MRI scan

barbara12

Hi everyone
I have a MRI scan coming up, they gave me a booklet to read, the thing is has anyone any tips on getting through it.
I know this sounds a bit pathetic, but my only phobia is enclosed spaces, I don't mind spiders or heights...just that.
So any help would be appreciated.
Thankyou
Love
Barbara x

frogmorton

Hi Barbara

i ahve all teh phobias going but this is one of them so you knwo you acn listen to me!!

it takes about 20 mins. Unless it's your foot then you will be in the machine.

Suggest you close your eyes and keep them closed till you are out the other side.

They will give you head phones to protect your ears and so you can hear their instructions. If you are lucky they may play music to you if they do then you can count the songs...each one is about 3 mins long so you need about 7 of them.


They will tell you what is haoppeninga nd you will lie down maybe with a cushion under your knees if you need one.

The maching takes piccies and when it does it goes BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!!!!! Somethimes it goes DDDDDRRRRRRR!!!! DDDDDRRRRR!!!! VERY loud Barb so don't be shocked remember they are taking lots of piccies.

You can do it!

Charley my then 15 year old did it on her brain with a CAGE over her face so you acn do it too I promise

Love

Toni xx

dreamdaisy

This was covered quite recently I think, Barbara. One of the secrets is to close your eyes. The tunnel is open you can see through it, they talk to you and you are in touch with them via a call button, some hospitals play music or a radio station through the headphones you wear (the machine is very noisy), a number of scans could be taken, each lasting about five minutes - I have had a number of MRIs now and regard it as an opportunity to lie there and do nothing for half an hour. Another tip is to close your eyes. Bliss. Whilst keeping your eyes closed imagine yourself on a sunny Bahamian beach surrounded by gorgeous young men (or whatever takes your fancy) - it is even possible to nod off despite the noise - that usually happens because your eyes are closed.

MRIs are a very useful diagnostic tool for the doctors: focus on the fact that you will be helping those who are trying to help you. Keep your eyes closed. It will all be fine. DD

PS Close your eyes.

dreamdaisy

She's spot on, Barbara, it is very noisy. As well as the BANG BANG BANG and the DDDDRRRRR DDDDDDRRRRRR you can also have a kind of HMMMMNNNNGNNNNG HMMMMMMNNNNNGNNNG and a WUNWUNWUNWUN WUNWUNWUNWUN . It's one helluva racket. Watch out for hileena's bra - she's prone to leaving it plastered all over the scanner. DD

chris7

Hi Barbara

Oh my goodness, sounds like a right racket to put up with so I hope they do give you some ear phones and nice music to drown out the bangs there. I hope all goes well for you and I will be thinking of you Monday.
love and hugs (((( ))))
Chris

dachshund

Hi Barbara.
it's good you are having a mri it will find out what's
doing the pain and they will be able to help it.
try and have a good weekend.
joan xx

barbara12

A big thank you Toni DD Chris and Joan
Gosh you lots make me laugh, I can just see myself counting the bangs to see if Toni or DD were right.
Thank you Chris...I do hope things are going ok at work, I will email you
Joan thank you for your support, I hope you and Sue are well
Take care everyone and I will let you know if they have to hold me down with straps....
Love
Barbara xx

suzygirl

You can ask your gp for a sedative to help calm your nerves. They are used to the request and are quite happy to oblige.

barbara12

suzygirl wrote:

You can ask your gp for a sedative to help calm your nerves. They are used to the request and are quite happy to oblige.

Hi Suzygirl,
Thankyou for the advice, I may well do that,
Barbara x

dreamdaisy

In between scans it almost pants, it's odd, it's as though it's having a rest. Do you remember the sword fight sketch from Morecambe and Wise? They fight like devils then rest on their swords, having a breather.

I'm off to the den, I require some lovely opium-filled oblivion. You coming? It is Friday after all. DD

barbara12

dreamdaisy wrote:

In between scans it almost pants, it's odd, it's as though it's having a rest. Do you remember the sword fight sketch from Morecambe and Wise? They fight like devils then rest on their swords, having a breather.

I'm off to the den, I require some lovely opium-filled oblivion. You coming? It is Friday after all. DD

Go on then, I will just go and get the stash... see you there in 5
Barbara x

tillytop

Hi Barbara

My best advice is to take someone into the scanning room with you if you can. You need to tell the receptionist when you book in that this is what you would like to do because the person accompanying you will have to fill in a questionnaire to make sure it is safe for them to be exposed to a stong magnetic field around the scanner and they will have to make sure that they are not wearing metal and that they remove all jewellery, car keys etc.

Like you I am not good in confined spaces but I think that knowing what to expect is good so you can be prepared. The scariest thing for me was not being able to see out at all (my scans were for neck and brain so I was right in the tunnel both times) and how close the inside of the scanner was to my face. As the others have said it is also very noisy. But the second time when my husband was in the room with me, he was able to hold onto my feet and, although that sounds daft, the fact that I wasn't on my own made all the difference. The scanning people were very good though and told me that if I needed to come out for a bit, just to push the bell they gave me to hold. The first time I had music played to me (but it was very hard to hear cos of the banging) but the second time I didn't. I just closed my eyes tight and imagined that the banging was the noise of the River Dart ferry (Dartmouth being my favourite place in the whole world).

Really good luck with the scan Barbara.

Lots love Tillyxxx

minky67

Hi Barbara, I hope all goes well with your scan.
I tend to close my eyes then try to look up where i can see out of it (only a little bit) & steady breathing to try to keep myself calm.
I suffer from the inclosed phobia too.
Concerntrate on the music playing & think to myself ''it'll all be over in a minute''
Will be thinking of you
luv debs

valval

well not had one so can not help but the others have done such a good job you must have it covered but will hope in your pocket val

caterina57

I had an MRI scan on my head/neck I can only describe it as being in the middle of a wash machine cycle and a rap concert in relation to the noise. I was in for 45mins - I do not like enclosed spaces or loud noise - but I survived: just try to make some songs up in time with the beat or as someone else suggested pretend you are somewhere else completely. I wasn't offered music but was given a button to press if it got a bit too much.
Cath

barbara12

Thankyou Tillytop, Debs, Val, Cath, and Lynn
You are a lovely lot....I have a plan..I am going to pretend the noise is you lot tap dancing on top of the machine :shock: if I take my OH in, and I start to panic....so will he...I dont think the noise will bother me just the enclosed space....but many have gone through it so to speak :roll:
Thakyou again everyone
Love
Barbara xxx

caterina57

Thats a good plan Barbara - only with us lot it'll be more like clog dancing than tap dancing!
Cath

barbara12

caterina57 wrote:

Thats a good plan Barbara - only with us lot it'll be more like clog dancing than tap dancing!
Cath

Cath make all the noise you want....anything to distract me..
Barbara x

ironic

Hi Barbara,
Fingers crossed everything goes well tomorrow. I have organised the Bacup Clog dances complete with bells to be there for you. Not sure whether that is an improvement or not but it will be a distraction to everyone else!!!! :eek:

Soon be over Barbara and you will be one step nearer to getting some answers and hopefully some proper treatment.
Lv, Ix

skezier

Hi Barbara,

Oh I shall be with you as well flower and...

I hate tight spaces, wont go in lifts, rooms without windows etc but the scan...

Horrible it might be and the ear defenders do play music so the noises aren't as bad as the old ones where... they were all metal and you watched it all turning and nose.... it was like being strapped to a pneumatic drill...not that I ever have been....

Mush better ow a days and you will go in far enough for the back to see the day light at the top end if its like mine.

they did all of mine in 3 sections and the middle bit was the worst....

Listened to Scot Mills and just locked up but didn't push the panic button....

You can do that and they do try and make you comfortable so you going to be fine.

mine was abut 15 mins per section so if they just doing the lower ens you should be able to see the daylight and be out in about 15 mins... it will be ok.

I didn't keep my eyes shut, mine tend to go to abject horror but it does have to be done so I just had it ..... came out and burst into tears.... bit embarrassing but I don't like closed in spaces with no windows.....

Will be finished in time to jump into your pocket as well as a friends pocket and fay birthday party..... shall be leaping about Monday ((((( ))))) and it will be fine. Cris xx

frogmorton

Good plan Barb

I thought that too...others have done it - not many really panic most of us can hold it in. I took my daughter as l said and she was only 15 and slo a chap with a vevere learning disability so...yes you CAn do it.

If you want us dancing then dancing we shall be

Not sure Elna or Bobbyger can joint in JUST yet though

Love and hugs

Toni xx

chris7

Hi Barbara

I will be with you tomorrow just as soon as we get Cris to her appointment so don't forget the big pockets. Not sure about the dancing but I can do a mean shuffle!

Hope the nerves are holding up love and that they don't keep you waiting about too long. You are doing really well so hang in there.
love and hugs always
Chris xx

skezier

Hey Barbara tell you what ..... lets just leave our bodies to suffer what ever and nip up to fay's for birthday cake and tea

Will be in your pocket but possibly still sedated and as a friend of mine said cover your ears cus I don't half burble..... last time about Shaun the Sheep

Borrowed Jeff's bravery cloak so you put it on and you will be fine. Love and ((((( ))))) Cris xx

dreamdaisy

Good luck for today Barbara, honestly it won't be too bad. Lie there, eyes closed, and try to work out who is closest with the noises, me or frog! (or alternatively picture a Bahamian beach, white sand, blue sea, perfect sky, many young hunks of gorgeousness anointing you with sunscreen . . . . . ) Remember, it's 30 minutes of blissful indolence, nothing to do, nothing to see, nothing to say, your chance to chill out for a while. DD

barbara12

Thanyou Ironic, Toni, Chris, Cris, Lynn, and DD
Ironic..you clog dance all you want..the more the merrier
Toni...I will get through it...with or without straps
Chris..you shuffle away...you can take my place if you like...
Cris...I am on my way Roses party it is...good luck I am in your pocket...not thats an excuse not to go..
Lynn...no need to polish clogs ....just be there
DD I will do has I am told..always do :roll:
Thankyou again everyone it really does help...by the way its 4.30 so we can all be in Crises pocket first...
Love to you all
Barbara xx

dachshund

Hi Babara.
all the best for today just think they are looking at your back and they will be able to see whats causing
the pain. (i have a disc pressing on a nerve) i will be in your pocket or following you around.
joan xx