consider which procedure is more urgent , and least likely to be harmful to delay , to you as a patient.
And which one is easier to arrange to do a little later.
I feel for you I'm in a similar position at the moment. I've got two procedures that I need to have under GA but I can't have two GAs close to each other. One is just a test , one is an operation . They are all giving me the run around because they can't decide if they can to the both at the same time or not .
Hope you get some answers soon, it's stressful enough having tests and treatments without the extra confusion, take care , Bee
hi thank you for taking the time to reply. It is so helpful to be able to mull stuff over with the forum members.
i decided I could, and did, defer the scan and I have received a letter by email asking me to ring and rebook.
its quite hit and miss getting hold of the consultants secretary - I did try but I got the out of office message and no reply to my voicemail, however in the end I made my decision after reading the messages on this thread.
think I have this sorted - thank you for your input(s)
I managed to get through to someone at the MRI dept just now and cancelled the scan. They accepted my reason reason for cancelling and will send another appointment later.
I didn't want to cancel hip surgery as I already had it cancelled in Feb when the Afib was picked up.
I looked back at my notes post first hip op and 8 days I was walking down the road, then week 3 2 miles with one stick, but I thought best not assume anything!
one of the problems is that the scan is at a Nuffield hospital, the cardiologist is at the NHS hospital, and the hip surgery is at the Circle hospital! They all have different IT systems which do not work together, and one is passed round somewhat!
When I had an MRI about 3months after OHS one of the questions was had I had any sort of metal implanted into me in the previous 6weeks. I guess they'd do it in an emergency but postponing seems the best thing to do.
in all honesty I think I would call the cardiologist secretary and they could ask the Cardiologist and then call you back! Or your hip replacement dr secretary! I am not a dr and can just give my opinion hopefully you get it sorted as you don’t need anymore stress! GOODLUCK with all.
yes thank you for getting back to me. I came to your conclusion about reduce the stress and so I cancelled the scan and will rebook it for after hip surgery.
I have had so many MRI's for various reasons including heart. It is very easy. They lower the table for you to get on, there is a pillow at your head and if you need one for your knees they would oblige. It is not going to affect your surgery. Do both. Face it your heart is No1. Best Wishes.
Hi and thank you for your reply which confirms what I thought. But. I already made the call and asked to delay the scan. I got an email back saying they will send another appointment. Bit of a knee jerk reaction but I am asymptomatic AF - not suffering at all - reading the posts about how other people suffer I am content to wait. Thanks again.
As I posted elsewhere on the forum yesterday evening MRI scans utilise radio waves and strong magnetic fields from which a very powerful computer assembles the images. With any sort of metallic implant they often have to reduce the magnetic field strength which in turn reduces the image clarity. Personally I would be more inclined to have the MRI first.
I even had to remove my Libre sensor, on my upper arm, before they would start the MRI scan of my legs.
I would say the I wasn't not told is the cardiac MRI takes a minimum of 45 minutes and during that time you have to remain completely still. I did not know this so by the time I came out my back was in absolute agony. So if you think by taking pain relief you can bear the 45 plus minutes I would go ahead and have the scan as it takes quite a long time to send the report mine took about 3 to 4 months . But if you don't feel well enough after the hip operation to lay still for that long then perspone. But that a decision you need to make. I think that's why the keep passing the buck
hi and thanks for getting back to me. I cancelled the MRI and I have been told to ring and rebook it. I thought it best to have it done a bit later when I won't be recovering from surgery. I remember last time I always had to go and lie down if I took the pain killers - they knocked me out for a couple of hours.
hi Maxwall47. Yep I cancelled the scan. The wait time for the hip op was not too bad - I asked my GP to refer me end of 2023 and the appt came for Feb 17. That was cancelled and rebooked for June 17. Thank you for getting back to me
Personally, I'd recommend both from the account of recovery with your previous hip op.
The scans a routine business and they make sure you are comfortable before they start. My scan took between 45 to 60 mins, don't know exactly as I didn't have a watch on....apparently they are not compatible with the scanner 😂
If you are uncomfortable then they can stop but it best to make sure you are as comfortable as possible before they start. Consider taking any pain medication beforehand so you are are pain free as possible.
Lastly, it's best to keep your eyes closed and listen to instructions they provide during the scan. They explain everything as they go but it can get a little claustrophobic in the tube.
Hope this helps and good luck with what you decide.
thank you James - that all sounds very reassuring . I don't think I am claustrophobic. I have gold bangles that I can't usually get off. I know gold is not attracted to magnets but I must try and get them off.
yes you are right. I could not cope with the odds so I cancelled the scan and I have to rebook it. Now something else to occupy it's place - the bnp levels!
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