mri

[darlene]

Hi all. I know Jen is going for an MRI.....how many others have had one? I have my neurologist scheduling one for me....never had one and don't know what to expect!
Is it really like being in a tunnel? Don't think I am looking forward to this!

:)

[AnnW]

I am HORRIBLY claustraphobic, so I really worry, especially when they are doing the brain scan. Ask for an open MRI if you can. Or if you are really nervous, ask for a valium drip..but if you do that you can't eat for 12 hours and need a driver. It is confining, but if you keep your eyes closed it's not bad. You can talk to the technician the whole time you are in the tube.
It's very loud, you hear a series of clicks and knocking sounds. Depending on what they are doing, you might be told not to swallow during certain sections..that's always hard just cause of the power of suggestion! LOL Depending on what they are doing it can be anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. Most of the time they will give you headphones with music to listen to..that helps.
You will be fine. It's really not awful. :)

[JAK]

Darlene, I did post some info under the thread on the general discussion board with my name as the title.

I think mine must have been open (not sure). I did peek at one point and could see out the one end of the "tunnel" and it wasn't that far away. It was just a strange feeling because I had the headphones on which made me not be able to hear anything except for the music and the MRI machine. It does make some strange noises, but the guy told me that it was loud and it made noise so it didn't scare me. Mine was a brain scan, but except for the peek (towards the very end) I kept my eyes closed the whole time. My mind did start to wonder a little, but I would just sing along in my head to the radio and it made it better. I didn't talk during mine nor did a technician talk to me, but I guess they didn't need to...not sure. Mine took about 40 minutes at the most, I'm not sure exactly what time we started. And that included the guy with the dye and having to inject me twice.

[AnnW]

Open MRI's don't cover your legs (if you are doing brain or spine) and your arms are out.
I have had both open and closed and if you just keep your eyes closed it's much better! ;)
Jen, the guy didn't talk at all? Usually they will say, "ok, now this next one will be x amount of minutes" or just check on you and see how you are doing.
Jen, I have had MRI's with contrast (that's what they call the dye), those IV's are fun! ;) rather have a valium IV!!

[JAK]

Originally posted by AnnW
Open MRI's don't cover your legs (if you are doing brain or spine) and your arms are out.
I have had both open and closed and if you just keep your eyes closed it's much better! ;)
Jen, the guy didn't talk at all? Usually they will say, "ok, now this next one will be x amount of minutes" or just check on you and see how you are doing.
Jen, I have had MRI's with contrast (that's what they call the dye), those IV's are fun! ;) rather have a valium IV!!

My shins were not covered (but the rest of my legs were) and my arms were just down by my side.

I don't know why the guy didn't talk- maybe it's a military thing? or because he didn't feel the need to? Not real sure.

When they shot me up with the dye I didn't have an IV. I couldn't see, but I know that he poked me and then after a little while he put one of those gauze pads with tape on my arm. So I guess he just shot it in. Or maybe it was an IV sort of thing that they didn't have to leave in. Seeing has my head was "locked" into place, I could see at all what he was doing- kind of scary now that i think about it. But I feel fine so I guess he didn't do anything wrong! LOL