View Full Version : So who has paid for private tests?? Did you get diagnosed?
So most people know by now I've had a clear CT scan of my neck and pretty much the rest of my body.
I am not satisfied but NHS won't give me an MRI scan. For some reason I feel that an MRI would give me more assurance than the CT scan.
Has anyone taken the courage to go off their own back to get an MRI AFTER already having other tests on the NHS e.g. CT? Did you finally get a diagnosis or was it a waste of money? Did your GP tell you it would be a waste of money?
nomorepanic
15-10-13, 14:30
Did you see my reply to your other post about the cost of an MRI?
I was quoted £800 for a private heart MRI.
Total waste of money.
For some reason I feel that an MRI would give me more assurance than the CT scan.
That reason is your health anxiety. Why do you think an MRI scan would reassure you when all the other tests haven't?
I think you should save your money? Or perhaps spend some of it on a course of massage sessions which might actually help relieve your neck pain.
almamatters
15-10-13, 15:30
I was quoted £1,300 for a full body MRI, that was without any additional blood tests etc that may have been needed. Luckily my GP talked me out of it, as he said I did'nt need it and I could not have afforded it anyway.
Tell you what Darren,
You can send the money to me and I'll give you an IMO test ;)
Good Luck!
edwardthebear
15-10-13, 17:29
I paid £600 for a Cardiovascular health assessment (not an MRI) including full blood works. These were basically identical to the tests I had done on the NHS a couple of years previously. not surprisingly the results came back the same ie - No major problems to report. I really wish I had saved my money.
Well nothing as extreme as some others have posted here. I paid to have my thyroid checked privately which was about £130 for a comprehensive panel. Pleased I had it done because it included tests the NHS generally will not do without a big fuss and I would have it done again in the future if I felt it was necessary.
Only other times I have gone private were
1) to jump the NHS waiting list and see a consultant to start me on specialist medication my GP had already said I most likely needed.
2) to get a second opinion following an operation where the outcome were not what I had hoped for.
I would not pay hundreds for MRIs & tests or consultations just for extra reassurance if I had have already received them on the NHS previously. I highly doubt an MRI will have any benefit over a CT scan; you would be better off getting yourself to a physio (you can often self-refer even to see an NHS one)
I think I might have mentioned this on your previous thread, Darren1, but MRI's are incredibly hard to get, there are very few appointments available because of the length of time each MRI scan takes, there is a high need, and they cost the NHS an absolute fortune each time.
If you have already had a clear CT scan you will not be seen to be a priority at all. Even those in desperate need with justifiable reasons for an MRI struggle to get one on the NHS.
I am not at all trying to be harsh or blunt, but the NHS cannot be expected to be a source of constant reassurance for you, as they have to make hard decisions about where money is spent, as there really isn't much available. You would do far better to spend your money on physio or therapeutic, deep massage.
I had a trans-vaginal scan on the NHS this year, very quickly and with a clear diagnosis of a uterine polyp. I was offered surgery on the NHS, but chose to go privately as the NHS wanted to put me under for a 20 min op, with all of the costs that entails, rather than have me in and out in under an hour, which is what I was offered privately.
I really wish the NHS would think more carefully about its spending. Maybe if they stopped putting people out for ops such as mine which can be done under local, they would have more money to spend on those who need MRI scans!
I had a private lymes disease test but purely because I read a million things on how my symptoms matched and how the nhs don't have an accurate text for it in fact their test is supposedly 60% accurate so I felt I had to!
A symptom of health anxiety is the demand for constant testing. Each test only reduces the anxiety for a short period.
The medical attention that the tests involve all re-enforce the health anxiety in the long term.
Part of recovering is to accept that there is no certainty in health. A doctor can say you do not have a serious illness with a 99% certainty but never a 100% certainty.
You must accept the uncertainty. It is the same as the risk of driving on a motorway, someone could at any moment swerve into you and end your life. Yet you still drive.
During my years of severe health anxiety my quality of life was worse than that of my mother who lived with cancer for nine years. It was hard for her at times but she enjoyed life whilst she had cancer.
It is hard to accept uncertainty in health, but until you can you will not recover from health anxiety.
The first step is to stop having any tests, reduce your visits to the doctor to the minimum you can cope with. This will be very hard at first, when I felt like seeing my GP I would make myself wait a few days before making that appointment. It works after waiting a few days you will start to think did I really need that appointment, invariably you don't. I now rarely see my doctor, or feel any need for more tests. Still have some health anxiety but it is nowhere near so bad as it was.
spacebunnyx
15-10-13, 18:52
I have paid privately for HPV testing (where it was not available on the NHS) - I think this is justifiable as I have had HPV related pre-cancer (and on my last colposcopy still do).
I also had an echo of my heart which cost around £400 after a dr suggested I might have Marfan's Syndrome (gee thanks!) and scared the living daylights out of me.
If I had the money I probably would have paid for more. But with both my private tests I was completely reassured after... and I think was worth it. If I'd been scanned for it already I wouldn't bother. what are you looking for in your MRI?
The problem is though, even if you are 'reassured' by certain tests, the health fears you have will just be replaced by another, to do with another symptom. It doesn't end at that one test, and a second test, and so it goes on.
That is the nature of health anxiety.
No amount of tests will address the real root which is anxiety.:shrug:
The problem is though, even if you are 'reassured' by certain tests, the fears you have will just be replaced by another, to do with another symptom. It doesn't end at that one test. second test, whatever.
That is the nature of health anxiety.
No amount of tests will address the real root which is anxiety.:shrug:
Amen!
I agree with everyone here. One test which rules out illness only causes you to focus on another symptom and therefore you demand another test and so it goes on. I am going through this at the moment. I was convinced I had the C word, 3 different kinds within a week, then thought it was severe b12 and iron deficiency and once I got a full blood count which were all normal I then focused on my heart as it was skipping a beat and racing but I've already had 3 ECG's which were all normal and now guess what? I'm worrying about my throat as I'm having swallowing and breathing issues, convinced I have apnea because I feel I stop breathing right before I fall asleep or even "forget" to breathe just watching the tv etc and I gasp for air. But, I have to keep telling myself this has to stop! it is taking over our lives! I have started reading a book called The Secret which tries to help you control your way of thinking so I recommend that. I am also going to be looking into meditation and a mostly plant based diet to try and rid my body of toxins and my mind of negativity. And have you tried psychology or cognitive behavioural therapy? I'm currently waiting on my appointment. I think that you have to get to the stage that instead of focussing on illness, focus on beating your health anxiety instead. I know it's hard as I'm finding it difficult but I know that I do not want to be like this the rest of my life...
Rennie1989
15-10-13, 19:50
Debs is right, once you pay the ridiculous amount for an MRI scan only to find out nothing is wrong with you you'll go on to have worries about another symptom, and the cycle keeps going.
Instead of paying a grand for an MRI scan why not invest it into CBT sessions or a differen talking therapy? Get the health anxiety treated.
if i had an explanation for this neck pain then i wouldn't need an MRI
it is not normal at my age to be popping ibuprofen everyday! Plus I am now on prozac and valium which i never needed before this started!
im sorry im in such a shit mood today things really ontop of me at work, home etc and i forever have this worry about my neck pain in the back of my head.
:((((
Have you thought about seeing an osteopath?
yeah and a chiropractor but my GPs actually recommend against it.
They just recommend I live with it :( It's not right
nomorepanic
16-10-13, 09:39
I thought you were going to see about physio as well?
im so depressed :(
i cant live like this anymore, im getting no local support from friends/family, everyone has forgotten about me
Rennie1989
16-10-13, 10:11
Do you not think the neck pain could be because you're constantly anxious? I get neck, shoulder and back pain if I'm highly anxious for a prolonged time.
I would consider seeing an osteopath, I had neck problems due to tense muscles in shoulders etc and he helped me. Also massage may help.
nomorepanic
16-10-13, 12:09
Darren - we are trying to help but you seem to be ignoring all the advice we give!
Darren - we are trying to help but you seem to be ignoring all the advice we give!
The above is true.
I've mentioned on a couple of threads now that sometimes chronic pain does not have an explainable physical cause. Things like Fibromyalgia are recognised syndromes that cause pain but are not linked to any 'objective' cause like broken bones, torn ligaments or slipped disc on MRI scans, but they do cause pain!
Another term is "myofasical pain syndrome" ; which is a fancy way of saying chronic muscle and soft-tissue pain caused by chronic muscle strain and central sensitisation (i.e. the body becomes hyper sensitive to all pain and things that should not be painful start to feel painful).
People often have low back pain with no abnormalities on MRI.... the list of these chronic pain problems with little or no 'explainable' cause is extensive.
Often these things are linked to (not necessarily caused by, but certainly not helped by) anxiety, depression, poor physical health and so on.
Many, many people pop painkillers to get through the day - it isn't 'normal' or ideal but if you have pain and the Dr cannot identify the cause or cannot fix it anyway, then what else can you do.
The most important thing to remember here is that just because you have pain doesn't mean there is a fatal underlying problem like cancer or whatever.
I know people are trying to help. I've been bearing my head in the sand which is why I haven't seen a physio or anything yet. I feel like I am risking my life by not having another scan. hoping tomorrow will be a brighter day. it's rotton outside that doesn't help either.
Hi Darren,
I totally believe you have pain and that it wasn't brought on by anxiety.
I'm fighting my own battle with HA over lung cancer at the moment. I have pain on the right side of my neck, right shoulder and upper to mid right side back nearly every day. I haven't had any imagining tests (I asked my doctor to put a note in my file to not refer me for tests unless really necessary because I want to beat my HA and not feed the cycle) so I've just had to take the word of the doctors who have examined me and blood tests that I don't have lung cancer.
It's very hard. Like you, I wasn't anxious before having this pain. SOMETHING is causing it, just like something is causing yours. I'm taking pills every day too and it does seem strange at only 29.
But mate, whatever is causing your pain - it isn't deadly. Nothing that serious would have been missed out of all the tests you've had. And while your anxiety didn't start it, it will be contributing to it now.
I know that since I started having the pain, I've also noticed other pains in the same general area that I would have previously barely noticed. Anxiety does intensify real pain, making it even more severe than it already is.
It's bad enough that you are having to deal with this pain. Don't add to it by thinking of the worst and most unlikely case scenario. I promise you will be fine, as will I.
Darren, you must try if you can to trust the results of the CT scan. If anything sinister was causing your pain, I am certain something would be picked up by the CT. It is your high anxiety that is driving this sense that your life is at risk. It is not a rational thought, or at the least a highly improbable one.
Let me tell you something about me. A few weeks ago my anxiety was at it's peak again after years of managing anxiety without meds. I posted on here about it, and the fact I had very bad back pain, so much so I had to have a heat pad on all day long and night. I was popping ibruprofen too, and neither was helping. Every time I stood up and walked it hurt. When I sat up in bed, it hurt. I just couldn't shift it, and was starting to think I may have a cardiac problem.
I started meds during that time, had all of the side effects going on of heightened anxiety, and my back pain just got worse. I am now 3 weeks into meds and my back pain has miraculously gone, as my anxiety has lessened.
I think now that my pain was caused by tension during the time I was highly anxious, I think by holding my shoulders, back and neck tight. I think as my anxiety subsided, so did the pain. I think this is what is happening with you too.
It is hard to really believe that tension and anxiety can cause such longlasting physical pain, but it can. Back and neck pain is noted as a big effect of stress and anxiety. It is also a fact that we perceive pain differently when super anxious, and what may be bearable when we are not stressed, is unbearable when we are.
Nobody doubts you have pain. It is just that you seem to be building it up in your anxious mind to be an immovable, serious problem, and that isn't necessarily so as I hope my own experience shows.
I would SERIOUSLY look into physio help, or even deep massage, but also things like yoga and gentle neck exercises. There are tons on Youtube. I tried some back exercises from there which helped me a lot.
I hope you are able to find a resolution.:hugs:
thanks kates that really helped.
thanks everyone i know i am hard work...
thanks kates that really helped.
thanks everyone i know i am hard work...
You're no harder than anyone else here love. And you're totally welcome.
What I forgot to add is this - I'm going to go slightly against the grain here and say that if you can afford the MRI, and really want it, I think you should get it.
Not because I think you have anything seriously wrong. I don't, and if there is I will eat my hair (as I don't have a hat). But because I think this pain and thinking that there is something that only an MRI can pick up is frightening you to the point of distraction and preventing you from rationalizing it. I mean no disrespect there, I feel exactly the same with my current fears at times - but I drew a line to help my recovery and can't cross it without a set back. You haven't drawn that line yet, so go ahead and take the test if you want.
But make that test your "line". Say to yourself that when it comes back totally clear (or with a minor skeletal or nerve issue), that is IT. No more. Accept there is nothing sinister and that you have pain which is unpleasant but wont kill you and will probably go away in time (lots and lots of very minor and benign things that cause these pains take a very long time to heal)
Tell yourself, thus far and no further. No more tests and work on acceptance. Then if you have further pains/symptoms in future, remember this whole saga. In fact I suggest making a diary now of your fears, so that in future when you are scared again, you can read back and see how wrong you were.
You can beat this!
AuntieMoosie
16-10-13, 14:52
Darren I'm in agreement with what the others are saying :)
Hun, it doesn't matter 2 jots from where the pain is originating, it could be physical in nature or it could be psychosomatic, but it doesn't matter.
Nobody is saying that you haven't got the pain, what we're trying to explain is that maybe it would be much more helpful to you, if you were to try looking at it from a different angle :)
I'm not a doctor, but I would really think it highly unlikely that anything sinister or serious is happening, otherwise abnormalities would have already shown in the tests that you've already had.
Try to allow yourself to believe what your doctor is saying, why do you think he would want to mislead you?? He'd have no reason to do that, plus he'd be in serious trouble if he did do that.
So, as nothing bad is going to happen to you, how about trying to tackle it from a different angle and go and get yourself some real good therapy, you've got nothing to loose by trying and you may well find that it cures your pain, so you may have lots to gain, or, how about trying a few things together, maybe get some physical help and some therapy? There's loads of things that you can try out there :)
Years ago, I used to get loads of aches and pains, in fact, a day didn't go by where I didn't have aches and pains, but there was nothing physically wrong with me, so I went and had some aromatherapy, relaxation and reflexology, it really helped me Darren, truthfully, it did :)
When we're highly anxious or pent up with tension, we don't always recognise that we're holding our limbs stiff, after a while, this is going to cause aches and pains, so we do know that your pain is there, it's just you may need to look at it from a different angle that's all :hugs:
almamatters
16-10-13, 16:10
I paid to see a physio, my GP did not recommend it or warn me against it, I just thought it might help me (at the time was suffering shoulder and arm pain) It was not that expensive either.
---------- Post added at 16:10 ---------- Previous post was at 15:59 ----------
I agree with all the advice here, sometimes you have to be pro-active when it comes to pain and if there is nothing sinister going on (you have had clear scans) then trying another route, massage, physio, stretching exercises, etc might help you.
Kate you are right, the MRI is my line in the sand but i am too affraid to book it. Just burrying my head in the sand instead at the moment.
Here's the thing Darren, rationally, you know you're Ok. All the tests and doctors have told you so. You still hurt so your mind goes into overdrive which in turn causes stress, which in turn causes muscle tension, which in turn cases pain.
I'm going through some work related stress at the moment. It's bad enough that I'm considering a job change. This has consumed my thoughts more than I'd like and the effects are evident. Restless sleep (vivid dreams) which causes stress, which in turn makes my muscles tense and they ache more than usual. Not to mention a shitty attitude and short fuse over the silliest of things. There's nothing physically wrong with me but lately I've been waking up feeling like I got run over by a truck.
Different reasons for the pain but the same type of symptoms. With HA as with normal everyday life stresses, they can and do affect us physically in a negative way. As I address my work related issues the stress will diminish as will the effects of that stress. As you address your anxiety issues, the same result will follow.
As far as burying your head in the sand? You know deep in your heart and mind that an MRI is unnecessary. All it will do is pacify you for a short period of time until something else comes along that starts the cycle all over again. As with my situation, addressing it head on and being pro-active in finding a solution is the only real way to handle it. An MRI is quite an expensive test. I could think of much better ways to spend that money!
Why not do this..... Take the money you would have spent on the test and take a nice holiday and relax for a few days ;)
Good Luck!
ankietyjoe
17-10-13, 13:21
Kate you are right, the MRI is my line in the sand but i am too affraid to book it. Just burrying my head in the sand instead at the moment.
If you have an MRI scan and feel reassured I can almost guarantee with your mindset that within a month you'll be complaining about something else and 'needing' reassurance for that too.
You are looking for an answer that may or may not exist, and millions of people live with pain and niggles every single day.
Just get on with your life tbh.
Also it is important to understand that the cost is not the only reason doctors are not keen to refer for endless tests. Constantly scanning the body in itself carries a small health risk.
Darren
Whatever you decide I wish you well. I haven't replied on your posts for a while but I have been keeping up to date with where you are. I think Kate has given you some good advice. You are going through a bad patch at the moment and I understand your distress right now. Whatever you decide you will always get support on here. Not everyone will agree with you but you will have support none-the-less.
Sal
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.