Fibroscan

[Siobhan1974]

Helllo has anyway paid for a private fibroscan through the spire Clinic BRISTOL thank you

[Hidden]

I personally have never gone private. May I ask please why you are thinking of going private?

I see from your previous post that your consultant has already requested a fibroscan. If you already know that you have Cirrhosis from your recent ultrasound. Then the consultant will most likely want to know the stiffness of your liver and how much damage has been done.

I am not sure, but I think there maybe an issue with data protection here. In the case of going private, Spire would most likely be the owners of the images that they produced from the fibroscan. They wouldn't be allowed to share these images due to data protection rules and possible copyright issues. They would most likely give you a letter for your GP highlighting your fibroscan score. So, the whole fibroscan procedure would most likely have to be redone under the NHS.

Once your consultant has these results and images, then further tests will be required, even possibly an MRI.

So, save your money, and just wait for the health system to do it's job.

Good Luck.

[gizmo67 in reply to Hidden]

Going private saved my life...... I certainly wouldn't dismiss it.

[Siobhan1974 in reply to gizmo67]

I think I will can I ask did you have a fibroscan private

[gizmo67 in reply to Siobhan1974]

No it was for an ultrasound.

If you have already been diagnosed with cirrhosis then I'd just wait for your NHS appointment for your fibroscan.

[Siobhan1974 in reply to Hidden]

Hi there, I was told I woukd have results etc quickly I’ve chased and no response yet, I know no news is good news but just anxious as the consultant actually said to me we need to find out what stage you are at I will ring again Monday and go from there thank you for your information 😊

[April1970 in reply to Siobhan1974]

Hi Siobhan have you had your scan yet as you are meant to get the results at the time of your scan. I nearly paid £550 for a scan, twice I was booked then cancelled but my appointment finally came through and I'm having it on Tuesday. I went on the waiting list end of April last year so had taken almost a year. What results are you waiting for?

[Siobhan1974 in reply to April1970]

Hi no waiting for appt I’ve already had an ultrasound but she wants me to have a fibroscan I was told I would hear in 2 weeks nothing yet , so I am happy to pay to know what’s going on

[AyrshireK]

Siobhan, I don't know why you would want to pay to have a fibroscan. I thought your consultant said you needed to have one so you should get an appointment through the NHS. Ok you might have a bit of a wait but as I recall you already have a diagnosis of cirrhosis so fibroscan really isn't going to tell you anything further (if it was actually only fibrosis you had and not stage 4 fibrosis a.k.a. cirrhosis then it might help stage things).

My hubbies consultant has said we know you have cirrhosis already so there is nothing that fibroscan can add to the diagnosis process.

I wouldn't be throwing good money away on a scan that isn't going to tell you a whole lot more than you already know.

Katie

[farranccc]

I was under the impression that the Spire in Bristol doesn’t offer the fibroscan facility.

I was a private patient there and had a fibroscan which had to be done at Southmead.

Things, of course, could have changed.

[Siobhan1974 in reply to farranccc]

It will be done at south mead I have checked it all out

[HermioneGranger]

I’m in favor of it - your peace of mind is worth far more than money. Uncertainty and waiting do nothing but increase anxiety, cause insomnia, and make you feel as if you have no control over your own health and body. There’s no reason for it. I find it’s better to go into any appointments you eventually have with more information rather than less.

All the best.

[Siobhan1974 in reply to HermioneGranger]

Thank you

[Zaka99]

I think I had one there. They were professional. My score was 75 Kps unfortunately though. X

[Siobhan1974 in reply to Zaka99]

Sorry to hear that can I ask what your diagnosis is and what medication you are on please and was the scan recent x

[Zaka99 in reply to Siobhan1974]

Diagnosed with advanced liver cirrhosis. No medications. Lft's are actually normal which is rather unusual but good for me. The scan was in June of last year and I am booked in for another scan on 3rd May this year.

[bryan69]

Hi,

I remember being at the early stages of my illness/diagnosis process, and recall the amount of stress I felt thinking about all the what ifs and possibilities. So anxious for more information, counting the days to the next appointment or scan. I looked into options for private consultation or scans to try to move things along. In my case I concluded that it would not have helped, as the NHS team were being pretty responsive, and seeing another consultant could well have introduced confusion or delays in sharing information back and forth between the two parties.

For me, a private fibroscan was not an option in my area. If it had been, I probably would have gone for it. As long as the financial cost is not going to add to your anxiety, then why not? It may help give you some sense of control that you're doing something rather than just waiting and worrying.

[Jans1953]

I am 8 months post-transplant and was originally diagnosed with NASH in 2002. I have NEVER had a fibroscan. My consultant at QE B'ham said in 2015 that as I had already been proven to have cirrhosis there was no point as it wouldn't show anything new. Save your money x

[Grank]

I’m a great believer in the NHS however it hasn’t always worked for me and I’ve felt compelled recently to pay. I’m afraid not all areas of the U.K. are created equally in terms of NHS provision, for example my health board in Wales actually refused to send me for a CT scan and it had to be done at QEHB which raised cross funding issues (not to mention the 7 hour round trip)! You must do what you feel is necessary.