Has anyone here had an MRI scan

Has anyone here had an MRI scan
I have to have one and the lady who booked it for me said it would take an hour and a quarter

Re: Has anyone here had an MRI scan

Yes, it can take up to that. I have had two. They give you headphones to wear but my first lot weren't a tight fit, but on the second one I had a tight fitting pair. I also put in wax earplugs because it is incredibly noisy!!! And I do mean noisy.

My way of coping was to keep my eyes completely closed all the time I was in the machine, and I sort of used relaxation methods of keeping calm. Just repeated phrases in my head...'relax' 'it won't last long'. Etc. Or try to use distraction methods, like thinking of things you need to do, want to do, anything to stop you focussing on the noise.

Sorry if this answer will frighten you but it may help to be aware of what it'll be like, and to prepare beforehand.

Good luck.

Re: Has anyone here had an MRI scan

Hi Meeps I have had an MRI , I think I was in there for about 5 mins.
You just lie back and put your arms behind your head, it is not at all unpleasant.

They allow lots of time because time is precious with scanners and if an emergency comes in it takes precedence over routine scans .

Re: Has anyone here had an MRI scan

Thanks Jazzi and Meg
haven't you got to lie perfectly still, how can you do that for over an hour, what if you need to cough

Re: Has anyone here had an MRI scan

Meeps how long you are in the scanner depends which bits you have scanned details here ...
http://www.advancedimagingofmt.com/i...p?page=mri-faq

I had my lungs scanned and it felt like 5 minutes
It was less uncomfortable than the opticians appointment I had last week where I had stinging eye drops put in my eyes.

Re: Has anyone here had an MRI scan

its my spine they want to scan, will look at the link now Meg

Re: Has anyone here had an MRI scan

I have also had an MRI scan, mine took approximately 3/4 hour. As Jazzi has said, it is noisy, a bit like lying underneath one of those pneumatic drills they dig roads up with, but the noise is only in bursts, it isn´t continuous. I too had earphones. The position they put you in I guess depends on what part of the body they are scanning. In my case it was my neck and arm. The arm was put into position and a sort of cage thing put over it, the other arm was laid across my chest with my hand clutching the panic button they gave me. The earphones were evidently supposed to be playing music, but I didn´t hear any. I´m really claustrophobic but I survived it, just lay there with my eyes closed. My legs were a bit wobbly when it was over, but it wasn´t as bad as I expected it to be.

I did wonder, still do, how they get very large people in those machines, the bed they slide you in on is very narrow and inside the "tube" it seemed very narrow too, there was very little room either side of me and I´m only small.

Re: Has anyone here had an MRI scan

Meeps the trick is to lay back, close your eyes and imagine you are walking on a sandy beach under a blue sky. Can you hear the waves and see your footprints, look hard you may see dolphins
Before you know it the whole thing will be over.

Re: Has anyone here had an MRI scan

clumsy, did you manage to lie perfectly still for all that time

you see I have asthma and can't imagine not wanting to cough if I am on my back

Re: Has anyone here had an MRI scan

I did manage Meep. I´m sure if you have a word with the technicians when you go for your scan they will put your mind at ease about matters like coughing.