MRI of brain?

[Chelee]

I have been having really bad headaches since June 23rd. Its not normal for me to have headaches. Its a non-stop headache! It worries me. Although I do have TMJ and did have alot of dental problems prior to all this. I am hoping the TMJ is the cause of my headaches? (Knock wood)

But you all know when you have a bc you worry. I finally got to see my onc on July 3rd and I mentioned this ongoing headache. She did order a MRI. But its NOT until 8-14-06. That will be 43 DAYS till my MRI. I am suppose to suffer with this headache until then? I have tried advil, norco & tylenol.

When any of you have had a brain MRI ordered for you....did you have to WAIT so long to get in? I think my onc would of gotten me in sooner. I KNOW they can because once they thought my port had a clot and got me in to a doppler that day. STAT.

I have time NOW to do the MRI...by 8-14 I should be having Rads by then, which means I will be SO tired from what others have told me. Why NOT do it now while I have this down time...and plus I don't want to worry about this headache being mets. I've had this headache for 13 straight days already...I can't stand the thought of waiting ANOTHER 43 days. Its a BAD headache!

Did any of you have to wait that long? Maybe its the norm?

Chelee

[Unregistered]

Go to an mri center that you can get into sooner and will take your insurance. If you live near a city you should find they abound and WANT you to use their services. I live in a smallish, provincial city and they have only one mri center.
They were going to make me wait for a month. I immediately made an appt. with an mri center in a larger city next to us and got in the next day. Don't let them dictate to you when you can have an mri. You are paying them.

[Kim in CA]

Chelee,

So sorry you are having these bad headaches. I would definitely push my Onc to get me in sooner. I don't like to think the worst, but if it were a brain met, it is always easier to treat the smaller it is. The single met we found last July in my brain was 8mm. By August when I had the Gamma Knife it had grown to 11mm. It was still small and easily treated. Follow up scans have not revealed anything left of it.

Kim in CA

[Shell]

I concur with the others - you are the patient and your symptoms justify the test immediately. Be an advocate, and get the test scheduled to fit your needs...



Shell

[Sherryg683]

I would definately push to get in sooner. My Oncologist didn't want to do an MRI, he wanted to do a CT scan. My headaches would last a month and I wasn't comfortable with a CT scan picking up everything. So I lied and told him that I had thrown up with these headaches. That made him order an MRI with no problem.. ..sherryg683

[Chelee]

After reading all of your replies to me...I decided NOT to let them get away with making me wait. Its not funny having a non-stop headache from the time I get up till I go to bed. I was shocked when my oco doctor put me off until mid August. I have had this since June 23rd.

So I called the imaging Dept where it was set-up at and I said I needed to change my appt for my brain MRI because I will be starting Rads soon and it will be just too much to do it then. She was SO NICE and said "no problem".

Yeah...so now its July 20th....which is so much better then August 13th. Thanks guys for lighting a fire under me. This headache is driving me nuts and I am really concerned about it.

Kim, that is a big difference in size for one months time. That is what I was worried about. This place I go to makes me wait so long for everything it seems. I want to stay on top of this as much as possible. Thanks for the push everyone. :)

Chelee

[karenann]

Chelee,

I don't know if you are having your MRI at a hospital but if you are, ask them to put you on the wait list. I did that and they called me the next day and got me in.

Karen

[Barbara2]

I'm from a small town, so we can get in pretty fast. I also suggest that you call them back and ask them if they would call you if they have a cancellation. Cancellations are not uncommon, and you may get in sooner.

Blessings, Barb