I do not have any information on T1, versus T2, versus T3 weighted images on MRI regarding what will give you the best information for you, but I know I've read some posts by Rumpled who has addressed this in other threads.
I wonder if you shouldn't just start a new thread and ask that question directly?
There also may be a better place to ask your disability question. Rules may change from State to State.
how did this thread get below a thread from mar 13
so no opinions on the 3t machne? the 3t i 30 mins away, so i wanna be sure it's necessary..when there is a 1.5 right here..i scheduled for the 3t
also disability called me. they are giving me an evaluation with the state dr..does this mean im far along? also any advice?
ino opinions on if i should get a 3t or not??? i mscheduling the appt tomorrow.
also could adrenal probs cause ehadaches...ugh im so tired of this my head always hurts this really is bad.
oh and shouldi have my mri done on a 3t machine?
the dr today was SOO NICE. one of the best ive seen in my life...and ive seen a lot. he ordered my mri scan, and said he though the images from my uppergi looked irritated, and that he didnt agree with the other gastro that they were normal. He said they might be normal ,and the printer was bright, but he wanted to do another upper gi to be sure(i told scheduled it for may to procrastinate it =p) he said my hands look purple and i should see a hemotologist, ...and a rheumotologist.
Always best to be honest, firm, and honest.
Abnormal lab tests are always a reason to investigate further, and if the gastroenterologist knows you are being referred to him, he may feel that your other doctor(s) have already considered other lab tests, and imaging is necessary--maybe an MRI !!!
and maybe i could lie to him and say my acth was off(will he ask for that blood work?)
would showing the gastro my lab where my cortisol was 70 on a scale where the range went to 50 help my case?
this ***** he's not in until the 26th of april...some other guy in his office is their on thursday..so ill give him a try.
with the price of insurncce at 1300/month i would fel raped paying for tests out of pocket.
either way, my primary care dr said she would not ask for te mri, because she feels it wont be approved. she advised me to go to the gastro, and said that he would have a better chance at getting approval without a ct(another 50 dollar visit yay lol)
oxford took over my insurance, so the gastro who id my colonoscopy isnt in my plan, but searching through vitals.com i found one that sounds pretty good...won Compassionate Doctor Recognition, 2009 ...some patient choice awards..has 17 ratings, all decent..and many good reviews.
i will make an appt with him tomorrow.
i always go to the dr with my dad, or my sister...this way there is les chance of e being bullied...and less chance drs will ignore me.
there is also more chance of me bullying a dr to do as I WANT...TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR MY HEALTH.
im still worried since there are no positive findings..he will refuse....im thinking of lying and telling him that my primary ordered a ct, and reccomended iget an mri..but ithink ill sut tell him the real story.
hopefully i walk out of there with an mri of my full abdomen and pelvis.
i remember years ago when iwas to scared of the colonoscopy, i asked for an mri and the gastro i was seein t the time(not the one who did y colonoscopy)
said it wouldnt tell him much.
also should i ask for the mri to be done with contrast? or is it unecessary for this procedure.
alll i know is, if i pay 50 bucks for this bozo to refuse the mri, and say ''oh one ct won't hurt you''
i'll be really mad.
Well, in my mind, if there is medical reason to get the CT, it would be the same medical reason to get the MRI, and if there is a medical reason, chances are that authorization would be granted. What is it with insurance companies anyhow, geez. Doctors should make the decisions.
I think most doctors (based on the ones I've seen, except for one, the endo) would prefer to do an MRI over a CT scan if they are going to do an "exploratory" peek, just because of the radiation exposure,,,,,,,,, but that being said, getting an answer to a pretty important question "what the heck is wrong", is a pretty good reason to get these tests done.
You have a lot to think about. I am happy that you are thinking of your health in a broader sense, most people are not that progressive and forward thinking.
If you feel strongly about not exposing yourself to this radiation, would you be willing to pay for the MRI if your insurance company didn't approve it? I know it is a risk, and you MAY take a hit to your pocketbook if they don't approve it, but you could always request a payment plan from the imaging center. In fact, without insurance coverage, most imaging centers are willing to do the MRI at a lower cost, doesn't hurt to ask for a discount.
ct idont need pre authorization, but mri i do
I know more and more insurance companies, especially HMOs, will only approve an expensive study if there is well documented medical reason(s) to perform it.
However, that goes for CT scans also, because they are expensive too.
My doctor had to get approval for the CT scans before I had them. But gee, abdominal pain and trace blood in urine was sufficient medical reasoning.
I would call your insurance company and find out if there are restrictions/requirements for your diagnostic test coverage, and ask whether those restrictions/requirements are the same for the two tests MRI/CT.
If it is the same requirement for the two, it is your doctors decision which to order.
my doc wanted a ct of the abdomen and pelvis. i called and she says she doesnt think insurance would approve an mri without a positive issue on colonoscopy/ct
i dont want the ct done...and really want an mri
we pay 1600/month for insurance.
I had recurring upper abdominal pain over several months, and had ultrasounds for suspected gallbladder involvement. Ultrasound didn't show anything unusual, but because the upper abdominal pain returned for a third episode two months after the Ultrasound, the Dr. suggested a CT scan because she said it would show the most. (and because I had trace blood in urine, a second CT scan of my pelvis was also ordered).
The pelvic CT showed enlarged appendix, so out that came. It wasn't infected, it was just enlarged, but they can't tell infection from the CT, so it had to be removed regardless because to have an appendix rupture is not good. And it's removal resolved the upper abdominal pain.
However, the abdominal CT showed a mass on adrenal gland.
So the recommendation from my internist is to follow with MRI, because she says there is no additional information provided by a CT scan AND why expose patient to more radiation. I agree.
However, the endocrinologist says it's ok to have another CT scan because it's no worse than flying to Europe. I'm not sure she's read the recent literature which reveals that some CT scanners in major centers in the U.S.A aren't calibrated correctly and give off more radiation than previously thought.
So a little controversy on the topic, which means confusion for you. Can't you ask your doctor if an MRI would show the information she is looking for?
can an mri find the same thing?
she wants a pelvis and abdomen mri...wants to see adrenals
Ask your doc or yourself if the benefits outweigh the risks. if you are not comfortable, cancel.
http://www.naturalnews.com/028621_CT_scans_cancer.html
and also it says younger patients have a much higher risk....im 21
ive had many mris in my time.
primary care dr is looking for the source of my clinical symptoms...she wants to do the ct to check my liver, spleen, gall bladder etc
idk if an mri would do it in the same way as a c
im ust so anxious about the radiation(i never go on planes so dont get radiation)
also if a colonoscopy/upper gi didnt find anything why would this..ust wanted to mae sure this test will be wort it
One CT will not give you cancer. If you go to a search engine you can find a radiation tracker and see your risk from xray, cts, etc. But know that an airplane flight gives you as much if not more radiation (from the sun) than a CT.
When I had my adrenals out, I had a CT before and after. The surgeon preferred it.
I have had at least 7 CTs - head, abdomen etc. - maybe more. I forget.