MRI with contrast...FREAKING OUT! **UPDATE p.4 - Thanks to all of you! :)

[mr.bungle]

I've had 3 MRI's of the brain with contrast in the last 2 years. I was kind of freaked out myself and get a little nervous when they put the "cage" over my head. Just make a song out of the noises or see if they have music or radio to listen to.

The first time I went to a band new facility and was able to have a set of goggles to watch a DVD, that helped a lot! I watched episodes of the Simpsons and it helped me gauge the amount of time I was in there.

The second one, I didn't get anything. My insurance had changed so I had to go to a ghetto facility. I just made a song out of the noises and thought about what I had to do that week.

The third one I had in another facility since I moved. They at least gave me headphones and let me listen to the radio so that was nice.

You'll be fine. Good luck to you.

 

[Ppufi]

Another thing: make sure you are completely comfortable before they get you situated! After a while if you are positioned funny it will HURT to stay in place. And don't move between no-contrast/contrast if they pull you out to inject it. I wasn't told this and thought I could get up and stretch, and I started to move but asked if I could and was told "NO! DON'T MOVE". -eye roll- If your facility doesn't have the video eye goggles, I suggest closing your eyes and picturing your favorite movie, pet, your kids, WDW, something happy.

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

I had one several years ago for a really bad sinus issue. I wasn't told that I would be in the machine for nearly 90 minutes until they put me in it and I wasn't happy!

What did help is that I wore sweat pants (no metal) and my favorite tshirt (my usual outfit when I don't feel well) AND the MRI facility gave me warm blankets since the room was so cold.

I too had to wear the head mask....I felt a bit like Hannibal Lechter (sp)...and I'm claustrophobic! I just kept making a Christmas list, grocery list, etc. Anything I could do to keep my mind off the test.

The contrast die is fine. I was told to drink several glasses of water afterwards to help my kidneys flush it out of my body.

Don't worry....you'll be fine. Oh, and since you're on the Disboards....my favorite brain occupier is to list all of the rides in Disney World and think about the order in which I'll ride them on my next trip. Heck, I even do this at the GYN's office!

K

 

[mookie]

well...the day is here...and I'm still nervous, but I know that won't go away. Please send good vibes and positive thoughts....I leave in a few short hours!

 

[JessicaR]

How did you do Mookie? I bet relieved that its over.

 

[mookie]

How did you do Mookie? I bet relieved that its over.

Well, I just got back a few hours ago...and you all were so right....the Valium worked like a charm! I made sure to close my eyes the entire time. I wasn't even tempted to open them once! I did have the cage over my face with the mirror, but I didn't even realize it was there because I kept my eyes closed. They gave me headphones with Sirrus Radio on it, which was nice, except for when I had to do the neck part, because they wouldn't let me have them on for that. (they gave me earplugs instead.)

But the sounds were definitely loud. I kept thinking of all of the comments on this thread to keep me calm...so you all were "there" with me! The one thing that did strike me funny was that some of the sounds did sound like a rap song or some crazy techno, so I had to keep from laughing!

But all in all it went pretty well. I was definitely nervous, but the MRI tech sensed it and made me feel at ease. It was nice that it was broken up into increments, so I didn't have to be in there for the full hour and a half. They would pull me out every 20 min or so to rearrange things, put on a new head thing, put in the dye, etc. So it really didn't feel like that long. The contrast dye wasn't bad at all....it felt cold going in, but that's it. I didn't feel nauseous or anything!

They gave me copies of my scans to take to my neuro appt. Of course I looked at them and tried to find something wrong with me, which was just plain stupid. I told DH to put them away so I wouldn't stress about that anymore. Now I just wait for the results.....I'm thinking this part might be even harder than the MRI itself now!

Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement and support. I love when I can count on all my DIS buddies!

 

[hellokitty86]

I'm so glad it went ok! Now I hope you get good results soon!

 

[ScottOKW2K]

The machine is loud so music works but books on tape don't. They should even have CD player there they can pump in for you so bring your own in case the satellite is down.

They rest your head loosely in an open helmet sort of thing to keep it steady. You can move if you need to but it will only make them re-do the section, which is why the sedative is very good. Take it about a half hour before the procedure so you are relaxed. you will be laying on a long operating room type table which slides in & out. It usually gets very cold in there to keep the machines cold so dress warm with warm socks, I always do. Where very comfy clothes so you don't feel the need to reposition yourself.

Actually the machines are designed to be operated at the same temperature range you are comfortable at. During the scan there is rf (radio frequency ) energy being transmitted into object being scanned. Depending on the type of scan being performed and the part of the body being imaged there may be some (very slight ) warming due to the rf. The room is being kept cool to help keep YOU comfortable. If it is too cool you can always ask for a sheet or blanket - they always have some there.

Once you are in there the tech can talk to you and see you, and you can hear him/her and probably look around the room with a little mirror affixed in the helment thing. Focus on the mirror, it's calming, or close your eyes and rest. Once the test starts it will sound like a loud whirring around you as the machine spins itself inside the metal casing it's made of, you can't see it but you sure can hear it. The test runs in increments as they do sections with little breaks in between.

You are describing a CT scan, not an MRI. The very LAST thing you want is something spinning around in a magnet field. What you have just described is an electric generator . Inside the MRI unit everything is fixed in place. It HAS to be - any small disturbance in the magnetic field would destroy the image quality ! You will hear what sounds like a loud banging - that is the pulsing of the current in the magnet gradient coils. Perfectly normal and necessary.

The will probably give you the IV when they start the procedure but won't actually inject the contrast into the line until the 2nd half. they have always pulled me out for the injection.

I don't know what hoopla you've heard about the contrast but it's no biggie wow wow in my experience, and I've had it plenty. Basically they just inject the stuff into the IV line that is already there. The sensation only lasts seconds (I'll say one minute to be generous) and seems gone in a blink of an eye. I guess the closest sensation could be described as though you went to the bathroom but I really think that's a bit of a dramatization. It just feels like a warmth spreading from those parts and then it's gone. Also, you are quite in control of your bladder, it's a fake sensation, that's all but I guess it would be alarming if you weren't warned so that's why they do it.

Good luck and try to stay calm about it, sometimes people make things out to be much worse than they are. No matter what the Valium will help, just don't take too much and try to drive home because it's potent.

Pretty accurate here. Good job !

 

[mommasita]

Glad it is over for you! I hope all is clear

 

[smartkim]

Just now saw your post. Glad everything went ok!

I knew you could do it!! I hope it wasn't as bad as you thought it would be! Now as for waiting on the results, that's nerve-racking! Don't wait on the doctor's office, they will take their sweet time about getting back to you. Normal wait time for results is 2 business days. Since this is a Holiday weekend, I would suggest calling their office before the end of the workday tomorrow and let them know you would like to know something before their office closes for the Holiday. They may not tell you anything but it's worth a try!

Good luck with the results and God bless you!

Kim