As someone who has never undergone an MRI before, I was extremely fascinated when I stumbled upon it.
Sarah Blackburn’s
recent
TikTok
. Sarah underwent a precautionary full-body MRI that uncovered a critical issue, prompting her to arrange for surgery to remove an organ.
Warning: The following narrative reflects an individual’s personal encounter. Prior to receiving a whole-body MRI scan or any similar procedure, individuals are advised to discuss possible hazards with their healthcare provider.
In the
video
Sarah mentioned that she got a “full-body MRI out of curiosity” even though she hadn’t experienced any prior symptoms. Now, surprisingly, she is “set to undergo surgery to remove an organ within the next fortnight.”
Sarah and her spouse opted to utilize
Prenuvo
a business providing voluntary comprehensive MRI scans nationwide, at its branch in Houston.
When Sarah had the MRI done, she compared it to having a “spa day.” She even took photos wearing her scrubs. She mentioned, “It seemed quite nice at first; it felt almost like being pampered—until it wasn’t so pleasant anymore.”
Although Sarah expressed that she generally had a positive outlook on the experience and looked forward to receiving her results, she admitted being uncertain about what the MRI might reveal. Reflecting back, she mentioned, “At the time, I believed it would provide reassurance and that nothing severe would be detected.”
So I suppose that’s why I felt so enthusiastic. I thought to myself, ‘Wow, I’m really going to get some rest.’
good
After completing this scan,” she stated. Shaking her head, she then responded, “No.
Four days after submitting them, Sarah obtained her test outcomes. She explained, “The sole problem regarding the way I received these results was timing; I got them around 8:30 PM, without anyone to talk to about it.” She continued, “My appointment for discussing the findings over the phone with a nurse practitioner isn’t scheduled until sometime between 24 to 48 hours afterward… so upon seeing my results alone, I experienced such severe anxiety that I wound up having a panic attack and landed in the ER needing medical clarification of those numbers.”
They discovered one aneurysm on me.
splenic artery,
Sarah mentioned, “In the report they sent over, with absolutely no additional context, it just says ‘a one-in-three mortality rate,’ which doesn’t really tell the whole story.”
Sure enough, that’s when my health anxiety began,” Sarah went on. “Those were incredibly bleak and challenging couple of months as I spun out of control, panicking constantly and consulting numerous physicians. It reached a point where I treated my own body with extreme care, feeling like an imminent threat lurked within me, ready to explode at any moment.
Sarah subsequently underwent a CT scan and found out there were not just one, but
two
Splenic aneurysms within her splenic artery. “To make things clear… now I’m facing the removal of my spleen, embarking on a new chapter where I’ll navigate life sans spleen. It seems like it should work out fine; rather than constantly worrying about a potential burst aneurysm, this feels more positive—though certainly wasn’t part of my original plan,” she explained.
Sarah mentioned that her friends have questioned whether she has second thoughts about undergoing the scan. She stated, “My feelings fluctuate frequently.” However, Sarah expressed feeling thankful. She shared that although knowing the details makes her content and allows for informed decisions going ahead, some individuals with health anxieties believe they should get similar scans as well.
“For individuals who already experience health-related anxiety, I’m not sure I could recommend it since I went from being your average nervous person to someone dealing with overwhelming health anxiety that significantly impacts my daily life,” she explained further. “However, I must admit, I feel quite accomplished about how I managed to handle this situation. Indeed, things were vastly different two months back.”
Several commentators from the healthcare sector shared with Sarah just how fortunate she was to detect her condition at such an early stage. One of them remarked, “I was shocked when I read about the splenic aneurysm. In my career, I’ve only had three cases like this present in the Emergency Department, and unfortunately, none of those patients survived.”
One remarked, “I’m the provider here. Consider yourself fortunate—you clearly have a reason to stick around! It’s frightening, but you’ve narrowly escaped an early demise!”
Other individuals had experienced the loss of their loved ones due to burst splenic aneurysms and conveyed to Sarah how fortunate they thought she was as well. Someone mentioned, “My brother-in-law passed away from a splenic artery aneurysm; he was only 39 years old and incredibly fit. You truly have been blessed.”
Another person shared, “I lost one of my closest friends due to a ruptured spleen. She was around 37 weeks pregnant and unfortunately, she also lost her child. Having that scan performed turned out to be a blessing, even if it wasn’t immediately clear at the time.”
Not surprisingly, commentators expressed their desire for insurance coverage of these scans. One person commented, “I wish someday this could be included under insurance—or even better, provided through free healthcare—so that everybody has access to preventive care.”
Someone else commented, “I can’t comprehend why all insurers don’t offer one complete body scan per individual annually. It would truly be fantastic.”
And lastly, ‘We ought to have our insurance cover routine scans,’ stated another.
Prenuvo’s scans are optional, which means they aren’t covered by insurance. Nonetheless, Prenuvo
said on its website
Some individuals have managed to obtain complete or partial refunds. The costs can vary from $999 for a Torso Scan up to $2,499 for a Full Body Scan or even $4,499 for an Advanced Examination in New York City (prices may fluctuate based on location).
In the US, MRI costs typically range from $400 to $12,000.
according
To GoodRx. A part of MRI costs might be insured, but this varies based on your insurance plan, whether the MRI facility is within or outside the network, if supplementary medication is required for the process, and if it’s deemed medically essential.
If you’re interested, below are the symptoms and risk factors associated with a splenic artery aneurysm as detailed in the source:
Cleveland Clinic
You face the greatest risk if you are a woman older than 60 years old. The symptoms can involve pain in the upper-left area of your abdomen which might extend to your left shoulder, or a throbbing sensation in the same region of your stomach.
