ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: joanne8 on October 01, 2010, 05:30:03 pm
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hi, i have to wait about 2 weeks before i am going to get any answers, is this usual. or is it with persons showing an, do they get the results there and then to see a specialist,or are you just told, that you have A.N. then have a follow-up appointment or does take a while for them to get back to you.
any personnal stories about how you were told after could be helpfull to me.
many thanx Jo. x
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Hi Joanne
I got told I had an AN by my retiring specialist by phone and then got sent to another specialist 5 hours drive from me 2 weeks later to get answers. It was not a good time, told you had a 4cm brain tumour and left to search the net for answers. Luckily I found this site and by the time I saw my new specialist I already new what he was going to say, except for the part where he said that I had a very good chance of having facial paralysis. A hard pill to swallow.
Jacqui
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Hi Jo .....
You are probably going to have many different answers to this one.
In my case, I went for the MRI (with contrast) thinking it was just to rule out an AN (I had had an MRI ..... without contrast ..... a year earlier). I left the imaging facility thinking my doctor would be notified quickly if I had an AN and would let me know equally quickly. When I did not hear anything within 48 hours, I relaxed and waited until my follow-up appointment with my ENT, which was two weeks after the MRI. I went to the appointment by myself, wondering what was causing my symptoms since it must not have been anything serious. I was totally shocked when the doctor walked in and said "Well, you have a large acoustic neuroma." (Actually it should have been considered medium at 2+cm.) The reasoning ability of my brain shut down and I think I asked some questions but I have no remembrance of what or what the answers were. I was emotionally numb and walked out of there in a daze with a piece of paper stating which doctors were being contacted for treatment referral for me.
Word of advice: take someone with you to your follow-up appointment to listen, take notes, ask questions, etc.
Best thoughts. Clarice
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Hi Joanne
I had gradual hearing loss and was referred to an ENT for testing...when I failed those test (loss not age related) they sent me for an MRI....as I went to a private clinic, I was able to view the images at home before seeing the ENT. It was clear from the images that something was not right on the left side of my brain.....so I searched brain tumors and came upon this site...so I knew of the tumor before it was comfirmed by the ENT.
Joann
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thankyo jaci. how long waes it before you got the phonecall , also i had an M.R.I. done with no contrst, as the portable cabin i had to go to did not have that sort of facillities.
thankyou Jo. x
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Thankyou everyone, i know we all find out in different way`s but im thinking that because it was done without contrast then the pics must of looked ok, although i did get a bit paranoid as the nurse walked me back over to the hospital where as she not anyone else, she probably just a nice nurse or needed to go that way, lol, but i did go quite dizzy as they put me in the scanner, the radiologist was lovely, she just said we got some really good picures, so im pleased about that.
best wishes Jo. x
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Hi Joanne
It took a month before I even got an MRI, 2 days for them to phone me another 2 weeks to see a specialist and three months till surgery. The most difficult part for me was the two postponements of surgery which added another 6 weeks of nervous waiting and it took another month for them to organise my surgery for my CSF leak. Wait, wait , wait is makes you a nervous wreck and the stress of it all is terrible.
Jac
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I had to wait 4 days from the time I saw my ENT to the time I went for my MRI to when I heard the news...so that's pretty quick!
Jay
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My experience.
I had the MRI with contrast, figured it would show nothing and pretty much forgot all about it. I was completely surprised when my ENT (who ordered the MRI) called me a few days after it was done to tell me there was "something" in my ear.
When I pressed him, he claimed he had no idea what it could be and he also claimed that he had no idea how large it was when I specifically asked him :o This from a doctor I'd known for over 28 years. He quickly referred me to a neurotologist - and a damn good one at that.
It was only when I got a copy of my MRI and the radiologist's report that I saw the size of my tumor and first read the words acoustic neuroma. The radiologist also speculated that it could be a meningioma. Both these terms sent me scrambling to my medical dictionary.
Things pretty much depend on the facility you had your MRI at, but most times if the results show an AN - or anything else out of the ordinary - your doc contacts you fairly rapidly.
Jan
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Joanne,
It's just going to depend on how busy the radiologist is and how busy the doctor is. If the radiologist is able to read it and get the report to your doctor relatively quickly, then as long as the ordering doctor isn't really far behind in his workload, you should hear pretty quickly. I didn't have to wait long at all, but the imaging facility I went to was brand new and didn't have a full patient load yet because no one knew it even existed, so the radiologist was probably sitting around with his feet up waiting for something exciting to happen. ( I guess that was me!). Chances are, you'll hear from them sooner than the 2 weeks one way or the other. They usually just want to cover their butts and not promise to get back to you in a day when they aren't positive they'll be able to do that. I wouldn't read into it too much if I were you. Worrying about it won't change the results - it'll only give you grey hair and high blood pressure! ;) And no one needs that!
Lori
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Thank`s lori, that is so true, you have amused me, i am trying to keep busy, but then i get reminders with the balance prob`s , i know you have all been where i am at present.
Love and best wishes Jo. x
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My case was a bit different because the size and the life threatening element...I had my MRI one evening and the Dr., himself, called me at work the next day. I was in Houston the next day and was scheduled for my operation before a week's time. I assume that the "quick" timeline was due to the fact that the tumor was SO large that my brainstem was totally displaced to the side of my head instead of the middle. Obviouly, if you didn't hear ASAP, that is not anywhere near the case for you! ;) WHEW!! Even though my case was pretty extreme and I kind of had a rough go - I am FINE now and have a WONDERFUL life. AN's are scary and change your life but definitely NOT the end of the world!! :)
K ;D
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I live in Canada, so that changes things. It was a week after my MRI that I got the results, and 10 weeks after that before I could even speak to a specialist (agonizing).
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Hi,
My next MRI is on October 25th in Boston at the Mass Eye and Ear. My MRI is at 8:00, I will find out the results the same day when I meet with the doctor at 10:00. Wish me luck that I receive good news of no growth and continue to W&W.
thanks
LisaP ;D
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Joanne ~
I know you've probably read enough answers to your question by now but I wanted to add my response, for whatever little it may be worth to you.
I received a call from my PCP approximately 2 days following my MRI scan. He called me at 7 P.M. via his cell phone and explained that the MRI, which he had ordered expecting me to have some kind of 'sinus condition' to explain my loss of taste, showed an acoustic neuroma. "A big one", as he put it, and "too big for GammaKnife". I muttered affirmatively but really had no idea what he was talking about. He explained that the tumor (scary word!) was very likely benign but was causing all my symptoms. Within hours I had haunted the internet seeking explanations of 'acoustic neuroma'. By the next day, I understood what the MRI scan had showed and what I had to consider. My PCP had already scheduled a consultation appointment with a local neurosurgeon, who I did see but I ended up hiring a different neurosurgeon who did a fantastic job.
In your case, two weeks seems an awfully long time to wait. I trust that you'll hear something long before then, although as other posters have pointed out, there are a lot of variables and if the MRI shows nothing, there won't be any urgency to contact you. Of course, that would be a good thing.
Jim
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I was sent for an MRI (in Feb.2010) because of unilateral hearing loss, but rolled my eyes and went down the hall to the audiologist and ordered a hearing aid. I had it for a one month trial period. The ENT had told me I HAD to get the MRI, but I thought he was just being overly cautious...
About a week later, I decided oh what the heck, and went and got the MRI after all. But then I didn't hear back from the ENT - three weeks passed, and no report, so I figured it must have been nothing. I was happy with the hearing aid and was just enjoying life...then I decided to call the ENT.
Well, the report had been lying on his desk for weeks, and he hadn't even looked at it!!! So he did, and called me that same afternoon, kind of sounding grim...I had no idea what an acoustic neuroma was, so of course, I started doing research, and here I still am.
So, from the time I had the MRI until I finally called the ENT, 3 weeks had passed. I wonder how long it would have taken him to read the report had I not called him? Let's just say I don't consider this the best of care. But now I'm glad he was on the ball and ordered the MRI, and most importantly, that I stopped being stubborn and went and got it done!
Well, this sure changed the scenery in my life this year! I can't believe it's already October~
Nancy
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Hello Joanne,
Was I right in reading you had an MRI without contrast? This surprises me and it may be worth asking why when you do go back for the result. I am also from the UK - had my first MRI with contrast in a mobile MRI - they just got a Dr. over to administer the gadolin - and I had the result given 2 days later with my ENT Consultant. I suppose it depends on the trust - where I go now for my annual checks I have the MRI in the morning and see my specialist in the afternoon - NHS can be truly fab sometimes!
Best wishes for your results.
x
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Hi Espranza, i had the M.R.I. done this Friday just gone, i did ask if i would be having the injection they said no as they dont administer it in the mobile, i am down in Plymouth, Devon, but i have been told that some treatment up North are far better than here, the main hospital is Derriford, and very busy to say the least, when they put me in the machine i was having a dizzy spell lol, so being the weekend i am not expecting to here, tomorrow i do have bloods done in the morning so i will ask if anything has come through, but they did say up to two weeks, i dont know about your end but here unless it is life threatening they dont hurry to tell you anything. Thankyou how did you get on. Jo. x
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When my daughter went for her first MRI, we were told not to leave that there was a doctor (not her dr.) here that would read it and let us know. He stressed to us NOT to leave. Well, when the MRI was over, he came out and told us her dr. wanted to see her at 9 am in the morning and we could go ahead and go.
When we go for her check-ups, she has the MRI, we go up to her Drs. offices, and the MRI is right there on their computer for them to see.
So, everything is pretty darn quick here.
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As you can tell by this discussion, the answers vary greatly. For me, I had my first MRI in 2006 and was called 3 days later and told the results. For each subsequent "monitoring" MRI over the years, I learned a trick to ask for the radiologist's written report which is generally available 24-48 hours after the test. The facility I went to in Boston, MA was willing to give me the report as long as I went in person to pick it up. While I certainly kept the subsequent doctor appt to review the results with my neurologist, having this report in advance let me compare the size dimensions of my AN to see if it had been growing at all. Lucky for me each time it had shown no growth until recently.
-- Suzanne
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I'm with Suzanne. I learned my lesson and now I always go back to the imaging facility within 48 hours after every MRI and pick up a CD ROM and the radiologist's written report. They do not question me anymore .... :o
Clarice
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I got my disc at the end of my first MRI. They sent the report within 24 hours, but I already knew because I looked at the disc. I just didn't know I had an AN. I thought so, after looking at the disc I googled 'tumour in ear'. My doctor gave me the good positive news (AN not cancer) the day after. I cried only because I was so relieved to know I wasn't IMAGINING things. I got my MRI today and looked at the disc today. They told me that my doctor would get a report in 7 days or so. I better remember to have them fax the MRI to both docs...:-)
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I had went to the hospital just to have nerve conduction tests and a CT scan done and they made me stay to have the MRI (tumor had been found on the CT), when the MRI was finished the tech. put an image on the screen for me to look at and handed me the phone to talk to my doctor who had already been notified after the CT. By the time I knew my parents had already been told, gave consent to book the OR (In case they could have just kept me for surgery the next day), and the or had been book for a week and a half later. Needless to say I went into a shock state and I really have no idea what route I drove home from that!
Kathleen
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I saw the ENT who could not determine reason for hearing loss after audiology testing, so he ordered MRI. I waited on that as I was headed out of town to work. Had the MRI, then saw the ENT 4 days later when he told me about the AN. He said it was 2 cm, slow-growing and benign, so there was no emergency. Referred me to specialist.
Again, waited to book appointment (out of town business--we travel a LOT) met with neuro-oto doc. Assured it was slow-growing, no hurry, and earliest surgery could be done because of surgical team's schedule was September. This was in July.
So I went for 2nd and 3rd opinions, read up on stuff, found this forum. Booked the surgery for (upcoming) Nov. 30 because of my travel schedule.
Point is, unless tumor is huge and life-threatening, these suckers are slow-growing, non-cancerous. No need to panic. Save the panic for the cancerous things in life.
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You are so right. However, there are at least two of us currently active on this forum who had a rare, rapidly growing type AN. Word of caution: it is fine to wait unless you have rapidly changing symptoms, your AN is pressing on or displacing the brain stem, or a doctor has determined you have a fast-growing type. Bottom line: check with your doctor regarding your AN before just deciding to wait.
Clarice
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I found out the same day I had my MRI. I thought I was having another stroke, got the MRI in the morning, and a call from my doctor..."Good news is you did not have another stroke, bad news is you have a brain tumor." I got the call on the way to my cardiologist who did the heart surgery on me...that is what caused my stroke. Believe it or not, all of this happened in a period of 8 months. I am perfectly healthy...don't smoke, no alcohol, exercise, eat the right food, I work out every day...I just wonky walk, and I don't remember what I want to say and forget what I'm talking about, but other than that, I'm okay.
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Hi,
I had my MRI done today at Mass Eye and Ear at 8:00 a.m., saw the doctor at 10:00, got results at 10:01 and a copy of my MRI on CD at 10:15 a.m. I would say that is good service.
I continue to W&W for another year with no growth.
LisaP ;D
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hi, i have to wait about 2 weeks before i am going to get any answers, is this usual. or is it with persons showing an, do they get the results there and then to see a specialist,or are you just told, that you have A.N. then have a follow-up appointment or does take a while for them to get back to you.
any personnal stories about how you were told after could be helpfull to me.
many thanx Jo. x
When I was first diagnosed 10 yrs ago..I had the MRI and then didnt hear from my ENT until 3 WEEKS LATER..I am so annoyed as here I was thinking all is well... Anyway, the latest MRI took only about 2 days for the results..and this time there is no Wait and watch. I am having Cyberknife next week. ( this week is all the prep) My AN is 2.3 x2.0 x 1.9 cm. A little nervous about the after effects but Im hoping for zero complications although I have noticed in the past month some real issues with remembering simple things...Im 61. Thanks,
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I had no idea I even had an AN. I hit my head and had eye problems and the doctor sent me in to see if there was any frontal brain issues and the MRI with contrast lit up like a christmas tree with the AN. It wasn't 12 hours later from the time I took the MRI til the doctor was calling me. I missed the voicemail at home to call the doctor and had to wait another day. When we finally connected I was driving and she told me that I had a brain tumor and to see a surgeon within two weeks.YIKES!! That was in May. I'm scheduled for my surgery on the 10th of Nov.
Great news that you are good for another year. That's awesome news.