Hi everyone, sorry ladies but I’m calling on your experiences again.
Trivial I know but I’ve only ever seen a MRI scan on tele. I’ve got my scan tomorrow and feel a little anxious about it. Is it the big white loo roll thing and you go in the middle? How long are you inside the tube? Does it feel closed in? Also having ultrasound, not sure why though and why they would bother as surely MRI finds all?
Got to wait a whole week for the results! Fed up…
The MRI is a bit wierd. It is as you describe a kind of tunnel thing.
They put a cannula in your hand and inject a contrast dye to make the results easier to read.
I laid on the bed - face down (boobs through 2 holes - nice touch!) and when ready they pushed me inside. It is quiet enclosed, but as I was not looking at the ceiling, but had my head on a nice comfy pillow it was not too bad. It takes quite a long time - about 35-45 mins. The noise is the surprising thing though - there is lots of banging and clanking going on (you would think at £1m per scanner they could do something about that?). They give you earplugs to help with the noise and then try and talk to you (and guess what you can’t hear them!!!). They told me over an intercom what’s happening and for most of the time you have to keep completely still, but I did have to move between scans to scratch my nose!!!
I was told MRI and U/Sound were more accurate than Mammograms for younger women as our breast tissue is denser, and I believe it is common to have all 5 types of scan (CT and Bones too). I guess U/S is just quicker and they can see things (or not) straight away.
Try not to worry - it is alright, just use the chance to have a 30 mins doze!!!
All the best
Ali
x
I had MRI a few years ago and like you was so scared. However it wasn’t bad at all.Yes its like a big round tunnel and you lie of a bed which gently moved you inside the tube. They ask you if you are claustrophobic and I didn’t think I was ( but I hate lifts. )
They give you a button to press if you get panicky but I was fine. I think they gave me headphone as its just a bit noisy at times. I just kept my eyes closed and actually found comfort in the chungi chungi noises of the machine. It was nice and cool also as I think they have some sort of fan blowing. It didn’t seem bad at all just kept thinking of daily things and the time soon passed. So please don’t worry you will be fine. Let us know how you get on. I also don’t understand the ultrasound bit but hey just go where they take you.
Norma X
Hi Mummyv, i had one in April, same as the ladies above, but my was for something different, i was in for 40 minutes, and i had been told that it was a bit noisy, i took a hankie with me, with some mandarin oil on, and just lay there nice and relaxed for the whole time, if you don’t have mandarin oil, just make sure you put a bit of nice perfume on, having a nice smell in there with me really did help
Alison xxxxx
Hi Mummyv
I had an MRI scan and it was the same as bestie described, I was face down with boobs in two holes, and it was like lying on a massage table, with hole for mouth etc, except didn’t get a nice massage. Very noisy, like a washing machine but 10x louder. Had earphones, which played a local radio station music. They didn’t actually talk to me. Had an injection so could put some dye stuff in half way through, but as all prepared before hand, arms above head, didn’t need to do anything. Not allowed to move and took about 30 mins I think for mine.
It is fine, and not scary. Only prob is if you are claustraphobic, might be a little frightening, but you can tell them and am sure will help with that.
Good luck with your scan and let us know how you get on.
Take care
Dawn
x
Thank you everyone. I’m going to be brave tomorrow!! At least I know what to expect.
xx Vanessa
Well it wasnt too bad really. Worse bit was having a canular in my arm after two tries. So both arms bruised. Now I wait AGAIN (kills me) until next Thursday for the results. Then another wait for an op date. WAiting WAiting…
love Vanessa
Hi Vanessa,
I am glad the MRI wasn’t too bad. I have never had one myself and the thought of having one would scare me shi**ess!! I really don’t like confined spaces so reckon I would have a right panic attack!
I wish you well as you await the results. We all know only too well how stressful it is waiting for results. I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you!
Take care,
Kelly
-x-
Hi Vanessa
Well done on getting through your MRI scan, it is not as bad as one thinks, having had it myself, although so scary and then the waiting around, which is the worst part I think. I hope the results are good for you and will be thinking about you. Let us know how you get on and keep in touch.
Take care
Love
Dawn
x
Thanks everyone. I’ll keep you all updated. My baby is 5 tomorrow! So lots to keep me busy for a few days. Cant believe it and she’ll be off to school on Monday!! Boo hoo. My eldest is 7 and starts Junior school Tuesday. There is no stopping them growing up I suspose xxxx Vanessa
Hi Vanessa
Happy birthday to your baby who is 5 tomorrow - growing up fast I bet, makes you wonder where the time went doesn’t it. Mine will be 1 in November and 4 in December … time has just flown by.
Hope the MRI went well and let us know when you get your results. Keeping everything crossed for you.
Take care and have FUN tomorrow.
Love
Dawn
x
Hi Vanessa,
I had my MRI scan on Wednesday and it did turn out to be a bit embarassing - through my own fault! I was lying in the same position as mentioned by the other ladies, but couldn’t put my head down on the pillow because of the awkward position of the headphones. Anyway, I dribbled on the pillow - classy, I know! - which was awful enough, but I was getting so uncomfortable and eager for the clanking and banging to stop that I said a rather rude swear word inbetween the noise, which unbeknown to me was picked by on a microphone as the operator said ‘Not long now’ just as I had finished cursing. I was cringing by the time I got out of the machine, I’m not usually that obnoxious. I did offer to change the pillowcase but they wouldn’t hear of it!! God forbid I never have to have another one, but if I do, I shall opt for earplugs and keep my mouth firmly shut.
Very best wishes to you,
Tracy xx
I was given headphones too, which isn’t all that practical when you’ve got to lay face down. It basically meant that the ear that was upward wasn’t properly inside the headphone and it was so loud my ear was ringing for over 30 mins afterwards.
If I had to go again I’d wear foam earplugs…
mousy
Oh no girls, poor you. I was given foam earplugs not sure they made any difference though as it still made me jump… Tracy I dribbled too!! Quickly flipped the pillow so they never saw… I swear another ten minutes and I would have had a nice snooze.
Party went well. Sunshine all day and bouncy castle well recieved. Dropped little one at new school this morning and actually feel cross that they have taken her off me! Going through all this makes me just want to hang on to my babies so tight and never let them go.
love Vanessa
was anyone offered a sedative for their mri?
Hi Rosemary
I am having a bone scan today which I understand is an MRI - I’ve not had any mention of a sedative but will report back once I am done.
Going for the isotope injection at 10.30 then got to go back some time later for the actual scan.
Bone scan (isotope tracer scan) is different from MRI, sorry have only just seen this post. Not noisy like MRI. When I had a MRI I kept my eyes tight shut all the time, and I also disliked being bandaged up with various wrappings before going through the scanner. Not a fun way to pass an afternoon.
But the findings of the MRI were good (in my particular circumstances) so it was worth it!
look at what we have to deal with here!
had mri, had bone scan. bone scan is not bad, except for the injection with isotopes.
just lie still and wait.
if you can catch a glimpse at the monitor it helped me to know how it was prrogressing
I had a fully body…so can see it moving up my body
if you can detach yourself from the experience, the machine is actually a wonder
and yes, I hated having my shoes bound together.
so good luck with the scan and the meds too…Lilac
Emily
xxx
Well I never got my isotopes cos I was a divvy and went to the wrong hospital. My GP said when he was referring me that it would be at Falkirk - the letter came in whilst I was away and my son phoned to tell me the date and time - I got back, stuffed the letter in my bag without checking it … got to the hospital today (after standing for ages for a bus that never came and took a taxi in desperation - cost me £10 and driver told me buses on Sunday service cos it’s a local holiday!) … got to the info board in the hospital and couldn’t find the dept I needed so took the letter out of my bag to check and noticed that it said Stirling Royal!
Had left mobile in the house so tried to use the pay-phone but this was not working - in desperation went to the Onc clinic and told them what had happened - they phoned Stirling who said not to worry and gave me an appointment for tomorrow.
what a morning for you! glad things got cleared up, but how horribly frustrating
the anticipation is bad enough and then the wait to see the results
well, good luck tomorrow then!