*

[Pembo]

*****

 

[preshi]

I have had both an MRI and a CT scan. I can't remeber which is which. One they did just my brain and the other my body with contrast stuff I had to drink. The worst part of both of those was the contrast and the way it made me feel when I got onto the machine was a little odd. Neither one was bad or scary though and I am claustrophobic.

 

[Tony-NJ]

them so easy now. Mostly open. It wasn't bad at all.

 

[WDWLVR]

I've had a number of them. The worst ones are when they add contrast- in my case it was dye that was injected. Felt really wierd going through my veins. Not a bad experience - just wierd.

 

[Snowysmom]

I had an MRI of my knee and was only in the tube up to my chest. However, it was enough to make me claustophobic. I don't know how people go in all the way. If I had to do that I would definately go with the open MRI. It really wasn't that bad and deep breathing got me through.

 

[catsrule]

DH has an MRI at least once a year (for MS). Piece of cake.

 

[JimB.]

MRI for lower back

Very easy. I slept through most of it. Kinda' noisy though.....

 

[nativetxn]

I had an MRI with the contrast. It wasn't an open one and I had it only a year ago.

It wasn't bad, really. Not painful, mostly boring.

 

[DVC-Don]

Had a closed one about 5 years ago for my brain. (Empty they said) Kind of got to me towards the end of it while in there. I choose classical music to listien too and their selections were awful.

 

[AspiringCindy]

I had an MRI and I am claustrophic! They had to give me valium to get me in! It is really very relaxing(aside from the hammering noises)! They play soft music and ventilate it well with air flow!...or maybe it was just the valium that made it seem that way! I also had the dye injected. It IS a little strange!

 

[floridafam]

To be honest, it bothered me. I thought it would be a peice of cake.

I kept asking them if they were sure the door was locked. I was so worried about someone coming into the room accidentally and something getting sucked into the MRI machine.

I would take valium if I ever had to have another one.


nativetxn,

Did you have yours at MSU? I thought they would have an open MRI but no luck.

 

[msdznyduck]

Have had 3 MRIs:
Both knees, one open and one closed. The closed one was definately louder, and took longer.
I had my cervical area done, and they do closed. It was very scary. I didn't think it would bother me, but the top of the tube was about 2 inches from my nose. I was in about 5 min or so, and told them to stop, since I felt like I was having an anxiety attack....Took some deep breaths, closed my eyes, and did some slow breathing, and was fine. I think I just didn't realize how close it was going to be, but once I prepared myself I was fine.
Good luck with your testing
Didn't have dye with any of them, but had a CT scan of my head once, and when they injected the dye, it felt like someone poured hot water in my crotch.........Oh my, very strange!!

 

[KristiKelly]

I had an MRI 2 years ago, they don't have to put the dye in you for that, they just put you in that tube thing. If someone is really claustrophobic, they may have a problem. I had no trouble & to be honest with you, after being home all day with my then 2 & 4 y/o kids, I kinda enjoyed it, they played some Jimmy Buffett for me and even though it can be loud, I found it rather soothing - no whining or fighting, I asked if I could have a standing appointment, but was told "sorry" - Oh well it was worth a try.

 

[amid chaos]

if it's a closed one keep your eyes closed and relax..no problem

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

Ok - I'm a HUGE baby, and I've had three MRIs so far.

First one they forgot to mention the whole clausterphobia thing, no one asked and I freaked! They had to pull me out, they offered meds but because I was told it was no big deal I didn't have anyone to take care of DS. So they did an open MRI.

Last month I had another, they didn't have the option of open MRI. Since I was already in the hospital they loaded me up with meds and I don't remember much. It was loud and I didn't get music - but I did get a trip to WDW out of it!

Make sure you tell them ahead of time if you're clausterphobic so they get you the right meds/machine!

Good luck!

 

[binny]

this is where the theatre training that I had in High School really comes into play.

Our instructor taught us how to "put ourselves anywhere" mentally.
She told us to picture ourselves laying on a floatie in the lake and staring at a little dot of sunshine floating towards us. Then the little dot settles on your feet you can feel the warmth starting at your toes, then climbing your legs. Soon it spreads throughout your body and you can actually feel yourself getting comfortably warmer!

It was a great exercise and I use it a lot!! Especially during procedures like that!


All in all though the ones I have had werent that bad. Ive had my knees and my heart done.


Good luck! It really wasnt bad. If you think youll have a problem with it that you wont be able to control with breathing/relaxation techniques, ask for a sedative. These people do this everyday!
Theyve seen it all

 

[KrnB]

I've had just about every brain test available, I think, when they were determining that I had a ruptured AVM, which is similar to an aneurysm.

I don't remember my CT scan much because I had an enormous headache and I was pretty out of it.

The MRI had no dye, just a big tube. I'm not usually claustrophic, but it got to me after a while, mostly because I wasn't allowed to move at all. I wanted to move so bad I could scream.

The dye test I had was an angiogram. For that, they injected an iodine dye into my hip and then had an x-ray-like machine that they put up close to my head. Everything felt very warm next to the machine and I had a weird taste in my mouth. I had to have that twice - once before and once after my surgery.

All in all, the MRI wasn't that bad. I think I would have liked to have music or something to distract me while I lay there perfectly still - something to keep my mind active But it was completely painless.

Good luck!

 

[chichihoney]

i had a mri i was scared i had some pills make me sleep

 

[HoneyPooh]

Had a closed MRI of my brain w/contrast (dye) last week. My sister (she's an RN) told me to fold my hands on my stomach and close my eyes before they rolled me in and not to move my hands or open my eyes until they rolled me out. It worked. I fooled my brain into not knowing how close the machine was (try not to look at it before you lay down). The dye made me feel very warm. Funny story: if you've had an MRI you know that they come on an intercom and tell you how long each section will be. Well, they kept coming on the intercom and asking me over and over if I had any jewelry on or hair pins in that I might have forgotten about. I kept telling them I had nothing. Seems there was an "artifact" showing up on the films (the not funny part is that I was in the machine for 40 minutes because of that!). When they rolled me out they asked me some questions to see what might have caused the artifact in the films. She asked me if I had ever been hit in the head. I said yes, when I was four I was hit in the head by the leg of an old metal swingset. She asked me to point to where I was hit and when I did she laughed and told me I had a "swingset artifact". That was exactly where the stuff was showing up on the films. She said it can be the tiniest bit of the metal and the MRI will pick it up. My sisters will now tease me for the rest of my life. They are already calling me "rusty metal head". Anyway, the MRI wasn't so bad, just be prepared for all the noises. The ladies who took mine were very good about explaining everything to me.

 

[Towncrier]

I've had about half a dozen MRIs. Not that I needed them, but I used to volunteer to have them done at work. Our company manufactures MRI units, and they often need volunteers. Even though I am slightly claustrophobic, I actually enjoy MRI scans. I just put in my ear plugs, close my eyes, and often times fall asleep during the scan.

Now that I have a six inch metal rod holding my fibula together, I doubt that I'll be able to volunteer for any more MRI scans.