MRI of head - my (good) experience - ... - Acoustic Neuroma ...

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MRI of head - my (good) experience - weird images though

DizzyLizzyYorkshire profile image

I went to a mobile scanner unit in an Asda car park in Leeds. The MRI machine was noisy - it sounded similar to intermittent drilling in the street, and at times constant drilling. I could feel the vibrations in my engagement and wedding rings. I felt comfortable - I laid down on my back with my head resting in a shaped structure, I wore foam ear plugs and the nurse squashed more foam next to each of my ears to block out some of the noise. My legs were slightly raised at the knee, resting on a shaped cushion. I closed my eyes - I didn`t want to see what was happening, however, I know a plastic cage/structure was closed over my face - it didn`t touch me. I was calm and did my yoga abdominal breathing exercises. The scan (noise!) lasted around 15 minutes. I did not open my eyes until the nurse said I could sit up. I removed my ear plugs, and I left the mobile scanner unit. The next day (around 30 hours after the scan) I received an email with a link to a portal where I could look at my scan images - FASCINATING! (though I have no idea what any of it means) The report relating to my MRI will be sent to my GP in 3 working days. I cannot spot a tumour on the images I have looked at, however, I realise there may be something there that I cannot notice. I paid £300 for a private MRI - I did this after my GP did an urgent referral, followed up to request a timescale 3 weeks later, and after I then received a letter from the hospital to say I may have an appointment with an ENT consultant in 6 weeks` time - I felt I had to DO something. My symptoms have increased in severity and frequency over the past 3 years, and much more so in the past 6 months - maybe my anxiety has made it worse though. I am hoping that if the ENT consultant can look at my scan images quickly they can advise me on what I can do to help myself, rather than then waiting for an NHS MRI scan (which I know is the same thing, it`s just a longer waiting list). I feel guilty about paying privately for an MRI scan, however, I have found it interesting looking inside my own head. As I have spent my holiday money on an MRI, I can now spend my long weekend studying my scan images!! I`m attaching one of my images to this post - that`s me - how weird is that?! :-)

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DizzyLizzyYorkshire
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10 Replies
Wounded101 profile image
Wounded101

Thank you for sharing, I also had a scan recently, i requested it after feeling more symptoms than usual. My GP referred Mr and its all clear but I've still been anxious. Ido think the symptoms have subsided since the scan so I have put them down to anxiety, your post although was not for this reason, is reassuring to me. So thank you know again !

Em

DizzyLizzyYorkshire profile image
DizzyLizzyYorkshire in reply to Wounded101

I have found this group fab - I have learned so much! I hope we all keep sharing our knowledge and experience :-)

Kristyll profile image
Kristyll

Yes that is all how it works. Waiting for the result is a lot quicker these days I believe. Fingers and eyes crossed x

Pinkrose1 profile image
Pinkrose1

That is amazing that there are now mobile MRI's! It's interesting to get to see all the images, i've only seen 2 of my A.N and didn't get shown ones like that, they are so interesting to see. I hope all goes well with your appointment and resultsAll the best

FERNBROOK profile image
FERNBROOK

Hope everything turns out well for you. On a cautionary note I have recently been advised to switch from being a private patient into the NHS where the radiologists are part of an assigned MDT for my acoustic neuroma and have more experience of running the correct scanning with the right interpretation of results.

Alison_L profile image
Alison_L

Wow, that's a lovely portrait of you :)

Here's mine from the end of Feb - I appear to have a gaping mouth and lovely curly ears! You can see my 1cm AN.

.
DizzyLizzyYorkshire profile image
DizzyLizzyYorkshire in reply to Alison_L

Wow! That is clear! I don`t have any such feature on my images so I`m probably in the clear (which should be confirmed when the report comes through). Thank you for sharing your image (and I like your curly ears) :-)

Kkk7 profile image
Kkk7 in reply to Alison_L

Hi as you have 1 cm AN what dr suggested is it already treated and follow up scan report

Alison_L profile image
Alison_L in reply to Kkk7

Hi Kkk. This is my first MRI (on my head). I was initially told (by the audiology consultant who referred me to the skull base team) that it was 2.1cm x 5cm, but when I met with the skull base people this week, they assured me there had been a mistake (they're investigating), and the AN is only 1cm. As my "only" symptom is right-sided deafness and low level tinnitis, they're putting me on Watch & Wait - repeat MRI in 4 months.

SJa2020 profile image
SJa2020

Happy for you. Is this diagnosis from your Drs? I know exactly how you feel as I was told by A&E nurse that I had an AN but turned out to be incorrect. All the v best & this is a great group reason why I still drop in! TC

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