Yes you can get an MRI

I will be getting one next week. My leads are NOT MRI compatible, it took a lot of effort and coordination, and needs to be done in the heart hospital but it is finally scheduled. Next hurdle is getting prior auth from my insurance company. Should be a breeze after the effort involved in getting a neurologist to finally understand that yes, this is possible. Sometimes being hard core pays off.

7 Comments

People get upset

by Theknotguy - 2014-11-12 08:11:08

People sometimes get upset when I'm on the forum and say you have to go nose-to-nose with the medical people but your post proves the point. You've got to be your own advocate.

Glad you were able to get someone to help you. Hope you get your medical insurance approval.

If the medical insurance people don't go along, consider writing to your State Insurance Department. Sometimes whispering in their ear gets your medical insurance company to come around to your way of thinking.

Hope you get a resolution soon.

Yay!

by golden_snitch - 2014-11-13 02:11:58

That's great news, thanks for sharing!

My EP and the head of the radiology department also said that I could have an MRI, if necessary. I have two epicardial leads and an abandoned transvenous lead, all not officially labled MRI-safe.

Don't like that so many doctors tell their device patients that an MRI is a no-go - the guidelines have actually ever expressed that. I think it's important to reassure device patients that, if absolutely needed, an MRI is possible with certain precautions. Of course, one would not put a device patients through MRIs for each and every little issue, but when MRI pictures are needed, one can get them. After all, there are thousands and thousands of patients out there with old devices and leads. You cannot replace them all with MRI-safe models.

Hope insurance approves. Please keep us posted!

Inga

good luck

by wjs1954 - 2014-11-13 08:11:00

Hope the MRI is for nothing to major.

Thanks

by Bostonstrong - 2014-11-13 09:11:14

It is for sort of a major issue. Just found out one of my favorite former NP students is good friends with the nurse who will be taking care of me that day, which makes me feel better about it.
The cardiologist I saw just for a procedure when I was in the hospital was paced. He told me he had had several paced patients who got MRI's just because nobody checked (scary!) and he had never seen one that had adverse effects.

Dave

by Bostonstrong - 2014-11-14 07:11:15

Mine is a St Jude. They will only do the MRI if it is fairly critical, which they have deemed it is. It is risky and has to be done with a set of protocols and extensive conversation between the EP, neurologist, radiologist, and MRI physicist. I wouldn't do this if there were not very serious noncardiac issues that needed to be addressed. Also the leads have to be less than 10 years old and you cannot be pacemaker dependent, which I'm not, I am paced 69-78 % of the time.
I'm trying to stay positive but I will admit its scary stuff. I will be seeing patients Tuesday morning and take the afternoon off to head to the heart hospital for this. Hope to be back in my office unscathed on Wed.

Funny

by walkerd - 2014-11-14 12:11:45

The company that makes mine Medtronic is the ones that stated no MRIs???? Id really be careful about having one, I for one wouldn't take the chance but that's each persons choice.

Dave

Bossy

by Grateful Heart - 2014-11-16 08:11:30


I'm convinced you can do anything!!

But for added measure I will keep you in my prayers that you receive good news.

Grateful Heart

You know you're wired when...

You are always wired and full of energy.

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