ct scan/neuro surgeon
Discussion
Has anyone been through this at all?
I'm just wondering on timescales?
Had a fall a couple of weeks back whilst working in Belfast, which resulted in a hospital stay due to fractured skull, perforated ear drum, and some internal bleeds. On the forms I got, it stated an extradural haematoma
now back at home in the UK, but can't work due to the fact I'm a lorry driver and have to wait for an all clear from the neuro surgeon, which although I understand, I'm still gutted.
Been told my 1st appointment is on the 9th July, but don't know till then if there are likely to be anymore appointments after this 1? So unsure how it is all likely to go, and how long it will take?
I'm just wondering on timescales?
Had a fall a couple of weeks back whilst working in Belfast, which resulted in a hospital stay due to fractured skull, perforated ear drum, and some internal bleeds. On the forms I got, it stated an extradural haematoma
now back at home in the UK, but can't work due to the fact I'm a lorry driver and have to wait for an all clear from the neuro surgeon, which although I understand, I'm still gutted.
Been told my 1st appointment is on the 9th July, but don't know till then if there are likely to be anymore appointments after this 1? So unsure how it is all likely to go, and how long it will take?
I have had various CT scans and MRI's and you rarely see the neurologist on the same day. I think I waited about 2 weeks on the first one between the scan and seeing the Prof to get the results.
However, on subsequent scans there has been a longer waiting time between scan date and seeing the consultant, so its difficult to advise you really. If you are not given a follow up appointment when you go for the scan then make sure you ask them when it's likely to be.
However, on subsequent scans there has been a longer waiting time between scan date and seeing the consultant, so its difficult to advise you really. If you are not given a follow up appointment when you go for the scan then make sure you ask them when it's likely to be.
Edited by Firefoot on Thursday 5th June 12:44
In our radiology department, most CT scans are reported within a couple of hours, and referring clinicians can access those reports immediately. It's all about how busy the clinic is and how they prioritise their patients.
Presumably if they just need to give you the all clear and let you get on your merry way, they'd want to kick you off their books as soon as possible.
Presumably if they just need to give you the all clear and let you get on your merry way, they'd want to kick you off their books as soon as possible.
Edited by zeduffman on Thursday 5th June 22:31
thanks for the replies 
when i was in the hospital in Belfast a couple of weeks back, i found that the results came through very quickly after each ct scan that i had as i guess it was early days from the injuries and they were very keen to keep a close eye on the bleeding etc.
i just hope that things are the same after the next scan in July, as if i get the all clear, (fingers crossed) it will be nice to be able to get back to work and earn money asap.
when i was in the hospital in Belfast a couple of weeks back, i found that the results came through very quickly after each ct scan that i had as i guess it was early days from the injuries and they were very keen to keep a close eye on the bleeding etc.
i just hope that things are the same after the next scan in July, as if i get the all clear, (fingers crossed) it will be nice to be able to get back to work and earn money asap.
I had a CT scan and from the scan to results took 9 days. That was private with BUPA after the fact that with my worrying symptoms I could have been dead by the time the NHS saw me.
Went for my private appointment (through work) and within 30 minutes I was downstairs having the scan. Turns out I’ve got some cysts in my brain (rather than tumours) which need to be looked at every few years. Some a solid mass and some with fluid in them. Non-threatening at the moment but could increase in size to put pressure on my brain with the one which appears to be on the top of the spine appearing to be the most concerning!
From experience if they can give you the all clear quickly they will, anything of concern seems to take a few days to ensure they can give you accurate information I would have thought.
Good luck with yours.
Went for my private appointment (through work) and within 30 minutes I was downstairs having the scan. Turns out I’ve got some cysts in my brain (rather than tumours) which need to be looked at every few years. Some a solid mass and some with fluid in them. Non-threatening at the moment but could increase in size to put pressure on my brain with the one which appears to be on the top of the spine appearing to be the most concerning!
From experience if they can give you the all clear quickly they will, anything of concern seems to take a few days to ensure they can give you accurate information I would have thought.
Good luck with yours.
Edited by oldaudi on Friday 13th June 08:27
oldaudi said:
I had a CT scan and from the scan to results took 9 days. That was private with BUPA after the fact that with my worrying symptoms I could have been dead by the time the NHS saw me.
Went for my private appointment (through work) and within 30 minutes I was downstairs having the scan. Turns out I’ve got some cysts in my brain (rather than tumours) which need to be looked at every few years. Some a solid mass and some with fluid in them. Non-threatening at the moment but could increase in size to put pressure on my brain with the one which appears to be on the top of the spine appearing to be the most concerning!
From experience if they can give you the all clear quickly they will, anything of concern seems to take a few days to ensure they can give you accurate information I would have thought.
Good luck with yours.
blimey!!! well good luck with yours also, and thanks.Went for my private appointment (through work) and within 30 minutes I was downstairs having the scan. Turns out I’ve got some cysts in my brain (rather than tumours) which need to be looked at every few years. Some a solid mass and some with fluid in them. Non-threatening at the moment but could increase in size to put pressure on my brain with the one which appears to be on the top of the spine appearing to be the most concerning!
From experience if they can give you the all clear quickly they will, anything of concern seems to take a few days to ensure they can give you accurate information I would have thought.
Good luck with yours.
Edited by oldaudi on Friday 13th June 08:27
i'm gutted, as my doctors surgery has just phoned me 5 minutes ago.
southend hospital have now cancelled my ct scan for the 9th of july, as they feel due to the extent of my injuries they feel that a more specialist unit should be dealing with me.
the guy at the surgery says the new appointment will be with queens hospital in romford, who are known as specialists in this field. at first this sounds good, then he tells me i may have to wait longer for an appointment there, maybe august/september.
this for me is a major p.i.t.a as currently not being able to drive, means i'm unable to drive the trucks which is my livelyhood, no work means no money
wondering if there is any point in phoning the new hospital monday morning to explain my situation, to see if the whole thing could maybe get hurried up?
I'll ask but I guess you would have mentioned it already, is there any way you can go private and pay for if yourself. Could be expensive but you may need to weigh up the cost versus how much you are losing financially whilst off work.
Any private health care with any mortgage or finance you have? I know some arrangements insist of cover to ensure they get their money back should the worst happen.
If that fails, can you complain of pains or dizziness and get yourself moved up the waiting list. Perhaps not correct but they only have to move one non critical appointment to fit you in.
Are we allowed to travel to another hospital that may have a gap? No idea how the NHS works.
It's a horrible circle of worry I'm afraid, knowing what's wrong, not knowing what's wrong, money, waiting for appointments and results. Nothing else to add to make you feel happy about the situation but truly hope it's sorted soon. Keeps us updated please if you feel happy to do so.
Any private health care with any mortgage or finance you have? I know some arrangements insist of cover to ensure they get their money back should the worst happen.
If that fails, can you complain of pains or dizziness and get yourself moved up the waiting list. Perhaps not correct but they only have to move one non critical appointment to fit you in.
Are we allowed to travel to another hospital that may have a gap? No idea how the NHS works.
It's a horrible circle of worry I'm afraid, knowing what's wrong, not knowing what's wrong, money, waiting for appointments and results. Nothing else to add to make you feel happy about the situation but truly hope it's sorted soon. Keeps us updated please if you feel happy to do so.
sadly not. won't bore you with all the details, been an interesting last few years where i've ended up paying for 3 funerals amongst other things and taken time out of work whilst looking after sick parents.
end of last year, everything finally sorted itself out, so that i could return to the main truck driving job i do, which is very well payed. so this year the mrs and myself were looking forward, to finally going forward and building up savings, and maybe look at buying our house at long last.
then hey ho, boom this comes along. great timing eh, but well used to it by now.
but, out of interest as expensive as the private route will be, it is something i have started looking into today, i'll be interested to see what they come back with?
i'm lucky in the fact that other than weekly living costs, i have no outstanding bills, loans, hp, finance etc, i've always liked to only have what i can afford, so the private route may be possible.
if not, as you say, i might just get a bloody dizzy spell or 2
the money, even if i had to borrow it doesn't bother me this time, i'm just not used to not being allowed to work for a living. i bloody love my job and it gives me a pretty comfortable life really, so its very annoying just sitting here waiting for everything to get sorted out.
end of last year, everything finally sorted itself out, so that i could return to the main truck driving job i do, which is very well payed. so this year the mrs and myself were looking forward, to finally going forward and building up savings, and maybe look at buying our house at long last.
then hey ho, boom this comes along. great timing eh, but well used to it by now.
but, out of interest as expensive as the private route will be, it is something i have started looking into today, i'll be interested to see what they come back with?
i'm lucky in the fact that other than weekly living costs, i have no outstanding bills, loans, hp, finance etc, i've always liked to only have what i can afford, so the private route may be possible.
if not, as you say, i might just get a bloody dizzy spell or 2
the money, even if i had to borrow it doesn't bother me this time, i'm just not used to not being allowed to work for a living. i bloody love my job and it gives me a pretty comfortable life really, so its very annoying just sitting here waiting for everything to get sorted out.
Just read your preliminary post.
Did you not have a follow-up appointment with the neurosurgeon or his equivalent in Belfast? Where are you based (sorry if I've missed that bit)?
I'm thinking it might be worthwhile to push for a check up scan through him. May be cheaper travelling to Belfast than paying for a private consultation and scan. What's a scan nowadays - £500? Anyway, when I had my surgery it's what I did. Good luck.
Did you not have a follow-up appointment with the neurosurgeon or his equivalent in Belfast? Where are you based (sorry if I've missed that bit)?
I'm thinking it might be worthwhile to push for a check up scan through him. May be cheaper travelling to Belfast than paying for a private consultation and scan. What's a scan nowadays - £500? Anyway, when I had my surgery it's what I did. Good luck.
goldblum said:
Just read your preliminary post.
Did you not have a follow-up appointment with the neurosurgeon or his equivalent in Belfast? Where are you based (sorry if I've missed that bit)?
I'm thinking it might be worthwhile to push for a check up scan through him. May be cheaper travelling to Belfast than paying for a private consultation and scan. What's a scan nowadays - £500? Anyway, when I had my surgery it's what I did. Good luck.
Hi goldblum, and thanks Did you not have a follow-up appointment with the neurosurgeon or his equivalent in Belfast? Where are you based (sorry if I've missed that bit)?
I'm thinking it might be worthwhile to push for a check up scan through him. May be cheaper travelling to Belfast than paying for a private consultation and scan. What's a scan nowadays - £500? Anyway, when I had my surgery it's what I did. Good luck.
When i was in hospital for the week in Belfast i saw the neuro surgeon and his staff everyday, and after every ct scan they put me through, as the first couple of days there was some swelling so there was talk of maybe having to have an operation on the Tuesday. Fortunately the swelling stopped, so for now i am not having an op. The rest of the week they kept visiting me in the ward to keep me posted, and then on the day they released me i only saw them to be told i musn't fly for 6 weeks, and that once i got home i'd need to see my gp to arrange the next ct scan at home. They gave me all the relevant paperwork i needed, aswell as a full run down of my condition/injuries. Thats the last dealings i've had with Belfast.
I live in Basildon in Essex. I have looked into the private route, and am awaitinng a reply. I guess it won't be cheap, i reckon your guess of approx £500 is going to be just about spot on.
Which i reckon would be about the same it would cost me to get to Belfast and back.
So now i'm just sat here playing the waiting game.
It's a nuisance waiting for these appointments.
I have a friend who got kicked in the head sparring at a Thai boxing club. No headguard, he fell on a concrete floor and bashed his head. Got knocked out but nothing else wrong it transpired. Woke up in hospital. It took a whole year before he got the all-clear. Unfortunately it seems in your situation you're going to have to wait. It wasn't good from a business perspective for him either - he is a signwriter who wasn't allowed to drive so couldn't get to appointments. I think in the end he sued the boxing club and got his lost earnings back though.
I have a friend who got kicked in the head sparring at a Thai boxing club. No headguard, he fell on a concrete floor and bashed his head. Got knocked out but nothing else wrong it transpired. Woke up in hospital. It took a whole year before he got the all-clear. Unfortunately it seems in your situation you're going to have to wait. It wasn't good from a business perspective for him either - he is a signwriter who wasn't allowed to drive so couldn't get to appointments. I think in the end he sued the boxing club and got his lost earnings back though.
i think your right, i think it will be a waiting game, which isn't ideal and something i'm not used too.
i'll be phoning queens monday to see if i can find out anything re a new appointment.
also as i slipped over in the pub, several people think i should look into a claim due to my injuries, and now loss of work. again something else to look into on monday.
i'll be phoning queens monday to see if i can find out anything re a new appointment.
also as i slipped over in the pub, several people think i should look into a claim due to my injuries, and now loss of work. again something else to look into on monday.
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