Has anyone had an MRI scan before?

very thoughtful of you. Let's hope for an update.

Well Rach, it's Wednesday - so today's the day.

I hope it went well for you.

Ben

I love this explanation. I've always liked magnets since I was a kid. 

nor I

For those who really just can't tolerate it, there is such a thing as an 'open' scanner, but the NHS have only a few and they may not be near you. Make enquiries or 'google' open scanner NHS for further information.  Please bear in mind that private scans will, of course, be expensive.

Ben

Yes, with that button in your hand you feel in-charge, but I've never felt the need to press it.

Ben

BEAUTIFUL TRUTH, SPOKEN SOFTLY.  

The advice given here is very good.

I suffered a serious traumatic brain injury many years ago. Since then I have had many MRI scans. The last of which was about two weeks ago. In total, the procedure took sixty-three minutes; an hour to find my brain and three minutes to scan it.

1. Yes I have actually lost count of how many I have had. Like everyone is saying on here they make it as good as they can with the button connection to speak to the staff. That's comforting. It's a bit bangy at times but OK.I felt quite looked after and the experience ok. I hope it all works out well for you. 

The MRI doesn't really create an image in the way traditional x-rays do. The magnet causes the protons in your body to align, then it sends a radio wave to knock them out of alignment, the radio wave is switched off and the computer measures the difference to create an image. I assume the switching on and off of these various bits make the noise.

Having anything remotely magnetic in the proximity of an MRI is not wise.

Hi thank you for your comments it has really helped and my friend is going to take me and he said he support me throughout the appointment. I will take some purple fluffy pyjamas I will take with me so I don’t have to change into a gown. 

that button is what I hold most dear in the MRI machine. Bit, mostly I am curious how it works and why the machine makes that noise and how the magnets work to create the picture. Thinking about that also helped me wile it was going on.

I had two MRIs done. My experience has been that the tunnel is not dark but it is quiet. You lie on a platform with a neck support that keeps you from rolling your head from side to side. There's a microphone and speaker built into the system so that you may hear the technician and that person may hear you. 

Hi Rach, I'm an old hand at MRI, I've just had what I think was my fourteenth (spread over many years), so I know a bit about them. It gets rather warm in there, it is tedious, boring and can be a bit noisy but there is nothing that is going to hurt you.  Some machines have a sort of periscope which enables you to see outside and into the room. You will have a button in your hand to push if you want to speak to the staff, and they will respond; if you really want them to stop, then they will. But of course it's better to get the scan done, it gives the consultant a great deal of valuable information.

NB: This has no connection to my autism

I hope it goes well for you.

Ben

From my experience most of them are female, there are always two radiographers there as it's a requirement, CT are different where you will generally have a radiographer and a helper or tech.

Unfortunately you get whoever is on duty that day.

There's very little handling as long as you are mobile and can get on the scan table unaided. If you are having a head scan they may use a extra thing that clips in over your head (head coil), it doesn't touch you or make a noise, it just helps them get a better image.

Good luck and try and not to stress.

Hi Rach. I've had an MRI a couple of times. I suffer badly from panic attacks and anxiety and was absolutely dreading it. I was extremely nervous and yes it was quite loud, but not as loud as I thought it would be. The staff are really good and will talk you through everything and there is of course a button you can press so they can stop the process should you need to. Even though I didnt need to use it, the fact it was there just in case really helped. Good luck. You'll be fine.

Hi Rach, I have had many MRIs, some long, some short, and agree with what everyone has said. I want to add, if you find sounds musical, you might, like me, find that although it is loud, you can kind of make music with the different tones of the drilling and buzzing sounds. I am hyper sensitive to noises but for some reason when I tune into the tones of the MRI noises, it helps me to relax more. Remember you can always press the buzzer and talk to the radiographer and say you need to get out at any point. Good luck with the MRI and I hope the results help you get support with your symptoms.

Thanks for the advice I have a purple tracksuit I can wear with no metal and do you know if you can request a woman to do the scan I don’t like men have a few trust issues and prefer women to handle me rather than men. 

I've had a few. They aren't nearly as claustrophobic as you imagine. They are noisy but you are generally offered headphones that either play music or just deaden the sound. The radiographer will tell you how long it will take and do their best to keep you informed. Just keep your eyes closed and breath, it'll be fine.

The length of the scan is dependent on the areas your having scanned and if you are having contrast or not.

You'll have a call button for if you have a problem. Try not to move too much as it will affect the image quality and may need the scan to be redone, obviously this extends the time.

Make sure you arrive in plenty of time (do not be just on time) as theres a MRI safety questionnaire that they go through with you. Remove any jewellery or piercings you may have before you go. Dress comfortably (joggers and a tee) that have no metal ie zips,studs that includes under wire bra. This means you may not have to change into a gown which can save time and make you feel more comfortable. If you have and implants like pins/plates or any implanted medical devices like a pacemaker etc make sure you have the details with you.

They may not let you take cookie in with you as they can guarantee it is metal free, this could include metalic stitching or something else that could be in the filling.

An MRI machine is really just a really big magnet and may make you feel a bit warm but there's nothing to be afraid of. Radiographers do this all the time, they will be patient with you especially if you explain before hand.

The symptoms you describe are very familiar to me. Initially mine was caused by the SSRI I was taking in conjunction with stress. It's really disconcerting.

My wife is an MRI radiographer so I know the drill quite well.

I'd like to back up what AuTriker has said.

While I have not had an MRI, I did have an ultrasound, and for me gel is one of the worst textures in the world. 

We contacted the hospital, and my hospital has a learning disability and autism team who went to go talk to the clinician who was going to do my appointment. They made sure no one was after me so that we could do it slowly a bit at a time and I could take breaks where necessary and had a lot of sensory supports. 

I'm sure if you tell them they will better be able to support you to the best of their ability.