can anyone tell me how long they had to wait for a possitiv A.N. please

[nanramone]

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

[Esperanza]

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

[joanne8]

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

[clr]

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.

[FLsunshine]

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

[CHD63]

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 ....   

Clarice

[opp2]

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...:-)

[Kathleen_Mc]

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

[cakulmom]

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.

[CHD63]

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

[james e]

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.

[LisaP]

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

[JLR]

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,

[kaitysmom]

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.