I've never been so scared in my life

[Cyco]

So I've had a headache since the beginning of Feb, and through the wonderous HMO they call military healthcare, I finally had an MRI done this morning. Not too unpleasant of an experience, all things considered, I'm told my doc should have the results in about 5 days....WTF? Should I be glad to hear...hey you don't have a huge tumor in your head, but we dont know what to make of this....or what? Me...I can live with what life gives me, but I have a wonderful wife and 3 kids to think of. Damn, this is a mind fuck. Are the doctors on TV full of shit when the can decipher an MRI in minutes or do they just need to preserve the 60 minute time frame? Not expecting an answer, although it would be nice...just need to vent.

Update
Well, it turns out, to quote Arnie..."It's not a too-mah"
I suppose I should be thankful for that, but still having the headaches. Next appointment is on the first, who's the fool? Anyway, thanks for all your support and laughs. I knew I could count on ATOT!

 

[olds]

I don't believe doctors take the test so one must be used to read it accurately. Maybe he has a 5 day backlog.

 

[lxskllr]

Hopefully it works out for you. TV doctors are about as relevant as TV lawyers. I'd rank them several tiers below Wikipedia for reliable information :^)

 

[OCGuy]

Im sure you are OK. Good luck :thumbsup:

 

[silverpig]

I took a medical physics class a few years ago. Apparently the first person to see your MRI is a tech who knows how to operate the machine. The next person to see the scan is a medical physicist who will interpret what the image physically means - what's really there, what's an image artifact etc. Then it goes to a radiologist (or whatever the MRI equivalent is) who can come up with a biological/medical assessment of what is there based on what the physicist tells him. Then it goes to your doctor along with the info from the physicist and the radiologist.

I guess if you had a super awesome insurance plan they could have those guys all standing in a row or something and it'd go quickly.

Maybe this isn't accurate, but it's what I was told.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
Hopefully it works out for you. TV doctors are about as relevant as TV lawyers. I'd rank them several tiers below Wikipedia for reliable information :^)

You mean it might actually be lupus?

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: silverpig

Originally posted by: lxskllr
Hopefully it works out for you. TV doctors are about as relevant as TV lawyers. I'd rank them several tiers below Wikipedia for reliable information :^)

You mean it might actually be lupus?

Damn it, Otto, you have lupus.

 

[Cyco]

Originally posted by: silverpig

Originally posted by: lxskllr
Hopefully it works out for you. TV doctors are about as relevant as TV lawyers. I'd rank them several tiers below Wikipedia for reliable information :^)

You mean it might actually be lupus?

Thanks for the LoL...but how do you keep strong when you're breaking down inside wondering?

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Cyco

Originally posted by: silverpig

Originally posted by: lxskllr
Hopefully it works out for you. TV doctors are about as relevant as TV lawyers. I'd rank them several tiers below Wikipedia for reliable information :^)

You mean it might actually be lupus?

Thanks for the LoL...but how do you keep strong when you're breaking down inside wondering?

You realize worrying about it before you know anything is reckless and you carry on.

 

[StageLeft]

He has a backlog, it really does take a short period of time to interpret them. In my experience, a radiologist sends his very brief impressions on a single sheet of paper along with the images to your physician who ordered the MRI, then he can go over it with you.

You should understand that this was probably done as a just-in-case. I am a huge hypochondriac, too, but the chances of them finding anything in the MRI to indicate a source for the headaches is low. It's probably something else going on from diet to perhaps just something that they won't be able to cure right now, but can perhaps address the symptoms with a proper medication.

 

[ja1484]

reLAX.

You probably just have migraines.

And even if you do have a tumor, if it's to the point where you have headaches, odds are you're past the point where anything can be done anyway.

Either way, you're spectating, so chillz.

 

[quakefiend420]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: silverpig

Originally posted by: lxskllr
Hopefully it works out for you. TV doctors are about as relevant as TV lawyers. I'd rank them several tiers below Wikipedia for reliable information :^)

You mean it might actually be lupus?

Damn it, Otto, you have lupus.

One of these two just doesn't sound right.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: silverpig
I took a medical physics class a few years ago. Apparently the first person to see your MRI is a tech who knows how to operate the machine. The next person to see the scan is a medical physicist who will interpret what the image physically means - what's really there, what's an image artifact etc. Then it goes to a radiologist (or whatever the MRI equivalent is) who can come up with a biological/medical assessment of what is there based on what the physicist tells him. Then it goes to your doctor along with the info from the physicist and the radiologist.

I guess if you had a super awesome insurance plan they could have those guys all standing in a row or something and it'd go quickly.

Maybe this isn't accurate, but it's what I was told.

According to my first and only MRI, this is about right.
I had it on a thursday with only a tech in the room and about 6 days later I got a call from my doctor with the results. The tech was th eone who told me about who gets the results and when.

 

[bonkers325]

worrying about it will get you no where. just occupy yourself with an activity - read a book, go out on dates, play games, or just sleep it off

 

[Modular]

If it's too much to bear, go to your regular doc and tell them about the anxiety. Odds are they will get you some medication that helps calm your nerves.

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I don't believe doctors take the test so one must be used to read it accurately. Maybe he has a 5 day backlog.

Yup, and if they thought this was a life or death thing where 5 days would matter your doctor should be leaning on them to get it done faster. Since he's not trying to expedite it through you should just sit back and relax until you get your answer.

Also, just so you know, many people are getting headaches, stomach issues, etc just because of the economy. It's extremely common in industries that are prone to layoffs. The guy I share my cube with at work has stopped listening to the news because he was just getting depressed and feeling terrible all the time.

 

[trigun500]

I had the same thing done to me. I just get migraines

 

[SludgeFactory]

As already mentioned, you're not the only person getting imaged, patients have to be prioritized, multiple people have to look at this thing, your doctor needs some time to digest the findings and proceed with his diagnosis, etc.

If you want same-day image interpretation, get yourself admitted to the hospital with something serious.

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

In my area (Southern Illinois) most if not all MRI and CAT are sent to a radiology team it seems. I had both XRAYS done to check for a cracked rib earlier this week and it was sent about 50 miles away for interpretation. Then the Dr's PA-C called me about 2hrs later with results that it was soft tissue damage.

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Cyco

Originally posted by: silverpig

Originally posted by: lxskllr
Hopefully it works out for you. TV doctors are about as relevant as TV lawyers. I'd rank them several tiers below Wikipedia for reliable information :^)

You mean it might actually be lupus?

Thanks for the LoL...but how do you keep strong when you're breaking down inside wondering?

You realize worrying about it before you know anything is reckless and you carry on.

From my life experience so far, about 75% of stuff you worry about happening, never happens.

With the advent of the internet and fingertip access, there are more worries floating around about health now than ever before. That's not to say one should not be cautious, but my GP says "when you see a list of 10 symptoms of something on the .net, make sure you have at least 75% of them before the worry starts and you call me".

 

[TwinkleToes77]

I've actually been having migraines off and on but more frequently since January. We thought it was because I am pregnant and it was a hormonal fluctuation. Turns out.. it's my wisdom teeth. I don't even have any pain in my mouth! I have an appt monday night to see an oral surgeon to see about when he can take them out. The headaches are so bad that I've almost lost my job from missing work a couple times.

Hope your MRI comes back clear and hopefully you'll find some relief soon.

 

[Random Variable]

Preliminary results will probably be known in less than 5 days, but your doctor probably won't give you the results until a radiologist looks over the scan and makes an official report.

 

[Platypus]

I had an MRI done for my chronic/severe migraines and they told me the results within an hour or two while I was still in the hospital, but I went to the ER and got rushed in because of my symptoms, they thought I was having a stroke.

 

[Kalmah]

I'm interested in what your results are.
I too have had a headache for.. 8 months now I think?

I had a closed head-injury when I was a 11 which has me very worried. At that time, doctors said I could hit my head slightly anytime in my life and slip into a coma or go braindead at any time.

I don't have insurance and am unemployed right now so I'm sol.

 

[ultimatebob]

Yeah, that kinda sucks. When I had a digital MRI done on my kidneys (which is quite expensive when your insurance refuses to cover it!), I had the results back in 90 minutes.