Hey everyone I’m looking to have an MRI scan privately for my own sake and to know if my endo is severe as feeling very unwell. None of my docs have suggested an MRI to me but I want to have one to be on the safe side.
I’ve looked online but I can’t find any endometriosis specialist ones and it looks like you have to book a consultation first for some which it pointless.
Does anyone know any endometriosis specialists you can book an MRI with privately in London?? Any help would be greatly appreciated! X
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Amywoodx
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I can’t recommend any specialist in London , however I have just been to a private consultant in the South East (Essex) . He was amazing !
From my experience you must be referred for a private MRI from a consultant . The consultant will order the MRI on the private hospital system and then you literally walk to the x-ray department and book it in at a time that suits you . They then will forward the results to the consultant .
The costs of an MRI differ, as costs are judged on the type of MRI - whether the dye is used , the area to be scanned or if multiple areas are to be scanned .
My private consultation cost £150 and the MRI is expected to cost £700 approx . I’m having my bowels and ovaries looked at .
Basically in a nutshell you just go via a private consultation for a private MRI .
An MRI is just a general MRI with the radiologist told to look at a specific area, they then set up the machine and you for your scan with the results sent to your specialist to review which is why the specialist has to request it. It's not something you can just book one off; the specialist has to see you first, complete a written request to the radioligy dept when you'll have an appointment to have your scan, you then book another follow up with your specialist to discuss the results.
You'd need to register privately to see an endo specialist and then they'll refer you for an MRI, but endo specialists don't often do MRIs as endo doesn't always show up on there so it's considered a waste of money, MRIs will only show very dense endo and scar tissue but not the overall endo. Specilaists prefer to physically see the endo during a diagnostic lap as that's the only way to see the extent of your endo, so in their view why do an additional step when ultimately to diagnose it they'll need to do a lap.
Check out the guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of endo: this is what all doctors should be following. It may help you to push for what you want.
Private is great, I found it really good, but unless you have work medical insurance or can take out your own it can be costly. Have you thought of seeing a private consultant for the initial consultation and then asking to be on their NHS list? As quite a few do that.
Hi - I actually have an appointment with a specialist on 15th April so I think I’m going to ask for an MRI. Although during my last appointment he completely wrote it off. Do you have to wait a long time for the MRI scan after the consultation or do they pretty much do it the same week?
If they've never needed to do an MRI for any of their previous patents and went straight for a lap and found endo then that would explain why they're reluctant to sign for one. Each private specialist is responsible for a whole case from diagnosis to signing off which can be years so they each have their own process which works for their patients. My private specialist never mentioned an MRI, he did request an ultrasound and transvaginal ultrasound to rule out PCOS and fibriods, but did mention scans don't tend to find endo.
I guess the question is what are you expecting to find on an MRI? As the specialist knows what they're looking for, so they know perhaps that an MRI won't show the information you want - ask them why they would not suggest an MRI; that could help. And after that you'd still need a lap to formally diagnose and excise your endo so your symptoms are reduced.
My MRI (privately for a lump in my hand, so different issue) was with a mobile MRI machine - cheaper for the hospital as they rent out the machine for a day or so to look at all different stuff. If it's a larger hospital they may have their own used for all departments. With mine after I had my consultation with the soft tissue specialist they radiology dept rang me up to discuss an appointment, they let me know what days they had the machine there and I booked an appointment, it was about a two week wait as the machine is only there once a week. The actual MRI takes about 20 mins, the radiology specialists read your details, confirm the area of the scan, put you in the machine, send scans to specialist and that's it.
I would suggest reading up on endometriosis and MRIs; also it's worth remembering that the severity of the symptoms of endo do not correlate with the amount of endo, so some women have severe symptoms and a bit of endo and some have slight symptoms and a lot of endo. Hence why MRIs are not reliable as they will not show up small patches of endo.
It’s not pointless to have a consultation it’s procedure they won’t just give you an mri without any background information some do it as a package anyway you can ask for both or they may not even offer you an mri either some endo specialist just use ultrasound although it’s upsetting to hear you’ve not had any support I’m in same boat they won’t offer me an mri and the only way they are moving forward is for a lap I did see a specialist who somehow forgot I booked for a scan and it went a miss and he did a pelvic exam usually the exam is enough for a specialist to know if I was you I’d go back to your g.p as mri are very expensive privately though it’s your choice there’s still possibility it won’t show the extent of it then you’ve wasted money the lap is the best way to see what’s happening I don’t want to put a downer on it lots of people get answers from an mri so if it eases your anxiety it will help you personally I hope you find someone my specialist is outside London but he does do London aswell I can pm you his name if you would like it but he does his by ultrasound
I had mine done in London privately because I was not getting answers from doctors on the NHS. What did I basically googled the closest private hospital to London Bridge, checked the profiles of all doctors, narrowed it down to a couple, then called them to see someone with experience in endometriosis, as well as laparoscopy & Hysteroscopy (I had a polyp also) and was booked for the next day. Had a consultation and the doctor could actually feel a nodule behind my womb / on top of bowel suggestive of bowel endo. I also had other symptoms, so he ordered an ultrasound. And then suggested diagnostic laparoscopy. I asked if there was an alternative and he suggested MRI with contrast as an interim step. I had it done but decided to do without contrast (was too scared) - apparently not much endo can be seen without contrast. I eventually decided to go for surgery and also had it done privately (in a private wing of an NHS hospital) because NHS only offered hysteroscopy and for laparoscopy it would have meant waiting for months and months again and I was starteg to feel too unwell. The cost of MRI was roughly £780 without contrast and £960ish with contrast so quite a lot. The doctor's (gyne) consultation is charged on top (first one £250 and follow up £200).
I’ll echo everyone else, please find yourself a great endo specialist, Fimley park Surrey have two, I had an MRI done on the NHS total waste of 4 months if my life waiting for it and luckily not paying, they simply don’t show enough for any kind of treatment plan.
Waste of NHS money as well.
I just wish I’d spent that time in pain cracking straight on with private treatment and a Lap.
I was due this month but god know when it will be now as I’m current battling with the COVID-19 virus.
I was going to book a private MRI at the BMI Centre but was advised that if i revert to nhs they have to redo new scans/procedures as the hospital has to ensure it has taken its own diagnostics and to cover itself. So please be aware before spending money...also you need to see a consultant then go for scan then see consultant again for follow up of scan...the cost goes up fast. Wish you all the best.
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