Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group TROUBLE SWALLOWING

OK. I wrote back to them for clarification - a slightly 'better' picture of what they offer, but...expensive... cemc might like to give an opinion - cemc? What you think? (Even if you don't use em Bosun info is always useful - perhaps for another person who happens along?

Queen Sq. Imaging Centre to me:-

Quote: "I can confirm that we can offer a 1.5 Tesla machine.

With regards to Sagittal STIR imaging, yes this is included in our protocol when
Anklyosing Spondylitis is queried. Giving an actual number of slices is
irrelevant, as this is entirely dependent on body habitus and selected at the
time of scanning so that, for example in the spine, adequate coverage of the
vertebral bodies and facet joints is obtained. The average number is usually
between 15-19 slices and they are scanned at 3-4mm slices at a spacing 0.5mm and
of course they are high resolution.

I hope this helps to clarify

Best regards"

Jacob Cameron MSc BMI
Superintendent Radiographer
Queen Square Imaging Centre
8-11 Queen Square
London WC1N 3AR

Ph: 0207 833 2513
Fax: 0207 837 8074
www.qsic-mri.com

Registered in England and Wales No. 1850377
________________________________________

I have this problem also.I am fused in the neck.I have to b very careful to eat steak,etc.I use ketchup now to cover foods that will choke me.I need something smooth to help take it down.It is such a scary feeling when a person is alone and starts choking.you instantly start to panic.

All the best
John

Not sure how the discussion on MRI prices in the UK started? Bosunsmate is in Canada, I think? But, over £1000 is waaaay out of my price range! Its one of the reasons I'm hesitating doing the full shift to private care for investigating my AS. But I think that is a fairly standard kind of cost - prices that places like BUPA hospitals quote for MRIs range between £300 and £1500 depending on what area it is, and it does take a lot of slices to cover the spine. I'm still hoping that a second reading of my SI Xrays will show up enough to be going on with. Interesting that they automatically do the STIR for a suspected AS diagnosis. That definitely doesn't happen in the NHS, and I don't think in the NHS they adjust the spacing or number of slices to make sure they get adequate views - it all seems a bit too standardised.

cemc - dunno, utterly 'puzzled'!! Had 'Staffordshire' firmly *fixed, hence sending the info. Melanged two ASers, the other being the member who plays the piano and had had a problem with DX? Or, was it the flute player? No, can't say, but nevertheless, your input valuable. Thank you.

Agreed, the automatically dong Saggit STIR and adusting the number of spacings/slices to ensure they get adequate views. Good. Well, if I ave to get a pvt MRI scan done in London, I'll know where to go - just so long as I have the spondooliks!!

BTW - Grimsby AS pool is under support on the NASS site. Good.

Go well - take care -

I just had an endoscopy and had my esophagus stretched. It help my swallowing significantly. I have not had any more choking problems.

I first noticed swallowing problems ten years ago, now it has become daily, food feels like i am swallowing a lava rock, coffee,or coke sometimes will go down, but not all the way. kinda freaky, feels like i could choke if it didn't go down one time. i need to mention this to the doctor.

I too have this problem l am undiagnosed.... it seems to come in clusters then doesnt happen for a while x

have you had an upper endoscopy to look at your esophagus? my husband had scar tissue in his from bad reflux/GERD. had to have it repaired several times over the years. upper endoscopies are pretty straight-forward.

actually I have even mentioned it to the doc. but i will this time, its become daily. but every time i complain, it costs me another office visit and more money money money.