MRI SCAN

Tests and investigations
1

Re: the MRI scan, you don't get a PANIC button for no reason !! I have just tried to have the scan, but I couldn't go through with it ! My nurse said \" not to worry as over half the patients today could not go ahead either ! \"

The tunnel looked big enough not to be claustophobic, so I lay on the bed, closed my eyes & listened to Mamma Mia on my headphones. But what no one warned me about, was the fact that not only did the bed go into the tunnel, but the bed was also raised up as high as possible, so that I could not lift my hands up & the top of the tunnel was only a few inches from my nose !! It was like being in a toaster, with my hands at my side, but NO one had warned me that this was going to happen………………..

So I panicked & pressed the button to get out as soon as possible !

I hope this letter will help prepare patients for the MRI scan & it won’t be such a shock to them, as it was for me. :cry:

2

hi rosie

i had the same experience as you but how i got through mine i bought some of those black out eye things you put over your eyes to make it daek not a cheap pair couldn't see a thing they issued you with ear plugs as get in reallty clostrophobic if you need this mri scan to get diagnoised then you must have it done i never had a panici button put them on before you get on the bed and let them guide you the nurse shouldn't have told you that if it as to be done do try it again my way.good luck.

 

3

Hi

I've had numerous MRI's and I do remember my first but I thought if I press the panic button...2 things.....I'll not get a proper diagnosis or  I'll have to go through it again. So I stuck it out.

Dont know where you are ...I'm in the UK.....I've always had ear defenders...not just ear plugs.

Are you going to try it again to get a correct diagnosis?

Love

Eileen

4

i've had more than my fair share of MRIs and i follow a friend's advice - she told me to count up to whatever number i want. i sometimes get confused with the numbers and then i start all over again and eventually the 20 minutes is over.

nevertheless i don't like being in the tunnel and i particularly hate the noise it makes, even with the ear defenders.

and when the radiographer says that there is a handy mirror above my eyes in case i want to see her i just think she must be joking - i keep my eyes shut all the time.

but it is possible to ask for sedation if you are feeling very concerned about being in the tunnel.

hope you manage to get a successful scan.

5

This is to everyone.....a funny story really

Have any of you ever had an MRI in a mobile? {usually in the hospital car park} I had once. It was like a little caravan, divided into 2. The first place you took off your jewellry etc all the things that you wern't allowed and left them in a little box there. I had a loose blouse on and she said when you go in {to the other bit of it which was tiny} slip your blouse over your head take your bra off and put your arms back in your blouse again..OKSo far so good.  I had my blouse hanging round my neck, struggled to get my bra off, managed and then tried to get my arms back in my blouse and thought what do I do with this bra for the minute {you have to remember how small this was} so I set it on the bed...whooooosssshhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! The bra disappeared up through the hole  LOL  I was shocked and I opened the door to speak to the girl and said "It's gone"...whats gone? My bra...where? and I just pointed. I was shocked that it had gone like that. I thought what happens now. She went to a door and I thought she was going to do something technical.....NO....she got a brush out, stuck it along the hole and pulled the bra out that way  I then started to giggle

She said.....dont you dare have a fit of the giggles when you get in there ...I want you to stay still  LOL

It just shows how strong the magnets are doesnt it?

I laugh when I think about it now

Love

Eileen

 

6

Oh eileen

that is a very funny story...brilliant!

Made me laugh out loud...thanks for sharing!!

7

 

8

hi rosie update on the one ive just had again.

i have had 2 now not very nice first one was way back in the 1999 first one no panic button i did expect to have something as they dont give you any sedation or any ear plugs.

.

so thursday 28th i was well stocked up i bought 4 different prs tryed every one on before i went this time got to the hospital put all the 4 on i couldn't see a thing they guided me into the room got on table its so narrow you cant move your hands.

 put me a thing in my hand asked what it was as i had never had anything like this on my last one they told me it was a panic button put me some headphones on was listening to a radio station  as machince was going in the tunnel panic button got tangled i dragged the thing with me i was in for first 30mins i got on better this time then the stopped the machine pulled me back out told me they had to do some turnning with the machine  sat me up then started again in all i was in just 1hr but i don't no what you are going for so not every one must be in the machine for the same lenght of time.

the worst part of this was my back it hurt like mad but if you buy these what i call black out eye shades im sure it will make it much better for you .

good luck

christine  

9

I was conned into using a wider tunnel, instead of the elected anaesthetic i should have had. I had a major panic attack. You can be sedated just they seem to be really against it.

10

Hi

I have had about half a dozen MRI's over the years and have never been offered an anaesthetic, usually offered ear defenders.....except one time when they gave me little ear plugs and they were useless....when I spoke to my consultant later I said they were not to send me to that particular hospital for an MRI with no ear defnders.

They have always given me a panic button but I'venever used it.....I've wanted to but decided that I would just have to go through it all again if I pressed it.

Love

Eileen  UK

11

Im hoping I never need to have an MRI or CT Scan at all again. I know that wishful thinking with spinal defects but I am embarrassed to say at aged 38 I am petrified of the damn things

12

Hi

Will lets hope that you dont have to have one again

Maybe you would get an anaesthetic if you are really scared of them

Different areas seem to have different rules for all medical things

Good Luck

Love

Eileen

Oh di you read my post {cant remember where I put it} about an MRI I had.

It might make you laugh 

It was in a mobile....just like a caravan, one half you took your metal off etc and the other half was the MRI machine,

I left my stuff in a basket in the first section, she said just pop in, {I had a blouse on} and take off your bra, just teake your arms out of your blouse, take your bra off and put your arms back into the blouse again.  OK

So I'm in the second section, no room to move, my blouse hanging round my neck, my bra in my had and thinking what do I do with this while I get my arms back into my blouse   I set the bra down, on the MRI bed thingey {very technical I know } and all of a sudden...whisssshhhhhhh!!!!! the bra disappeared, up the bed and through the hole at the top {I'm being technical again}.....I was shocked.....put by head out the door and she said are you all right? All I could say was   "Its gone"    whats gone???? My bra,    where has it gone......in there and i pointed.....Ohhhhh!

Then she went to a cupboard and I thought she was going to do something technical to the machine......she got a brush out, stuck the brush along the machine, hooked the bra and pulled it out  There you are but you still have to have the MRI so I'll look after this until you are finished

I then started to see the funny side, that was only 2 little hooks that were metal so they must be strong magnets and i started to laugh. She then laughed and said now I dont want you laughing when I put you in there.....I want you still....so laugh now and get it over

It was funny when I looked back on it but it was a shock at the time

Love

Eileen   UK

 

13

Yes. I was OK at the start.   But they said there was a fault with the computer, and they asked me to  stay in it for much longer than usual.   So  I would not want another one again.

14

Hi, I'm just wondering how long the wait normally is for results for MRI scan and what the norm is for receiving them; do you get a letter if it's good or bad news or do they ring you sooner if it's bad news? I had the scan 2 weeks ago and haven't heard anything but when I came out, they said to phone up the hospital a week later, but when I phoned, they said the final report wasn't ready yet, should I be worried? I was also in the scanner for about 45mins altogether and had to have dye into my arm and buscopan. Any information would be helpful as the wait is making me worry!