What to expect when I get the MRI?

Hi, everyone.

I get my first MRI tomorrow. I'm a little nervous, not because I'm afraid they'll find something (I hope they do - I want someone to be able to tell me something!), but because I've seen too many episodes of House! :-)

(For those who don't watch, it's not unheard of for a patient on that show to have a forgotten piece of metal in his or her body - which then gets ripped out by the MRI.)

I'm pretty sure I don't have a forgotten piece of metal in my head (although the dentist who did my root canals wasn't very good - hope he didn't leave any of those tiny metal brushes behind, lol), but that does get me thinking about others' MRI complaints.

Did you feel claustrophobic in the machine? I've heard that one a lot.

How long should the process take? (I'm only having my brain scanned, if that helps.)

[Sarahsmom46]

I have had numerous MRIs and I understand why you are feeling a little anxious about this being your first one. Really, it is a test much like an X-Ray or CT if you have had either of these images before, except that it is a bit noisy.  You don't feel anything, but you will hear lots of strange noises like clicks and buzzing and so forth while the radio waves are creating images of your spine, brain or whatever you are having imaged.  

You will likely be having Gadolinium or contrast injected towards the end of the MR.  The contrast helps "lighten" up any lesions that are in the white matter of your brain or spine.  If you do get the contrast, you will need to drink lots of fluids to help flush the it out of your system. I hope the technician who does your scan reminds you to do this as well.  

Overall, you will find an MRI to be a pretty simple and straightforward test.  The hard part will be waiting for the report to be written up and sent to the doctor to get the findings.  

Good-luck and I hope the results will be helpful in finding out what is wrong with you.  

Take good care and please let us know how it turns out.  

-Julie

[Lulu54]

I am laughing at the thought of the forgotten dental instrument being ripped out through your nostrils by the force of the MRI! That's a good one, but ain't gonna happen to you!

The brain MRI will take about 45-60 minutes, depending on how well you can stay still.  When you are in the machine, you will be given a PANIC button that you can push if you need to reach the technician. If you need to, you can halt the test, but I don't think that will happen to you either.

The machine is going to do several things - the most obvious will be to make very loud noises (think jackhammers and car horns ) . They will give you earplugs to wear during the test that will mute the sounds of the machine.  The series of images always starts with a distinctive TAP TAP TAP ... and then the symphony of sounds begin.  The technician will talk to you to let you know what is going to happen next. Their voice is piped into the machine,

You may also feel vibrations on the table - think of it as a free massage - are you old enough to remember the magic fingers massage units in hotel rooms that you put a quarter in and got 10 minutes of bed shaking?  That was always fun.

As for the claustrophobia, do you have that problem in small spaces already?  If you don't you will probably be fine.  Most MRI's are not totally enclosed - they are more like giant doughnut shapes and your whole body is not in the tube.  You may be uncomfortable that they brace your head so  you can't move during the imaging. But  You don't want blurred pictures, right?  It  is a necessary part of the procedure.  

Personally I find it best to close my eyes and keep them closed when going into the tube and during the test - use this time to practice whatever meditation technique you might know. I used to do spelunking in high school and the experience of the MRI reminds me a lot of that - being in a cave deep underground with little crawl space above or below me.  

Don't forget to breathe while you are being imaged.  I mean those deep relaxing breaths that will help to keep you calm.

I hope some of this helps - be sure to let us know Monday night how it goes for you!

my best,
Lulu

[HVAC]

To Trace,
   Thank God House is fiction. House and ER make you think everyone in a hospital gets there heart shocked which is also fiction.
   I am having  MRI number 4 this week. I get a sedative because I wiggle when I am nervous. I try to think of something happy before I go in to concentrate on. For me it is my snuggly cat who likes to purr and kiss my nose or petting my soft dalmatians.. Mostly I let my mind try to go with the rhythm of the clicks of the machine and fall asleep.There is really nothing to it. I always wear sweats with no metal zippers or snaps so I don't have to wear a gown. I try not to give it another thought until I see my Neurologist for the results.
                       Alex

[Trace420]

Thanks, everyone! You've all made me feel a lot more confident and prepared. I'll let you know how it goes. And HVAC, thanks for the reminder about the zippers. I wouldn't have even thought of that - it will be much nicer to dress prepared and skip the gown!

[rendean]

Hi,
All of the posts  and information provided were excellent. The only thing I would add is IF you are claustrophobic or think being in the machine will bother you, just ask the the tech to place a folded washcloth over your eyes. That way when you open them all you see is washcloth and then you can go back to your "happy place" and meditate as Lulu suggested. Works great!

Good luck!
Rendean

[Lulu54]

they will have you remove your bra too because the metal clasps on the back tend to wiggle under the influence of the magnets and will bug you.  I watched a young woman also have to take her pony tail holder out of her hair because it had metal in it and was making a weird image in her head MRI.

You will do fine!!!

Knowledge is power!
Lulu

[shortsy]

I had a brain and spinal scan today.  Like you I am claustrophobic.  About one hour before a took some ativan and just breezed through it, actually dozed off.  It's so easy you will look back and wonder why you were so worried.  It's a piece of cake really.

[sllowe]

Good luck to you today, Trace.  Let us know how you made out.  

Hope the pics tell the tale - for you too Shortsy!

-Shell

[shortsy]

Thanks Shell, MRI did not reveal anything other than two small white spots that the neurologist said he was not concerned about?? So no answers yet, next step Spinal Tap.  

Shortsy