Question about nhs

[En89]

Can I request a mri to my gyne on nhs or if nothing shows on ultrasound will they deny me access to have a mri for further look?

[Ps-endo]

Hey! You can absolutely request an MRI.

Nothing ever showed on my ultrasounds except polycystic ovaries, however my MRI (without dye) showed deep infiltrating endo of the uterosacral ligaments and adenomyosis, so I was referred from gynae to an endo specialist and my 2nd lap they found it in a range of areas and excised it.

Explain to them that you’ve done the research and know that ultrasounds more than likely don’t always show endo and you’d like further investigations

[JEWM in reply to Ps-endo]

Hi PSimmO,

I had an MRI colonoscopy as a gastro referral about a year ago, they were specifically looking for / ruling out bowel cancer, do you know if they would have looked for endo at the same time?

I’m now looking at a 7 month wait to see a gynae to discuss a US scan that the sonographer said didn’t show anything.

Wondering if it is worth pestering my gp or contacting the Gynae’s office prior to try and get this accelerated.

[Ps-endo in reply to JEWM]

Honestly, I have no idea I’m sorry. As others have said, an MRI won’t always show endo either, I guess I got lucky with mine that they did pick it up, and the gold standard would be laparoscopy. I’ve never had a US scan show any of my endo or adeno, but again i guess it’s individual to each person. I’d probably try and pester them a bit, 7 months is a long time! Hope you get the answers you’re looking for and good luck!

[En89 in reply to Ps-endo]

Yeah I want a mri to look for adenomyosis as I have its suspected... but from mu local hospital but my gyne is in a different district so it's confusing knowing who's right.

[TennisCourt]

Hey! I had an ultrasound 2.5 years ago before I even knew what endo was which was clear. However I never got offered an MRI. I ended up in A&E last month where I requested one and they said they would never do me one as “it doesn’t change my treatment plan” but this came from the doctor who said getting pregnant is a GREAT solution to endo so I don’t think he has a clue.

I ended up going to a specialist privately in August and she said my next steps was Surgery not even bother with MRI. My surgery is 19th December now and I’m soooo ready to get a diagnosis and understand what’s going on.

I have heard loads of people have got MRIs so don’t take my experience for gospel, think I just had an awkward doctor tbh. In my experience, just push for what you want. I’m at the point I don’t care if I come across rude, we fight so long with no help we have to demand it sometimes xx

[Endosufferer1 in reply to TennisCourt]

Ah ah ah what a clown to say that getting pregnant helps with endo🤣🤣🤣

[TennisCourt in reply to Endosufferer1]

I know I was fuming!!! I was like urmmmm no

[Lindle]

No you are unlikely to get an MRI on the NHS with a clear ultrasound unless there is evidence of deep disease such as nodules felt on an internal exam. They might if you have symptoms of deep disease - I guess it might depend on the consultant.

The problem is that for endo to show on ultrasound it needs to be done by an expert with the skills to look for it, in which case it is actually better for rectovaginal endo than MRI, but the sonographers in general gynae are usually only trained to look at the reproductive organs.

The next step is a diagnostic lap or medical treatment according to your choice but if having a lap be sure it is done by someone with additional endo training and not just a general gynae.

[My_Username]

I got an MRI on the NHS.

I'd had a number of ultrasounds and all they could see were some small chocolate cysts in my ovaries. I was told that it wasn't worth doing surgery despite 20+ years of debilitating symptoms.

Luckily I met a decent gynae who told me that bowel endo doesn't show up on ultrasounds and referred me for an MRI, which changed everything. I had stage IV deep infiltrating endo damaging pretty much everything in my pelvic cavity and it had also spread to my diaphragm. 11 hour surgery in a specialist centre with colorectal surgeon and gynae surgeon. So much for ultrasounds!

Even the MRI didn't show everything - I had a frozen pelvis (everything stuck together with adhesions) and that only showed up on a diagnostic lap (which I had to do privately in the end)

So, from my experience, an MRI and diagnostic lap are essential.

Please get this done before you even consider medical menopause or hysterectomy - you're much too young for this.

[En89 in reply to My_Username]

I have has my laproscapy unfortunately I was stupid and didn't know enough (about types of surgery) I had ablation and I've had worse pain every single day and 37 days of work since. I'm taking dihydrocodeine every day to try and get through

[EvilEdna77]

I've had several ultrasound over the years that picked up fibroid and not much else. After another referral to gynae, The final one the sonographer remembered me from a previous visit and she spotted straight away changes, said I had suspected endo on ovaries, fluid in womb and changes to fibroid and referred me for urgent MRI. 2 weeks later had MRI and 2 weeks after that met with gynaecologist who said MRI had shown stage 4 deep infiltrating endo in bowel, ovaries, tubes and fused bowel and womb as well as some other large cysts. Referred on to the specialist centre who did more ultrasound and put on waiting list for a full hysterectomy with bowel surgeon, no laparoscopy needed to diagnose. It very much depends on you and getting good people who know what to look to undertake and report the scans properly. Definitely push for MRI it can't hurt, non invasive and gives the doctors more information.

[Endosufferer1]

MRIs (done professionally by specialists) never showed anything for me except a cyst on a kidney. Got endometriosis up to the thorax when they did the laparoscopy!

[PAPanda]

After a years wait to see them - following a trip to a&e with pelvic pain last december - the gynae said no when I asked about an MRI.

I had a bulky womb and fibroids show up on vaginal ultrasound, but he said the bulky womb was 'probably just the fibroids' - amazing that he has xray eyes- but I have lots of other symptoms going on for literally decades that could be endo or adeno that were never even asked about!

On the new nhs website it says that mri is the diagnostic method for adeno so I went to my gp and asked, she listened to all my points and put the request through for me. Feel very lucky that my GP is on side. Hope you can get an MRI too and if you have a good GP they may be willing to do the referral.