who's had an MRI? I have a few quick questions.

[laurie31]

Adding to what everyone has said -

Yes, NO metal at all....except...(whispers) gold isn't affected by magnetism, so if your wedding band is gold, the you can leave it on. They will ask you to take it off because the all or none policy is easier, and if your band isn't gold, then it MUST come off, but if you say you know it's gold and you don't want to take it off, they won't make you.

Also - the magnet can ruin the magnetic strip on the back of your credit cards. Leave them at home if you can; if you have to bring them at least don't get them near the MRI. You'll have non-functional cards. Also, make sure your cell phone doesn't get brought into the room.

The banging really does sound like there's a construction site with several jackhammers in the room, but remember that nothing will touch you or hurt you - it's just noise.

 

[disfan07]

I just had a head MRI 3 weeks ago.

I wore sweat pants, a t-shirt and sneakers. I was allowed to keep on my sweat pants and my sneakers but had to change into a gown as well.

No jewelry, no hair accesories, no nothing.

At our hospital, you are allowed to bring a CD with you so I was given earplus plus headphones and listened to my CD

I had it with contrast. They did the first part without contrast (took about 30 mins.) and than they put in an IV and injected the contrast and than removed the IV and the second part took about 20 mins. I was in the room for about an hour total.

I took Atarax about an hour before the MRI and I was kind of in and out thorughout the MRI. Atarax is an anti anxiety so I was aware of what was going on but I couldn't have cared less about what was going on. It basically relaxed me because I get panic attacks if I have to be on my back for an extended period of time.

I don't know how it is set up where you are going but where I go, there is a dressing room that is no where near the MRI machines (it's a huge imaging place) which has lockers so it doesn't matter what you have with you (credit cards, etc) because they don't go anywhere near the MRI machine.

 

[luvthatdisney]

I was one of the few that cannot tolerate MRI's

I had to have one of my head last summer and tried twice, but I am not able to lay flat for long periods of time and I knew that before I went in. About a week before my first attempt, I had a CT scan of my sinuses. It only lasted about 5 minutes, but I almost had a panic attack then. I was just about ready to climb out, but the bed slid out. Whew...that was close!

When I tried the MRI the first time I told them of my experience in the CT scan and they said I would be alright...WRONG! They slid me in and out several times, but I guess I have clausterphobia and did not know it. They said they have an open MRI at another location and I could try that. Well, I did a few weeks later. My doctor gave me Valium, but it did not help. I still got very freaked out. Especially when they put the head guard on me. It did not touch my face. I was okay with it until they slid me into the tube. I just get a panicky feeling I cant describe. I just know I need out!!!!

Needless to say my only other option was being put to sleep to have it done, which is what I did. I had IV sedation and do not remember a thing!! It was definately more expensive, but I guess that is what it takes for me.

Don't worry, I think I am the exception to the rule. Most people have no problems with it. What is funny is that I used to tan alot (dont anymore as my DS has melanoma, learned a very hard lesson about tanning) and never had a problem lying in a tanning bed with the top down touching my face.

Good luck!!!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

I have had several MRI's of the head/neck area both with and without contrast. And one open MRI as well. Here are my observations and I hope they help you :

It is loud, just like everybody else said. Be prepared for it and it won't bother you a bit. Me, I had no idea it would sound like hammers smacking around so I jumped and the technician asked me to please be still and try to sleep if I could! Ya, right! No jewelry and I had to change into a gown.

I didn't have headphones but they piped in music which was nice. Just close your eyes and imagine you're watching Wishes at Disney! The tech. occasionally spoke to let me know how much longer the next series of images would take. That was helpful actually since it's not like you have a clock in there!

They gave me a special button to push in case I needed to come out. I nearly pushed it several times but remembered that the tech. said if I came out, I'd still have to go back in. So I just perservered!

My best advice? Keep your eyes closed. Seriously closed. As soon as I layed down, I shut my eyes but once I was inside the tube, I opened them out of sheer curiosity and nearly had a panic attack. I am very claustrophobic which I didn't know till that moment. The tube isn't very large inside and it feels like it's right on top of you. Soooo, close those eyes honey!

The contrast feels strange. It's a warm sensation that courses through your body and then made me feel like I had to pee. They warned me of it though. Doesn't hurt or anything like that, just feels odd. It goes away after about 15 minutes.

My MRI's lasted 1 1/2 hours and I thought of things that made me happy while inside....my DH, playing with my kids, going on vacation, the day I got married, the day my babies were born and food that I love!

Just try to relax, breathe evenly and you'll be fine. Good luck!

 

[torinsmom]

I have had quite a few MRIs of my brain and they aren't too bad. I don't know how they expect anyone to listen to music though, because it is like you are inside a washing machine or something! It is so loud, that I told them I found it ironic that in order to find out what was causing my headaches, they had to give me one.

I have them put a washcloth over my eyes and I don't open them the whole time. I just think happy thoughts, like what we will do at WDW on our next trip. Pretend like you are lying on the beach or something and not in that tiny tube. And remember that you can push your little button any time you want and they will have you out in a few seconds.

I did with and without contrast. I didn't like the feeling I got when the contrast went in, but it went away pretty quickly. They told me the contrast would help them see how the spinal fluid was flowing through my spinal canal and brain.

In all mine, they have talked to me and said things like "Here comes the next one. It will take 10 minutes." You can ask them questions too if you want.

Marsha

 

[mickeyboat]

My experience was similar to everyone else's. They offered me something to cover my eyes. It was a little heavy and kept me from being tempted to open my eyes. I knew if I did I would panic.

Good luck!

 

[RyeCrimsonMoon]

Like a PP, I had to do two of my wrist. One on my stomach with my arm reaching up into the machine and one on my back. I fell asleep both times. It's loud, but they gave me some earplugs (that went really deep into my ears, apparently I have weirdly shaped ear canals). It kind of sounds like you forgot to take something out of your pants when you washed them. Annoying, but not too obnoxious.

Mine took about 30-45 minutes. I don't remember having to change, I think I made a comment about the metal in my jeans and they said I'll be fine. I also didn't do mine in a hospital (I don't know where everyone else got theirs) it felt more like a private practice kind of thing, I was sent there by an Orthopedic doctor though.

My biggest tip is not to move when you're in there or else you'll have to restart.

 

[MinnieTink]

I had to have one with my MRI 2 weeks ago. I believe its because mine called for "with contrast". I also had to drink this really nasty stuff the night before and day of. For me they were looking at pelvis and abdomen. I had an open mri and took about 10 minutes.

That sounds like a CT scan.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

I had an MRI on my back two summers ago. Because it was all of my back, it was a closed-MRI, not open.

I brought along a comforting CD to help me through it. If they let you, you definately should; it'll help a lot!

I wore a t-shirt and stretchy pants without zippers/buttons/etc. Those are fine; as long as you take off all jewelery, you should be able to get away with a comfy outfit.

Mine was about 45 minutes or so. It all really depends on the technician running the MRI, how well the pictures come out, and how big of an area is being done.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

I just wanted to pop in and say a quick thanks to everyone for posting their comments and experiences to this thread (and to the OP for asking the question)!! I had a MRI this morning of my lower back, and reading this thread helped me to prepare. I wore sweat pants, a t-shirt, sports bra and no jewelry so the tech did not make me change into a gown.

I am extremely claustrophobic and was worried about how I would do in the machine. I have previously had a CAT scan of my head and that wasn't too bad. However, the MRI felt much more confining and they had to put my entire body in the tube (I told dh I felt like I was in a casket). I kept my eyes closed tight and concentrated on breathing. Because of the noise, I couldn't keep focused on staying in my "happy place" but fortunately it only took 25 minutes and I was out of there.