MRI worth it for peace of mind?

[Arietis]

Hi all,

I have posted on here about my "weird seizure / panic attack / episode" that happened last week where my vision went super blurry, couldnt speak, body went numb and I couldnt move for about 2 mins. (was conscious through it)

3 GPs, an A&E nurse and the Paramedics who attended me at the scene all said I was fine but I cant help but think .... BT.

Is it worth having your head checked to put anxiety to bed? I feel like every neurologist in the world could say "You're fine" but without proof, I dont think I will calm down.

Those who have had one, is it worth it? x

[Ditapage]

I've had panic attacks that feel like what you described. I thought it was seizure as well. I nearly made a post today about not being able to move during a panic attack - or feeling like you can't.

I got the scan and it reassured me for about a week. Because we have an anxiety disorder and that will always overpower any test results- it does in my case.

Go ahead with it if you really feel it will reassure you to know your brain is fine. But if you're an anxious person I can almost guarantee it won't get rid of panic attacks and something else will crop up not covered by the MRI. I have now moved onto lung, chest, stomach and want "reassurance" scans. I also want ALL my moles removed. Point is, it never ends once you entertain the thought something is wrong with you when professionals say there isn't. I spent more time at the GP office last year than with friends.

Ultimately it's up to you. If your anxiety will go away with a reassurance scan... Only you know that

[almamatters]

In my experience no it isn't worth it. I had weird visual/ pain and dizziness a few years ago, I pestered the GP until I got a referral for a brain MRI . The stress of having the procedure and waiting for results was awful and as my GP predicted the mri was normal. The reassurance from the clear scan was shortlived and a few days later I began worrying about another symptom and the cycle began again. This is just my experience, if a GP tells you that you need a scan, then your symptoms warrant it .

[LilGsMama]

You know my story Arietis.. I paid for the MRI and now feel like I need "scoping" by ENT, even though my MRI was extensive and all clear/normal. What I will say though, is that my symptoms have been different to yours, and I am in the worst HA episode I've had.

During a bad HA episode 4 years ago, I did have a lot of neurological symptoms and the MRI reassured me then xx xx

[almamatters]

If the doctors in A and E thought you had symptoms of a tumour you would have been sent for an MRI asap, so anything outside that is going to be purely for your own reassurance. I suppose if it will make you feel better then go for it. I was told my symptoms were anxiety by a few doctors , a neurologist, ENT, and an eye consultant at the hospital but it wasn't enough for me.

[Ditapage]

I forgot about the anxiety of waiting for results. Torture. Thoughts like "if I'm dying or have a disease do I even WANT to know?" because now I would have to know!

The scan just solidified my doctors opinion that I'm a hypochondriac and he takes me even less seriously now.

[LisaLisaD]

Hi,

I had a brain MRI recently, for reassurance, and it came back clear. I can honestly say that it has been the single most effective thing for calming my health worries. Each time I feel dizzy/foggy/frozen/tingly or other symptoms, I just refer myself back to the medical fact that my brain is fine and my nerves are fine.

I even asked my consultant to show me the images and he encouraged me to take a pic. I have it on my phone (creepy as it sounds), and I look at it from time to time to remind myself that I'm all good.

Was well worth it for me.

Lisa

[Kathryn313]

Before I recognised my HA, I was seriously considering private MRI scans as part of a regular health checkup. I already had Bupa assessments and found that they didn't really do anything extensive - just gave you your blood and heart results - so i though reg MRI would be useful.

But I have read that they can show up things which aren't of medical concern and in my current state i don't think i could accept that they weren't important.

However my thoughts do sometime go....'what if i am diagnosed in 6 month and a scan now would spot it?' and then I panic and google scans. Which is pretty much what has happened tonight....

[pulisa]

I've just had a pelvic MRI but that was only because the consultant referred me for one. I'll have peace of mind if it is clear because scanners don't lie. Anxiety can and does.

[anx mum]

hi just saw your message. I have a headache condition I last had a mri scan in may I suffer with anxiety so I keep rethinking all the time plus my mum had an anyersam