Hi,
It sounds like a very nasty shock and I can understand you’d not want to wait 6 months.
In my case I also experienced a lot of delays and eventually went private, although that was to see a neurologist rather than for the MRI itself.
I did at one point consider getting an MRI privately. You can compare prices online and it may not matter much which machine you end up in. I found it helpful to share my idea with my GP. You will probably need a referral from a neurologist or GP - just a simple letter confirming what they want, i.e. brain or brain&spinal cord, and contrast or no contrast.
The MRI then needs to be reported on by a neuroradiologist. Check if any MRI you find privately includes this report, rather than just the pictures. The radiologist’s report goes to the neurologist. This is one reason why the NHS is so slow: You get your scan done but then you have to wait for a neuroradiologist to report on it to your neuro.
As for seeing a neurologist privately, I did this. From my experience, I agree with those who’ve recommended you to do your research. Firstly, you need a neurologist who specialises in MS. The first man I saw was an MS specialist but was totally unhelpful, waste of money and only increased my anxiety! After that I researched properly and found someone who was (a) involved in MS research (so committed, up to date) and (b) had some nice reviews/comments online. When I saw this second neuro, I felt I was finally in professional hands and it was such a relief.
I’d guess the costs might be about £250-300 for a neuro appointment. Be aware you may need more than one, though… they tend not to diagnose you on the first visit, even if they do have your MRI.
One last tip, if you do end up staying with the NHS. I found out where my local MRIs were being done (in a car park!), phoned the place and said I was willing to take last minute cancellations. It saved me a few days in the end.
On the plus side: Your doctors are referring you for “possible” MS, which is the responsible thing to do, just in case. That’s because, if it is MS, there may be treatment that could help you, so it’s worth checking. And there will always be support for you here.