MRI scan advice.....

Slimbert

Slimbert

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Damien
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I've got an MRI scan coming up soon :gag: and was wondering if anyone could offer up any advice about the process?!

While I'm not claustrophobic per-se, I'm not very good with hospitals in general and I'm getting a little bit anxious about it all.....it doesn't help that I'm 6ft 1in tall, almost as wide, and the hole in the machine looks like it's going to be a very snug fit!!
 
Hi Damien,

I've had a couple of these. It is a snug fit, but they'll have taken your size into account so no worries on that score. Main thing I remember is the noise. Really loud series of buzzes. They gave me headphones and piped some music through, but I couldn't really hear it. It's an utterly safe procedure and you don't feel a thing.

Good luck!
 
when i had one of kidneys done about a year back it was like lying in a giant polo - in that you didn't go into the machine as such but laid on a table and the polo thing whizzed back and forth.

I am thinking depending on what is being scanned, depends whether they use this type or in the whole machine thing. Took about 10 mins in all.
 
It's really not that bad. When I had mine, they gave me some headphones with 'relaxing sounds' on. What you've got to remember is they've designed these machines with various mirrors and design tricks to make the confined space feel as spacious as possible. They're also open on both ends which helps.

EDIT: Which part of your body are you having scanned?
 
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My 83 year old Nan had an MRI scan a few months back, her main comment about it was the noise and that seems quite consistent with the other comments on here.

She was fine with it other than that :)
 
Yep - another one who was given headphones and drifted off to the chilled sounds. I was aware of the deep throbbing but that was about it - nothing to worry about - the worst part was walking through the hospital in a gown that was meant to do up at the back but didn't, and hearing giggles as you walked past a bunch of teenage girls did nothing for my ego..
 
I've had one on my knee. Like others was given a set of headphones and asked which radio station I liked. Headphones on and asked to stay completely still. You hear the thing wind up but it's utterly painless and actually quite relaxing. I had to force myself to stay awake so I could be sure I didn't move. I do remember there was a fan at the bottom that blew a lovely (hmmm) cold breeze right up the bottom of the gown. My poor fella thought he was receiving an ice bath :lol:
 
I had one a couple of year ago and was like you a bit anxous etc, but once there just laid back and relaxed, the pretty nurse helped with that too, to be fair she nearly had to wake me up at the end, she called my name twice lol, I was so relaxed it was nice.

spike
 
fabs said:
I've had 3 of them, the last one lasted for 45 minutes and I was never offered any headphones! :gag:
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:gag:

fabs said:
Mine were of my head though, I would imagine scans of the knee would be a lot better and you will probably be able to keep your head outside of the scanner.
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Fingers crossed.....I'll be greasing myself up from head to toe in case I get stuck in there, or in case it turns in to some sort of orgy!! :naughty:
 
Slimbert said:
My knee!! :)

Thanks for all the advice and stories folks, very helpful indeed!! :clap:
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Had my knee scanned end of last year. They only covered my legs with the machine so, assuming they do the same at your hospital, it shouldn't be claustrophobic at all.

As said above, it is a very weird and noisy machine but with headphones on you hardly notice. My scan was in the evening which annoyed me as I was going to miss the start of a football game I wanted to watch on the telly. Was really happy when they let me listen to the start on the radio :lol:
 
Damien, As others have said they are a completely safe and none intrusive scan.
There is (or at least in my case - ankle) no need for any medication before or afterwards.

The noise was very loud but I can't recall if I was offered any headphones as it was a number of years ago. The one piece of advice I was given and this was checked by the nurse, the doctor and then the nurse again and was to "Remove all metal items and piercings" :lol: as I didn't have any it wasn't an issue :)

Good luck with the scan, and don't worry, it really is the most comfortable and none intrusive medical test you could have!!!
 
fabs said:
Damn, they asked me if I wanted to hang around afterwards & I said no! :bonk:
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You slipped up there mate.....I'm greased up and ready to go, pretty much all the time!!

Back on topic.....

Thanks again for all your comments.....really is very helpful of you all!!

My fear of hospitals is completely irrational, but it is genuine.....I've been known to faint on more than one occasion!! :cuckoo:
 
Slimbert said:
Fingers crossed.....I'll be greasing myself up from head to toe in case I get stuck in there, or in case it turns in to some sort of orgy!! :naughty:
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I'm pretty sure that option is only available through private hospitals.
 
I've had a couple of MRI scans out here in France where perhaps the procedure is a little different, I don't know.....

I do suffer with claustrophobia and anxiety ....as said the actual apparatus is open both ends so it does help......

My issue came with the product (iodine of some descriprion I believe) that was administered during my head scan.....it is used to add contrast to the image and help see whatever problem may be visible.
No one explained to me the rather warm (bordering on hot) effects I would experience once the scanner started with this product in my blood stream......naturally I was very frightened and afterwards very annoyed at the lack of explanation.
In addition I was physically sick ( just bile) as unbeknown to me, I am allergic to iodine!!

I am mentioning this, not to cause you additional anxiety, quite the contrary, hopefully it will make you aware of possible sensations that you may wish to discuss with the nursing staff beforehand......having some knowledge helps to avoid nasty surprises!!

I'm sure all will go without problem.

Best wishes

Asha
 
Asha said:
I've had a couple of MRI scans out here in France where perhaps the procedure is a little different, I don't know.....

I do suffer with claustrophobia and anxiety ....as said the actual apparatus is open both ends so it does help......

My issue came with the product (iodine of some descriprion I believe) that was administered during my head scan.....it is used to add contrast to the image and help see whatever problem may be visible.
No one explained to me the rather warm (bordering on hot) effects I would experience once the scanner started with this product in my blood stream......naturally I was very frightened and afterwards very annoyed at the lack of explanation.
In addition I was physically sick ( just bile) as unbeknown to me, I am allergic to iodine!!

I am mentioning this, not to cause you additional anxiety, quite the contrary, hopefully it will make you aware of possible sensations that you may wish to discuss with the nursing staff beforehand......having some knowledge helps to avoid nasty surprises!!

I'm sure all will go without problem.

Best wishes

Asha
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Thanks for that, I'll definiely be phoning ahead to tell them I'm a massive fairy with anything hospital related.....I'll also be asking lots of question before they jam me in it!!

Did anyone get a panic button to hold while they were in the machine?! I've had mixed answers to this question, with the majority saying they didn't!!
 
Slimbert said:
Thanks for that, I'll definiely be phoning ahead to tell them I'm a massive fairy with anything hospital related.....I'll also be asking lots of question before they jam me in it!!

Did anyone get a panic button to hold while they were in the machine?! I've had mixed answers to this question, with the majority saying they didn't!!
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I didn't have any panic button...was told to shout if I had an issue ....but that's the french for you! lol

I guess (and hope) that the NHS has got it better arranged than that!
 
I've had half a dozen or so over the last few years on my lower back, neck, head and whilst the old machines were really loud (various clicks and disturbing banging) the newer machines are so much quieter, more relaxing and far more airy inside. I nodded off for about half an hour the last time I had one.

Word of warning - if your just getting the top bit of you scanned (head / neck) then if they let you keep your trousers and shoes on - they'll make you remove your belt but they may miss steel toe capped boots. LOL
 
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do you think you could get them to do your head as well as for knee, I for one, am intrigued as to if there is anything in the former!
 
I had one on my heart recently, very new procedure as they dont normally do moving objects, so I guess areally new type of machine. It was very quiet (it was on teh NHS too) but I also had iodine put into me, quite a strange feeling, not too unpleasant though. A quite warm feeling (as Asha said) starting in the, how can I put this, groin region and emanating outwards from there, felt like I'd had a leak (I hadnt).

My wife/daughter are both claustrophobic and they were fine you big Jessy! :)


Matt
 
First piece of advice form an old pro (Paula has had 3 and William is in double figures!!) is don't panic - very easy to say I know but honestly they are used to dealing with irrational fears.

Give them a call and they will have someone able to talk you through the process and answer any questions. Ask all that you want and don't think that anything you ask is stupid. They will want you to be as relaxed as possible as that makes their lives easier!!!!

I would presume that as it is your knee that they will put you foot first into the machine and scan from the foot to thigh direction.

As a way of relaxing you we could arrange to have a few of the norfolk mafia and friends to visit - you would be jumping into the scanner then :lol:

Nick
 
Lynton said:
do you think you could get them to do your head as well as for knee, I for one, am intrigued as to if there is anything in the former!
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Easier way to find out:

Shake head and listen for rattling noise...........works for me! :D :D
 
Slimbert said:
Thanks for that, I'll definiely be phoning ahead to tell them I'm a massive fairy with anything hospital related.....I'll also be asking lots of question before they jam me in it!!

Did anyone get a panic button to hold while they were in the machine?! I've had mixed answers to this question, with the majority saying they didn't!!
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Yeah I did on all occasions my knee was scanned and they were done at different hospitals so I assumed it was standard to have a panic button.
 
I am trying to convince our 7 year old to take part in some research that will involve an MRI scan later this year, I found quite a few "this is how we do an MRI scan" videos on YouTube, might help. :thumbs:

David
 
Best one I ever had was private. DVD player, or radio/cd player. It's just staying still for 30 mins was boring.

NHS one rattled and hummed like an old boiler!
 
I had one on my head, no headphone with music, just big ear defenders, the sounds were strangely alluring, just don't go in with metal hair clips, or anything metal for that matter

:)
 
Had my knee done a couple of years back, worst but for me was the cage they had to put over it, only because my knee was locked solid in a partial bend, they straightened my leg a best they could, that was it. Had nearly an hour in the scanner head want on it, as others said, had headphones and music plus a panic button, I also feel asleep.
 
Mrs Bloo has had a couple recently. One private and one NHS. Both were the same - extremely noisy and the headphones were pointless.

Other than that - no issues.
 
Davec223 said:
Had my knee done a couple of years back, worst but for me was the cage they had to put over it, only because my knee was locked solid in a partial bend, they straightened my leg a best they could, that was it. Had nearly an hour in the scanner head want on it, as others said, had headphones and music plus a panic button, I also feel asleep.
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I think the worst bit was when they put the cage over my face, then having my head go into the business end of the machine, with huge magnets, for some irrational reason I thought I was going to come out completely formatted with no memory :eek: :lol:

But all was well :thumbs:
 
I had one. The couch bit will vibrate a little, but not much - probablynot very noticable to average Joe, but hypersensitive nerves meant I felt it. It's really loud so take a CD and they'll probably play it through the headphones for you. Don't worry about the size, my brother is taller than you and was probably bigger than you when he had his - and I was no skinny mini back when I had mine!
 
My dad had one on his brain last week, no problems, like others he said it was noisy ( dad is 82)
 
I have had a couple of full body scans fairly recently. What you have to understand is the people doing the procedure are experts, and they are very caring. The next thing is that your arfe offered headphones and you can choose a genre of music to listen to. The machine can make quite a lot of noise and the table you are laying on does tend to move about at certain times. A full body scan can take about 45 - 60 mins. When i had mine there was a carefully placed mirror attachment so when you open your eyes you can see your own feet, and beyond that i could see the control booth, so you don't really feel you are in a tunnel. In other words you will be fine. just don't get yourself stressed up about it.
 
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