The differences in hospitals, 3T MRI's and how it affects you?

[Sidesteps]

I had my MRI (thoracic and brain) today. Wowie!

It was a fairly pleasant experience (they gave me nice music and aroma therapy eye protectors) for a 1 1/2 hour MRI.  

One thing I was a little surprised  by was that it caused my core temperature to rise....which of course, flared my symptoms. When I noticed the sensation and increase in symptoms, I wondered if I was having an anxiety attack (even though I wasn't stressed and my symptoms were increasing) so I asked the technician, "I feel a bit warm. Is that normal?" He explained that due to the frequency the 3T is at it will increase your core body temperature. Well... alrighty!

It took quite awhile for my body to cool off. The twitching, jerking and tremor's have decreased but I'm still left with my wonderful eye/face pain. Anyone else notice this?  

The other thing, I could see the difference in the care between where I was previously (standing imaging facility) vs this facility (MS facility). They did everything to protocol - this MRI took 3 times as long as my other ones. They did the contrast and waited about 5 or more minutes to let the contrast work before starting the rest of my spine and brain segments again. The other place started immediately. They told me why they were taking a break and to not move still so everything can be lined up.  

I would have had my results today, I had an appointment that followed these, but my doctor took an extended holiday (who can blame her!) She told me that she would call me the first part of next week but I think I will have access to the report in my online chart. The technician informed me this should really give a pretty clear view if I had a lesion and couple questionable areas. I wonder where this will lead me next.

Did y'all have any surprises and did you notice a difference between your 1.5T and 3T?

[immisceo]

This is a rather old thread, but you can find some of her impressions and information here. http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/Details-on-my-7T-MRI-todaythe-machine/show/757557

[valerieev]

Wow, where did you get a 7T MRI?

[Sidesteps]

It's the new Swedish Hospital in Issaquah. I think they opened in July. I PM'd you. :)

[maxthecat9196]

Well, there is another one at the University Medical Center.  - I don't know if there are cafe's and Starbucks there...

Tammy

[maxthecat9196]

We live in the same general area.  I think we were at the same hospital, cause there isn't another 3T in Billy's neighborhood!  I only had one of my brain so far.  Too bad my sinus infection prevented me from enjoying the aromatherapy LOL!

Tammy

[Sidesteps]

Sadie -

I didn't have the symptoms during the brain one either, just the spinal. That was also where I felt the core temp rising.

I am now wondering if the twitching/jerking is indicative of something in my spine now. I am anxious for the results.

Do you have lesions in your spine?

[sadie405]

Count me in as someone who immediately falls asleep in the MRI tube. You would think the clanging and banging would keep me up but I become like a newborn in a bowling alley.:)

Thanks for the interesting info on core temps going up-- I had serious leg jerking during my last spinal MRI(which unfortunately didn't help the image quality) but I've never had it during a brain one.

[Sidesteps]

Thank you Shell -

It's like going to the mall and spa. I am not kidding. The waiting rooms are set up with leather chairs in little seating groups (like going to a coffee house) with plasma screens and fireplaces. Cracks me up! Most importantly, it's one of the best hospital and research facilities in the area.

I hope for answers as well. I hope to know by Tuesday afternoon.

[sllowe]

Wow is right, SS. You got the treatment. What an experience! Aromatheraphy even, lol

I've never had the 3T, but we had sure  hope the higher power shows more for you :)

Wishing you some answers in the new year!
shell

[Sidesteps]

The cervical was imaged last December. There are suspicious areas (in my brain stem and cerebellum) but they thought they were artifacts. She felt based on my neuro examinations that my symptoms are more thoracic and brain.

Oh man Lulu, I wondered if the report wouldn't show online. *frowny face* At the same time, I feel a strange peace with all of this now.

I wasn't asked my weight either. I was asked my height. That's it.

It was the thoracic that caused the heating. He told me I would not notice it with the brain which is true, I didn't. It was just in my core. It wasn't uncomfortable and I wonder if most people would notice. I just happened to have been cold (breeze from the fans) and noticed I felt flushed rather quickly. I have been nearly symptoms free (comparitively to before) so an increase in symptoms is a red flag now. The flushing took nearly 1 hour to go away and I'm still fighting this dang eye/face thing I had for nearly 10 months but rarely for the last 3 months. It's all so puzzling.

As for the aromatherapy? I am very relaxed in the MRI. I usually doze off but this machine was VERY VERY loud. Oh man, I wanted to giggle about that aromatherapy. I do have to admit, this hospital is probably in the one of the most upscale neighborhoods in our State. Think Bill Gates. :) It has a Starbucks and several upscale boutique stores - yoga, decorative, etc. I feel very spoiled going there. I know I'm in good hands with all that is offered (3T machines and private rehabilitation clinics onsite) and that is my focus.

I am hoping that the 3mm slices vs 5mm slices and having a 3T will give us a solid window into what's going on with my body. If we don't have a clear answer I may ask about repeat EMG's and a muscle biopsy. She ruled out migraines. I'm not sure what else this could be so I feel pretty confident (as does my Neuro Ophth) that this is MS, we just need more evidence. I promise to update as soon as I know more. :)

[Lulu54]

Sorry you felt like you were cooking in the tube.I have never had a problem with heating in either the 1.5, the 3 or the 7T MRI's and I have been in them all a number of times.  I have also never been asked how much I weigh for any MRI.

I skipped  first year physics so the 2nd year basics technical  stuff is well beyond me and I don't make heads or tails out of it. But I can talk about the differences between all the different MRIs, length of time for testing  and all that other stuff.  I found the 3t took longer than the 1.5.  And there is definitely a different sound pattern to all of them.

Now what I want to know from you is how do I get that aroma therapy?  It sounds like the perfect touch to being confined for a longer period of time.  I tend to fall asleep while I am having an MRI done - it is the perfect relaxation zone for me.

Doing the MRI to MS protocol from what I know is probably more important than the strength of the machine.  You mention the thoracic but did you also have the cervical spine imaged?

Keep us posted and let us know if your records show up electronically.  I have electronic health records through the MS clinic, but these radiology reports are never listed there.  I get a paper copy from the lab or my doctor.

best,
Lulu

[Buffy1970]

I heat up and get more quirky with each mri.  Seems almost like they get progressively worse but it doesn't correlate to findings.  Last one was the worst feeling but best mri.

Luck.

[COBOB]

OK.  This gets into MRI and molecular physics.  This is basic 2nd year university physics stuff (V cross B/Hall effect)   For protons (hydrogen nuclei), the Larmor frequency is 42.58 MHz/Tesla.  So a 3.0 Tesla MRI (127.74 MHz) is double the Larmor frequency of a 1.5 Tesla (85.16MHz) .  

So all the water molecules line up in the same direction when the magnet is on.  They pulse an RF Generator at 127.74 MHz and during the pulse, the hydrogen protons spin 180 degrees from the magnetic field.  Once the RF pulse is turned off, they spin back to the direction of the magnetic field.  

The "banging" you hear in the bore is the RF Field turning on and off.  In the 1.5 T the measure the "spin echo".  They turn the pulses on for a longer period of time.  In the 3.0 Tesla units, they use shorter RF pulses and measure the "gradient echo", so rather than 180 degree spin shifts they may only look for 90 or 45 degree spin shifts.

They do this to limit the RF exposure.  The more RF, the more you heat up.  Think of a microwave oven and rather that cooking at 100% they cook at 30%.  It is the same basic idea.  

This is why they ask you how much you weigh before an MRI.  It is not what the table can hold, but it is used to calculate how much RF your body can be exposed to (SAR.)

You can get a pretty good technical overview at http://www.mr-tip.com/ and look under Larmor Frequency.  The T1/T2/FLAIR/STIR techniques are ratios of the RF ON (excite,) RF OFF (Relax) and a few other settings.  There are also some special techniques where they use frequencies other than the Larmor Frequency to do MRS (Spectroscopy,) fMRI (Functional MRI) and MT-MRI (Magnetic Transfer MRI.)

Bob