Have you ever had an MRI?

[Skywalker]

I am going for one tomorrow and I am starting to get freaked out. Is it like being in a coffin or something? How long did it take? Was it a really uncomfortable experience or tolerable? I'm just curious to hear about it, because I've never been for one before. Thanks.

 

[DawnCt1]

I had an MRI of my foot, which wasn't a big deal and of my neck. They give you an eye cover to wear if you don't want to see how close you are to the top of the machine, headphone's to listen to music and to receive instructions. Its a bit noisy but other than that, no big deal.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I've had a couple of brain MRIs. They're not too bad. The last one was an open MRI so I wasn't too closed in. It was noisy with lots of clicking type sounds and they gave me earplugs so it wasn't too loud. I had fun imagining what the clicks sounded like (I'm easily entertained and a cheap date ). I don't remember exactly how long it was, but that can differ depending on the type of MRI. I think about 20-30 minutes for mine. For me at least it wasn't anything to dread.

 

[luvwinnie]

Since I get claustrophobic, I took a muscle relaxer and pretended I was on a Disney ride!

 

[Parkhopper]

I have had several brain MRI's as well. I just close my eyes and drift off to sleep. There is a lot of clicking/banging noises, but it doesn't really bother me.

Good luck to you!

Suzi

 

[CEDmom]

I had one a few years ago on my knee. I was only in the machine up to my shoulders. I'm sure those in all the way had a different experience. Anyway, it wasn't bad at all but it is loud and you do have to stay still. They did have headphones and different music choices so that helped. I know some where you go in all the way have TVs. Hope all goes well for you.

 

[imsorry]

I've had a couple - I almost fell asleep! Try not to over think it - it's over pretty quickly. Just try to relax!

 

[Christine]

I just had one last month of my spine and pelvis and I was all the way in, although they put me in feet first.

Anyway, I have terrible panic disorder but the machine did not bother me at all. I had my usual "nerves" while there, but it did not escalate into anything more than that and by the end of the time, I was fairly comfy.

I had two studies: the lower spine took about 15 minutes. Then they pulled me out and readjusted me and the pelvis took about 25 minutes.

 

[huckster]

i have had back , brain and foot .. foot was easy head and back very bad for me i hate being closed in they gave me valuim and off to sleep i went . longest ive been in there was 45 mins there is alot of banging as others posted, dont wear metal . let them know if you have any metal in your body

 

[DebMcDonald]

I've had too many to count, head, spine, and hip, head and spine several times. The noise is loud but they give you ear plugs, some places will also provide music (earphones), but depending on if it's your head or not and the type of machine, they might not be able to. I think I have fallen asleep most times, as the noise is loud, but almost like a white noise. I always keep my eyes closed as then I don't concentrate on the small space. Also if it's your head they put this "cage" over it. It takes anywhere from 30-45 minutes, one time when it was my head and spine it took over 1.5 hours and that was too long, emotionally and for the fact that you had to stay still. You can always ask your doctor for something to take right before, just to relax you - they normally give Ativan, right under your tongue - not swallowed just prior.

 

[akhenaten]

I had one of my head and it can psych you out!

It was about 20-30 minutes and although I rarely do so ..I prayed the rosary (using my fingers as beads) It helped me to focus on something other than the "confinement"

Good luck to you...you will be fine....

 

[hiwaygal]

I absolutely hate them!!! Sorry if this makes you feel worse...but I simply cannot go into one of those things without losing it! I have tried...every single time I've had one, I've really tried...but then my nose itches and I can't reach up to scratch it without feeling that "tube" around me...and I freak out!!!

See if you can find an open one (better, but still "close"), they're not as clear with the images, but I won't go to the "closed" ones anymore!

If you must do the closed one, ask your doc for a valium or something!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I've had three MRIs - two laying on my back and one laying on my stomach, all three all the way in the machine. I am not claustrophobic usually but I will admit I did not like being in that machine one little bit. It helped that the staff were reassuring and that they placed a call button in my hand which I white-knuckeld the entire time. They also talked to me through the headphones and asked if I was doing ok, etc. (It's important to wear the headphones since the loud noise of the magnetic field can actually cause hearing loss).

The only part that I got pretty nervous about was when they inject dye into your vein, then they put you back in the machine. It was probably irrational but I was afraid I might have a reaction to the dye and nobody would know it (LOL, that's what happens when nurses become patients ). I was fine and after the first time I hardly gave it another thought. It certainly wouldn't hurt to take something like valium if you think it would help.

Good luck.

 

[Christine]

they placed a call button in my hand which I white-knuckeld the entire time.

I had one of these put in my hand too and, I swear, that little thing saved my life in there. I just gripped on to that thing and it seemed really helpful for some reason that I had something in my hand.

Fortunately, I did not have a contrast (dye injection) MRI.

 

[horseshowmom]

I'm claustrophobic, and I was scared to death (and I'm normally a very rational person). My doctor prescribed something for me to take 30 minutes before the test (I thought, "Yeah, sure, right, this is really going to help - NOT!").

Much to my surprise, the medicine did work. I kept my eyes closed most of the time and made it very well (mine was close to a hour).

If you're nervous, I'd be very frank with your doctor (or nurse if you need to call in), and they can give you something that will help a lot.

Good luck!

 

[ToriLammy]

I have had several brain MRI's as well. I just close my eyes and drift off to sleep. There is a lot of clicking/banging noises, but it doesn't really bother me.

Good luck to you!

Suzi

Same here, several brain MRIs due to a seizure I had and them finding a cyst in my brain. The place I go to has music piped in (no headphones) and they always put on whatever station I want. It really can be restful and the time flies for me. You'll be fine.

 

[Skywalker]

Thank you for your experiences. I am still freaked out, but knowing that others have been through it makes me feel better for some reason. They will be checking my head/brain, I guess I will be going all the way in. I'll just be praying it goes fast.

I have another question...do you just wear your regular clothes or do they put you in a hospital gown? Yes, I am obsessing about every aspect of this. LOL.

 

[Christine]

Thank you for your experiences. I am still freaked out, but knowing that others have been through it makes me feel better for some reason. They will be checking my head/brain, I guess I will be going all the way in. I'll just be praying it goes fast.

I have another question...do you just wear your regular clothes or do they put you in a hospital gown? Yes, I am obsessing about every aspect of this. LOL.

Many years ago (1998), I had a head/neck MRI and they let me wear my clothes. The place I went to last month for my back MRI, made me change into a hospital gown. They will probably make you do this. I think they really want to make sure you don't have any metal on you and pants, bras, etc, can all have metal "stuff" on them.

 

[Skywalker]

Many years ago (1998), I had a head/neck MRI and they let me wear my clothes. The place I went to last month for my back MRI, made me change into a hospital gown. They will probably make you do this. I think they really want to make sure you don't have any metal on you and pants, bras, etc, can all have metal "stuff" on them.

Ah, good to know. Thank you.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Good luck to you--with the MRI and the results.
I had an MRI of my hips--and I didn't handle it well at all. Can't explain why--everything everyone else has described is true--confined, loud noises/clicks, headphones, call button--but I also felt lots of vibrations and the area of the MRI got really warm. Halfway through I started psycheing myself out and crying, thinking all kinds of horrid things...
I don't like enclosed spaces (nearly passed out trying to do some repairs under my kitchen sink, for goodness sake!), and should have had a sedative before I went in. If I ever need another one, I will definitely ask for something!
So, if you're prone to claustrophobia, ask for something to soothe you.
And yes, you will probably need to change clothes--no metal allowed.