4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Joojoo]

Hi

 

Some of you will know that I've been off for work for 3 months with really bad headaches. I've suffered with them 24/7 for over 25 years and had various CT and MRI scans in the past all of which have shown nothing wrong. My consultant has said in the past that some people are just prone to them without there being a specific reason for them and as I've had them for so long I don't worry about there being anything like a brain tumour as logically if there was it would have shown itself way before now. There have been a couple of times before now where I've been off work for 8 weeks or so but fortunately these periods are few and far between.

 

Since I've been so poorly this time, I went privately to see my Neurologist whom I haven't seen since I last had a scan 10 years ago. He decided to dig out my last scan just to make sure nothing had been missed. I got called to another appointment a couple of weeks later saying that they HAD found a problem on the original scan with the nerves adjacent to the brain stem being too tight which they believe is causing the problem. Apparently it can be operated on and is usually very successful although I'm trying not to think about it too much (or why they never spotted it before) . Anyway, today I had to go for another MRI so that they can determine the full extent of the problem. When the scan was complete, the nurse said it will be a few days before the results get back to my consultant and then asked "have you got an appointment booked ready". I said "No" as the consultant will send another appointment through once he has had the results back. I didn't think anything of her comment until about 10 minutes ago and it's now got me wondering (aka worrying) that it was a strange thing to ask and does that mean there is a problem Usually whenever I've been for a scan or xray they just say "the results will be sent to your consultant/GP within x amount of days but I've never had them ask if I've got an appointment booked.

 

I realise I'm probably worrying about nothing but it's whizzing around my mind now

[Guest]

Oh Jue, I am not surprised you are worried. I would be just the same - all calm and not bothered and then a thought like that occurs and I'd be straight into a panic.

 

You are right that anything which was there 10 years ago would definitely be known about now. My guess is that medicine has moved forward since then and things like tight nerves are now known to be a problem, when perhaps they weren't back then.

 

Private medicine is totally different to the NHS and asking you if you have another appointment booked is probably just part of the excellent service you receive. Quite why we can't receive good manners and politeness on the NHS I do not understand.

 

Please try not to worry. There is no point.

Sleep well.

xx

[Redwing]

I am not sure but I know on other types of hospital checks the person operating the machine is not qualified to 'read' the images, someone else does that so if the nurse was not qualified to comment then her question probably doesnt mean anything

 

Feel free to correct me though people

 

Try not to worry yourself, there is absolutely nothing you can do at 10:30 on an evening and worrying will just make you feel bad

[Ain't Nobody Here]

You poor thing . I can understand why you've got yourself all worried . I'm sure what she said had no significance, try not to worry. Lots of love and hugs to you.

[Joojoo]

Thanks guys . I know it probably isn't anything to worry about, it's just made me a bit anxious as they don't usually ask things like that. The nurse didn't say anything about what they had or hadn't seen, as Redwing correctly said they aren't trained to interpret the scans.

 

The initial appointment was private, but the scan was on the NHS so I don't think that was reason behind it, although I could completely understand it being that if it had been private. The difference in how you are treated is absolutely horrendous. Who says that money doesn't talk? It's just so wrong especially when good manners and courtesy don't cost anything. The only reason I went private this time was because I couldn't stand the pain any longer and the waiting time on the NHS would have meant that I would probably have been suffering and off work for another 3-6 months.

 

The consultant has bent over backwards since the issue with the nerves came to light. The MRI appointment was through within 2 weeks and as I said that's on the NHS where the normal waiting time in Shropshire for an MRI is anything up to 8 months at the moment. I think the fact that it was missed last time probably is down to the advancements in medicine in the last 10 years - that's a vast amount of time for science. As Ginette said they probably didn't even realise that the nerves could cause that particular problem 10 years ago.

 

The thought of the whole thing all feels very strange to be honest. On one hand I feel so excited at the thought I might be free of pain after so long but on the other hand the thought of the op is quite scary. It's something to do with severing the nerves but I don't know all the details yet. The consultant could only briefly explain what the op would entail, as they are waiting to see the full extent of what's going on before they decide what they are going to do. It can't be too high of a risk though or they wouldn't do the operation in the first place, so that helps me reconcile my fears.

 

xx

[Egluntyne]

All the best.

[Seagazer]

Oh Joojoo please try not to worry. The nurse was probably just trying to be professional and checking whether you have appointments already organised. You have to think positively that you could be pain free, which must be such a lovely thought after suffering in pain for so long. Hope it all goes well for you.

[Chickendoodle]

Try not to worry. I suspect that as they know there is a problem they would also know that you will need another appointment with the consultant to discuss the treatment.

 

I have also suffered from headaches (sinus related) for many years although nowhere near as serious as yours. I am having a minor op in a couple of weeks to clear my tubes out which will hopefully stop them and I am strangely excited.

 

Headaches are so debilitating - it is fantastic that a problem with a solution has been found for you after all this time so try to look on the positive side of it all.

[chickenanne]

Scans are difficult to read and interpret. It's hugely unlikley that a consultant neurosurgeon would spot something (or even look at the scan) so quickly; the nurse asking about appointments would be meaningless - chances are she hasn't even seen the detail of your medical records/known fully what the scan was looking for.

My Dad had brain surgery about 5 years ago now, and is absolutely fine afterward; in fact he got his quality of life back as a result of the surgery. The advances between now and then are immense. It sounds so scary I know, but honestly it's amazingly accurate and mechanical. He too went private (even though he violently disapproves of it) for the initial consultation (he didn't need to for the surgery or scan) as the NHS waiting list was very long and his condition meant he was deteriorating practically by the day.

[Scary Mary]

I was asked a similar question when having my leg scanned.

 

I asked why they wanted to know, and was told that scans are difficult to read and have to be analysed by specialists. As there can often be a bit of a backlog they wanted to know so they could put a "required by" date on the paperwork.

 

So, don't worry, and best wishes for your treatment

[moochoo]

Hiya. I'm an MRI radiographer. It's a very common thing that we ask patients if they've got an appointment booked. Some patients are seen the next day and so the radiologist will need to immediately report on their scans.

As radiographers we can easily diagnose from the scans what your problem would be (although we can't give you a diagnosis) and I'm sure any neurosurgeon worth his salt would identify any abnormalities easily.

Neuro MRI has come on in leaps and bound inthe last 5 years with larger magnet scanners and higher resolution small descrepancies are more easily identified.

I'm sure you have no need for concern, restricted nerve roots are a common problem mainly occuring in the top of the neck/ base of the brain. It's almost like having brain sciatica if that makes sence.

Try not to worry yourself. It sounds like you're in capable hands.

[Alis girls]

As a nurse I think its just checking you wont "be lost to follow up" - have asked this myself and had patients worrying themselves sick and had to reassure its standard practice. Good luck

[earthmam1]

I too used to be a nurse and agree with nochucksyet, its so you dont get lost in the system.

Please dont worry.

 

sue

[Joojoo]

Hiya. I'm an MRI radiographer. It's a very common thing that we ask patients if they've got an appointment booked. Some patients are seen the next day and so the radiologist will need to immediately report on their scans.

As radiographers we can easily diagnose from the scans what your problem would be (although we can't give you a diagnosis) and I'm sure any neurosurgeon worth his salt would identify any abnormalities easily.

Neuro MRI has come on in leaps and bound inthe last 5 years with larger magnet scanners and higher resolution small descrepancies are more easily identified.

I'm sure you have no need for concern, restricted nerve roots are a common problem mainly occuring in the top of the neck/ base of the brain. It's almost like having brain sciatica if that makes sence.

Try not to worry yourself. It sounds like you're in capable hands.

 

Thanks Sarah - that's completely put my mind at rest. I've been trying not to worry about it too much but I was a bit skitty on Tuesday night and thought it seemed a bit of a strange question. You've answered me with what I thought would be the case on loads of things thank you. Brain Sciatica COMPLETELY makes sense, although I wouldn't have thought of it like that myself. I had always wondered if it was a form of neuralgia until the scan showed up the problem with the nerves. I presumed that the Radiographers could see problems from the scans (although they are obviously not able to comment) but that's why I ended up more worried as I thought perhaps they had seen something else and that's why they were asking if I had an appointment booked - you know what it's like late at night when the old brain goes into overdrive!!

 

It does make me chuckle cos I think we've pretty much got all occupations covered on here when we need something answering

 

Thanks to everyone else too for your support and comments. You're such a fab bunch

 

xx

[Tiggy]

it may have taken a while but at least you can get something done about it now,, 10 years ago we may not have had the technology to treat it, good luck & I hope you start to feel better soon